Sheetcam glitch? Or me?

[dkerr]

Couple weeks ago I had a strange problem with SheetCam.
It seemed randomly that some of my newer created/posted files were coming up with a Zero Feed rate problem. At the time I couldn't figure out the pattern of failure or what the heck was happening. I figured it out.Please steer my thoughts in the right direction.

I recently added a THC and have been messing with the Tool settings in SheetCam. I had my peirce height at .020 and my cut height at .020 - mostly because it worked and I had very little dross. For some reason I upped my pierce height to .025, something I read?

Now have FINALLY (after hours of trying stuff) figured out conclusively (by changing it back and fourth multiple times) whenever the cut height is less than the pierce height it does strange things in post processing.

After looking at the .tap file it randomly sets the F to 0 on the G01 line. And I do mean randomly...maybe 10 of them, the rest are at my normal feed rate. Even in SheetCam's simulator mode, it woudl start and then error out with a Zero feed rate issue.

Is this my error, or sheetCam, or is this a normal outcome of having cut and pierce heights they way I did.

Thanks for your input - as always!

Latest Sheetcam licensed
Hypertherm xp30
MACH 3
4x4 table over water

[acourtjester]

Have you looked at the info in the manual as to pierce and cut height, The chart should also give you feed rates for metal thickness.
In SheetCam these setting are in the tool setup, SheetCam will follow what you have for the spects installed there.
You have not listed the Post Processor you are using. The 0.020 cut and pierce height seems to be way off unless you mean 0.200 which is to high.
The THC will need to have a post processor that is written for using a THC and the tool setting are not involved. The THC only comes into control after you have pierced and started to cut, then it will move the torch height dependent on the arc voltage not tool setting.

[Les Newell]

It is normal to have the pierce height above the cut height and this should not cause a problem. In some cases you can have issues if your pierce height is above the rapid clearance height.