Worse machine I ever owned

[adbuch]

If you open the Configuration Tool and click the Upper left Menu item named FILE you will get a drop down of choices
You can OPEN, MAKE a NEW CONFIG, MAKE A TEMPLATE (a read only CONFIG file you cannot edit but you can copy from) and there is a ZIP CONFIG. option
If you select that it writes a zip file of you entire CONFIG that you can send to Matt and they can duplicate what ALL of the settings are.

There are also steps you can perform to test the DTHC and make sure each one is correct.

Tom - are you saying that the table owner would need to open the config file, create a zip file, and send it to the manufacturer in order to restore it to factory original settings?

Exactly what steps could a StarLabs table owner perform to test the DTHC and make sure each one is correct? Is there some documentation available that describes these DTHC tests in detail? If any of them are incorrect, does the table owner have the ability to correct them in real time?

Thanks,
David

[tcaudle]

No, I am saying if they want to troubleshoot it and see what the user changed, the User can send a COPY of his entire CONFIG to them and they can load it there and look at the settings and even run it on one of their tables. You can REPLACE any Config by them sending the CONFIG Folder and the user simply copying that to the base folder (linuxcnc/configs ) A config holds lots of stuff including all of the settings (INI) files and any "marcos" (subroutines) needed.

In that structure each CONFIG is a folder under the primary structure and you can have as many as you want and it will create a desktop icon for each one if you have that box checked in the Configuration tool So having a machine setup to different uses like Plasma, oxy-fuel, rotary cutting, router and even laser marking is just a process of building the different Configs and having a desktop Icon to select that mode. The interface is smart and knows that the controls look different for each type of cutting and they adjust.

[SegoMan DeSigns]

Edit, Changed the wording:

Tom C.

Does your system offer a return to Factory Default Settings That It Shipped From The Factory With Your Choice Of Options Toggle?

This thread has some great learning materials for all parties involved, what started out as a snowflake has ended up as an avalanche. The OP has several machines on his track record and is far from a novice. Yet here we are.

[tcaudle]

No such thing as "default settings" Each table settings are completely different and and if you add options/features it changes

What you CAN do :
Save ANY CONFIG as a TEMPLATE. That makes it read only ; cannot be changed so it, by definition, is the "default" for that system at that time
You can open and COPY a TEMPLATE and gen up a return to the "default". So if you are off in the weeds and make cahnges that honker your table up just open your stored template , copy it to a working Config and get everything back to ground zero.

You can CLONE (Copy) any CONFIG,rename it , make minor changes and either keep it (and make it a template) or get rid of it but still have your original

You can Have as many CONFIGS (Profiles) as you want and each one can do different things or even have different tuning . I advised on this thread that it's helpful if you cut a wide range of material, that you COPY your running config then tune down the motor settings for cutting slower and thicker material. Biggest parameter is the acceleration on X and Y that controls the trigger point (in the cut path) that the VAD cuts in. '
The CONFIGURATOR tool in CommandCNC gives you all kinds of options and flexibility, There is actually a menu related HELP button that tells you what all that magic stuff does!

I tried to do a screen grab of the drop down on that menu but it wont do it. I what to switch to a screen recorder (video ) then find a frame I want and capture that (SIGN)

[BTA Plasma]

I apologize but we have to take ownership of a root cause here. AJ's machine was built with a fine pitch ballscrew but the tuning was done for a course pitch. This made his torch only travel half the distance and caused many crashes on touch off or probe tripped errors. We did that and it was found just today after AJ was nice enough to send some pictures and get talking on the phone with me. I am humbled to say that we can have years of no issues and one gets past assembly, testing, Me (Matt) and to the customer and we never saw it coming. That is definitely an issue that we caused. I am sorry that we did that to you AJ!


-Matt

[SegoMan DeSigns]

Matt,

Great news for everyone involved here, glad AJ can get his machine working properly and make a copy of his particular machines CONFIG setting for any unforeseeable future event.

[adbuch]

I'm happy to hear that Andrew has hopefully resolved his height control issues, and that some of the posts at this thread were helpful in pointing him in the right direction.

David

[adbuch]

But we do not go through each THC setting in detail and neither does any manufacturer for a number of reasons.

-Matt

Matt - just and FYI - Plasmacam does indeed go thru each THC setting in detail, as well as all of the other settings. This is documented in the Design Edge Video Manual in both text and video formats. Also, Plasmacam owners don't need to phone in to customer support just to get the proper settings for cutting corrugated metal. All of these height control settings are thoroughly explained in detail in the Video Manual that comes with every table Plasmacam ships.

Here are what the Settings tabs look like, as well as a few screen shot of the Video Manual.

DE Design Settings .jpg

DE Offset-Convert Settings.jpg

DE Machine Control Settings.jpg

DE Height Control Settings.jpg

DE System Setup Settings.jpg

DE Configurations Settings 1.jpg

DE Configurations Settings 2.jpg

Video Manual Advanced Height Contol screen shot.jpg

Video Manual Diagnostics screen shot.jpg

I would have thought that some of the other plasma table manufacturers would have similar documentation for their tables.

David

And here is the section of the Video Manual in printed format that explains in detail what each setting does. Further settings information is contained in other sections of the Video Manual. The section I included above is a basic summary.

Video Manual Settings.pdf

[BTA Plasma]

Looks good! But why does it need to be so complicated for operators. Those kind of values should be behind the scenes. The operator should not have to re-invent the wheel to cut or have access to the value to remove spokes from the wheel. The variables of proper height control can be very vast and complicated or intelligently simplified into a small subset of values. The goal for modern height control is to make the 'subset' as small as possible for the operator. Having a super extensive logic for height control is good but not with unfettered access. This is too redundant for modern machinery. One should not have to monitor that many variables to get a quality cut and they do not with CommandCNC or Flashcut. Is that a latest offering or is that from the late 90s/early 2000s? Not meant to be disrespectful in any way, just curious.


-Matt

[adbuch]

This is the current software. It's not really complicated at all, depending on one's perspective.
David

[tcaudle]

Nothing is complicated if you know how to do it. That is why most users stick with the software they invest time to learn . Our industry is not composed of a lot of software /computer/technical oriented persons and sometimes simple concepts to you and I are like a foreign language to end users. I have customers that are intimidated with a mouse (the computer kind) but are comfortable with hand cutting and welding parts and want things to be non-technical.

That is why the concept of "Scan and Cut" is a good marketing approach (we all know that is not how it works) .

I just spent a good portion on my weekend upgrading my primary LINUX computer from a 2019 year release to a current one and it was NOT a simple task because too many applications and core languages had to be upgraded .

I don't look down on welders and fabricators. I am a horrible welder. I love working in my shop but steel fabrication takes me forever. More of a wood man. I am a FAIR machinist and can run a lathe and manual mill BUT not doing complex stuff and not in a production mode. I have an older CNC Bridgeport in my home shop that needs a retrofit and I have access to VMC and other CNC stuff at the company shop . I still have to hire a CNC operator to do the production stuff !.

Sometimes its frustrating when you have a customer where you are down to it being two wires and they freeze up because its "technical" . My Dad (WWII vet) was a mechanical genius but ELECTRICITY was a MAGIC thing you could not see and it did what it wanted and would HURT you for no reason.