thc not turning on

[Foxmartin1]

having a weird and now expensive issue with my freedom 4x8. torch will fire but the machine is not reading voltage to the proma sd. i have ordered a new proma and the issue is still not fixed. however before doing that i replaced the cnc shield, the z axis stepper driver, and im trying to replace the relay bar but every single new one i get does not trigger properly as the relays do not close. on the old one i can hear them close and test when plugging the machine in. the issue started after i replaced one of the x axis motors as the original one started to get some play in it. I also ordered and installed the proper cpc cable for the hypertherm rather than just pushing the wires into the connector on the machine. i will attach the gcode of a test file i am running to rule out issues. maybe im missing something.





G21
G17
G90
G38.2Z-500F1270
G92 x0 y0 z0
G0 Z50
G0X-2.926Y26.623
G0
G38.2Z-500.0F1270.0
G92Z0.0
G0Z3.400
G92Z0.0
G0Z2.540
M3S1000
G4P0.5
G1Z1.524F635.0
G1F3683.0
M3S1000
G1X-2.450Y26.670F2578.1
G1X-1.993Y26.809
G1X-1.571Y27.034
G1X-1.202Y27.337
G1X-0.899Y27.707
G1X-0.673Y28.128
G1X-0.535Y28.586
G1X-0.488Y29.061
G1Y29.188
M4
G1Y42.543F3683.0
G1X-0.450Y42.732
G1X-0.343Y42.890
G1X-0.182Y42.996
G1X2.335Y44.011
G1X4.624Y44.970
G1X9.093Y46.982
G1X13.470Y49.186
G1X16.132Y50.736
G1X18.677Y52.471
G1X20.052Y53.623
G1X21.283Y54.927
G1X21.451Y55.055
G1X21.657Y55.101
G1X43.057
G1X43.243Y55.064
G1X43.402Y54.958
G1X43.507Y54.800
G1X43.545Y54.613
G1Y0.000
G1X43.507Y-0.187
G1X43.402Y-0.345
G1X43.243Y-0.451
G1X43.057Y-0.488
G1X16.735
G1X16.548Y-0.451
G1X16.390Y-0.345
G1X16.284Y-0.187
G1X16.247Y0.000
G1Y33.572
G1X13.312Y32.488
G1X10.352Y31.476
G1X7.367Y30.538
G1X4.361Y29.674
G1X1.334Y28.883
M3S1000
G1X0.113Y28.587
G1X-0.284Y28.436
G1X-0.628Y28.187
G1X-0.896Y27.858
G1X-1.069Y27.471
G1X-1.137Y27.052
G1X-1.093Y26.630
M3S0
G4P0.5
G0Z31.750
G0
G0X0.000Y0.000
M3S0
M30

[acourtjester]

Ok a few thing that are needed to help with your problem. Was this a used table you bought, has it ever done plasma cutting you have seen. The reason I ask I Googled freedom 4x8 table, it only showed a Router table that they sold. Also the M3 in you g-code has a s1000 after it which is a speed command that is normally not used with Plasma.
It would also help to know what electronics you are using and the software, as not all electronics use the same G-code commands. Do you have a manual for the Proma SD so you can check the wiring. The SD is wired differently then other THC unit.

[adbuch]

I also ordered and installed the proper cpc cable for the hypertherm rather than just pushing the wires into the connector on the machine.

Do you have the cpc voltage divider adjusted to the correct setting for your thc?

David

[weldguy]

So many changes at the same time make it tough to get back to a good state. I think the best thing to do is keep it simple and tackle one thing at a time and fix each issues one by one before moving on.

-does your XYZ motion move properly
-can it complete a dry run from start to finish with no problems
-can it cut a simple shape WITHOUT THC from start to finish with no problems

If all that checks out its time to dig into the THC and see whats up there.

-do you have voltage from the Hypertherm to the THC when arc is present
-what is the voltage
-what voltage does your THC expect to see, a divided voltage or raw voltage

[Foxmartin1]

Ok a few thing that are needed to help with your problem. Was this a used table you bought, has it ever done plasma cutting you have seen. The reason I ask I Googled freedom 4x8 table, it only showed a Router table that they sold. Also the M3 in you g-code has a s1000 after it which is a speed command that is normally not used with Plasma.
It would also help to know what electronics you are using and the software, as not all electronics use the same G-code commands. Do you have a manual for the Proma SD so you can check the wiring. The SD is wired differently then other THC unit.

Yes this table has cut before i have been using this table for 3 years. it runs on an arduino with a cnc shield and grbl

[Foxmartin1]

I also ordered and installed the proper cpc cable for the hypertherm rather than just pushing the wires into the connector on the machine.

Do you have the cpc voltage divider adjusted to the correct setting for your thc?

David

is there a setting to change it on the hypertherm? the proma sd is hooked up to 50:1.

[Foxmartin1]

So many changes at the same time make it tough to get back to a good state. I think the best thing to do is keep it simple and tackle one thing at a time and fix each issues one by one before moving on.

1:-does your XYZ motion move properly
2:-can it complete a dry run from start to finish with no problems
3:-can it cut a simple shape WITHOUT THC from start to finish with no problems

If all that checks out its time to dig into the THC and see whats up there.

4:-do you have voltage from the Hypertherm to the THC when arc is present
5:-what is the voltage
6:-what voltage does your THC expect to see, a divided voltage or raw voltage

I added numbers to your quesstions so i can answer them in line.

1. yes i can move all 3 axis normally manually, if i put the proma sd into test mode it will move the z axis up and down.
2. yes it can
3. yes it is able to cut something without thc. the Gcode i copied in at the first post is a number 1 about 2.5"x2"
4. yes i do have voltage from the hypertherm
5. it is reading between 2.7 and 3.2v as tested while on the phone with hypertherm tech support
6. it is looking for 50:1 voltage. between 2.7 and 3.7v

[weldguy]

So many changes at the same time make it tough to get back to a good state. I think the best thing to do is keep it simple and tackle one thing at a time and fix each issues one by one before moving on.

1:-does your XYZ motion move properly
2:-can it complete a dry run from start to finish with no problems
3:-can it cut a simple shape WITHOUT THC from start to finish with no problems

If all that checks out its time to dig into the THC and see whats up there.

4:-do you have voltage from the Hypertherm to the THC when arc is present
5:-what is the voltage
6:-what voltage does your THC expect to see, a divided voltage or raw voltage

I added numbers to your quesstions so i can answer them in line.

1. yes i can move all 3 axis normally manually, if i put the proma sd into test mode it will move the z axis up and down.
2. yes it can
3. yes it is able to cut something without thc. the Gcode i copied in at the first post is a number 1 about 2.5"x2"
4. yes i do have voltage from the hypertherm
5. it is reading between 2.7 and 3.2v as tested while on the phone with hypertherm tech support
6. it is looking for 50:1 voltage. between 2.7 and 3.7v

Ok great so really the only issue is THC function. You have the correct arc voltage, arc voltage division is adjustable with dipswitches however it sounds like its already set up for 50:1 (which is default) so I wouldn't even bother opening up the plasma. I have no experience with Proma and you have 2 units, one used, and one new, and both show no voltage despite 2.7-3.7v on the wires coming in...I'm stumped. Seems odd both units wouold be faulty.

[acourtjester]

Have you checked if the wiring of the older CPC cable connects to the plugs in the same order as the new one??
Not sure how Proma would handle the reverse polarity of the voltage signal.

"I also ordered and installed the proper CPC cable for the hypertherm rather than just pushing the wires into the connector on the machine"