DHC with basic design edge upgrade options

[Mikey Welds]

Hi all, I am considering the purchase of a used DHC for $1000. The controller has been updated and it runs on the basic Design Edge software. I have called Plasmacam to ask them about how much it would cost to get the torch height control to be functional on this machine. They said that the only option is to pay $6000 to essentially convert it to a DHC2. The person on the phone was not interested in answering any follow up questions, so I'm hoping someone here might be able to help. One question I have is doesn't the $6000 number include the upgrade of the old controller and basic design edge? The current owner showed me a $2700 receipt from last year for controller upgrade and basic design edge. Shouldn't this mean that part of the upgrade has already been performed? The salesman on the phone led me to believe not, but I find that hard to believe. I won't use this machine enough for that kind of scratch to be worth it, but I would consider paying an additional $1000 to get basic torch height control to function if its an option, but its not clear to me that it is. It is my understanding that when they did the $2700 upgrade they lost the DHC functionality that came with the machine. Can anyone help me figure out the nuances of what plasmacam offers to restore that basic function? Is there a way to get torch height control working on this machine without "converting" it to a DHC2?
At this price I can have some fun with this thing either way, and if I don't like my options thru plasma cam it might end up being the basis of a linuxcnc table project.

[adbuch]

Robert Johnson will know the answer to this. He is on this forum quite often and hopefully will see your post. Meanwhile, the following information may be of some help in answering your questions.
David

DHC Upgrade.jpg

DHC+ Upgrade Info.pdf

[Mikey Welds]

Thanks David.
Do you have an opinion on whether this thing is worth buying? I do already own a pm45, so I could get it up and running with no additional cost. It just seems like it may never be practical to have THC on this machine. Should that be a deal breaker?

[adbuch]

The best thing to do would be to get the owner (seller) to take a screen shot of his settings/activate levels page so we can see exactly what software levels he has. It should look like the one below, but with probably very few (if any) of the boxes checked.
David

Activate Levels.jpg

[adbuch]

Thanks David.
Do you have an opinion on whether this thing is worth buying? I do already own a pm45, so I could get it up and running with no additional cost. It just seems like it may never be practical to have THC on this machine. Should that be a deal breaker?

If it is in working order, I think $1000 would be a fantastic deal for you. Perhaps you could post some photos so we can get a better idea as to the overall condition.
David

[Mikey Welds]

Well I just checked out the table and I'm going to purchase it. It was dirty but everything seemed to function properly. Put half down and will pick up on Monday. Here is a pic of the activation settings and the receipt for the work done. Anyone know how to transfer ownership with Plasmacam?

Thanks, Mike

Invoice redacted.pdf

activation.pdf

[adbuch]

You have Advanced Design, Advanced Machine Control, and Advanced Height Control. That's about 4k is purchased separately.
Your Settings/Height Control page should look like this.

Height Control.jpg

I believe you should be able to set your pierce height, cut height, with the torch zeroed to the work surface. I am not quite sure, but I think you will have the ability to monitor the arc voltage for torch height control - but not the ability for ohmic sensing to auto zero the cut height at each pierce location. I believe that the upgrade from DHC to DHC2 includes the new carriage/z-motor assembly, wiring harness, torch holder, etc. which when installed does allow for complete torch height control (arc voltage and ohmic sensing). I am not sure what the difference is (if any) between the new controller you already have and the new controller that would be included with the $6980 upgrade. Again - Robert Johnson would be able do answer these questions definitively. You could contact Robert at LearnPlasmacam.com. I put the link for his contact page below.
David

https://fourninety-creations.myshopify. ... es/contact

(918) 289-2706

[rdj357]

They give you $1,000 off the $6,980 price for having already upgraded Design Edge thus the quote for $5,980.

[Mikey Welds]

Thanks for the info. I'm excited about the purchase. I'm in the process of changing ownership now.

[Joe Jones]

Hi Mikey,

Where are you located?

The purchase of the table and the software that runs with it is IF-Y at best. PlasmaCam is a real ^^%&* when it comes to determining what WILL and what WILL NOT receive Plasmacam's blessing.

What version of DesignEdge are you running? PlasmaCam will not help you, or even sell you PARTS if you are not running the most current version, or if anything about your table is not in alignment with their utopian dreams of Avarice.

I am currently in CommieFornia, and will be returning to Kentucky in Free America after the 30th of January. Depending on your location, I might be able to swing by to help you with your setup, and maybe help you avoid a few costly OOPS!-es with PlasmaCam.

This whole fake pandemic nightmare has been taken to the extreme, and I feel like I am the last living human being walking among the brain dead. I came out to help a friend pack up a house to move OUT of this cesspool of Socialism, and now my work is done here. So I will drive back to Kentucky in the next few days.

Good luck with your table and software.

[adbuch]

Thanks for the info. I'm excited about the purchase. I'm in the process of changing ownership now.

Please keep us informed as to your progress. The Plasmacam table/software is top-notch. I personally have had a great experience with my Plasmacam DHC2 tables as well as the support I have received from Plasmacam.
David

[Joe Jones]

Well? What is the latest gossip?