Voltage setting

[OTHill]

Hi. I am using a Hypertherm 65 plasma, Cand cnc electronics,Sheetcam,and Mach3.I find that I have to consistantly set my voltage 6 to 8 volts below the book settings to get the right cut height.Is this normal or what am I doing wrong? Can somebody explain what the switch offset in sheetcam is for?

[jimcolt]

Probably a calibration issue. If it bothers you.....then you can get two DC voltmeters, connect one to the raw arc voltage connections inside the Powermax65, another to the divided arc voltage that feeds the Cand CNC electronics. If your divided voltage is supposed to be 50:1....the your reading should be 1/50th of the raw arc voltage as read between the two meters while steady state cutting.

The arc voltage is only a feedback to control height. The physical cut height is the important factor.....so if you always need to set the arc voltage at 6 to 8 below the book settings...then that is perfectly ok. If you want to make it perfect then CandCNC may have a calibration prcedure that can help you adjust the voltage reading so it matches the Hypertherm manual. Also keep in mind that he voltage height relationship changes with air pressure, consumable wear, cut speed, air moisture content. It will never always be exactly as the operators manual suggests!


Jim Colt Hypertherm

Hi. I am using a Hypertherm 65 plasma, Cand cnc electronics,Sheetcam,and Mach3.I find that I have to consistantly set my voltage 6 to 8 volts below the book settings to get the right cut height.Is this normal or what am I doing wrong? Can somebody explain what the switch offset in sheetcam is for?

[OTHill]

Probably a calibration issue. If it bothers you.....then you can get two DC voltmeters, connect one to the raw arc voltage connections inside the Powermax65, another to the divided arc voltage that feeds the Cand CNC electronics. If your divided voltage is supposed to be 50:1....the your reading should be 1/50th of the raw arc voltage as read between the two meters while steady state cutting.

The arc voltage is only a feedback to control height. The physical cut height is the important factor.....so if you always need to set the arc voltage at 6 to 8 below the book settings...then that is perfectly ok. If you want to make it perfect then CandCNC may have a calibration prcedure that can help you adjust the voltage reading so it matches the Hypertherm manual. Also keep in mind that he voltage height relationship changes with air pressure, consumable wear, cut speed, air moisture content. It will never always be exactly as the operators manual suggests!


Jim Colt Hypertherm

Hi. I am using a Hypertherm 65 plasma, Cand cnc electronics,Sheetcam,and Mach3.I find that I have to consistantly set my voltage 6 to 8 volts below the book settings to get the right cut height.Is this normal or what am I doing wrong? Can somebody explain what the switch offset in sheetcam is for?

Thanks Jim.I think I'll be ok with my settings.Just wondering if things could get even better .