Bringing my 510 table back to life

[Joe Jones]

I have not done much of anything with my shops since the covid zombie apocalypse. I am now working to get things moving again, and in overdrive. I have added a lot of machines and tools.

I am having an issue with my plasma table at the moment. for some reason, the torch is not working correctly. But I hope to soon have it up and running again. I may open more vendor booths and sell things like I did before. Now that I have two helpers, things will be easier, and more more quickly.

I do like the PlasmaCam tables and the DesignEdge software. I have just been distracted lately (four YEARS lately ...) and now I need to get back at it!

Online training is still available, but we will need to schedule it around other activity here. To those who I have worked with, I hope you are happily cutting away! I usually do not hear much from people, unless they are having a problem.

Joe

[plasmanewbie]

What sort of problems are you having with your torch Joe? What plasma cutter are you using on the 5x10?

[adbuch]

If your torch is not firing, make sure you have your torch control cable connected, your work lead connected to your material, sufficient air pressure to your plasma cutter, and that you have pressed the "cutting on/off" button so that it is in cutting mode and not "dry run" mode.

David

controller.jpg

[Joe Jones]

What sort of problems are you having with your torch Joe? What plasma cutter are you using on the 5x10?

Oh, I am sure I will figure it out. I have not worked with my table in some time, and I really cannot remember all of the QUIRKS of the PlasmaCam tables, so I will just have to take it step by step until I figure out the problem.

The torch fires but shuts off a second later with no error message while the table goes through the motions. I will find the problem. I just tried to cut something on the fly, and when the table misbehaved, I sent the file to SENDCUTSEND instead, because I did not have the time to fiddle with the table and software at the moment.

Joe

[Joe Jones]

If your torch is not firing, make sure you have your torch control cable connected, your work lead connected to your material, sufficient air pressure to your plasma cutter, and that you have pressed the "cutting on/off" button so that it is in cutting mode and not "dry run" mode.

David

Thanks David. Yes, I am fully aware of the quirks of the PlasmaCam experience I have not cut anything on my table since 2020, at the start of the covid zombie apocalypse, so as with everything else, what I do not stick with on a nearly daily basis, is lost. I have to relearn everything again.

I will figure it out when the shop gets warmer, and I can get out there and fiddle with it until it behaves.

Joe

[Joe Jones]

What sort of problems are you having with your torch Joe? What plasma cutter are you using on the 5x10?

I think my table is mad at me for ignoring it for four years.

Joe

[adbuch]

The torch fires but shuts off a second later with no error message while the table goes through the motions.

If you are using a hand torch (not machine torch) make sure the trigger is tied firmly closed. An intermittent trigger connection could cause your problem.

Also - use the Diagnostics to test your Auto On/Off button to make sure it does not have an intermittent problem.

[Joe Jones]

Lots of possible causes. I will tackle it when I return from this road trip.

Joe

[adbuch]

Lots of possible causes. I will tackle it when I return from this road trip.

Joe

Ok. Let us know when you are back at the table and we will walk you thru the diagnostic procedure.

[Joe Jones]

Thanks for the offer David but I’m sure I’ll be able to figure it out. It is not that I can’t find the problem. It is that I did not have the time to search for the problem.

I have moved a lot of things around with a forklift lately. I am thinking that maybe I set something heavy down onto the air hose and cut off the flow. At rest, the air can seep through to eventually build up enough pressure for the torch to fire, but then as soon as it fires, the air bleeds out of the hose and the torch shuts off. That’s the only thing I can think of at the moment in a hotel here in Indiana. When I get back, I’ll find the problem and fix it. I went out to cut a sign for a customer and the problem surfaced. I didn’t take any time at all to do troubleshooting. I was in a hurry and just did not have time to start fiddling with a table. So I sent the file to SENDCUTSEND and a few days later, it arrived and solved the problem.

I don’t have another plasma torch to test the table with either. I recently gave a hypertherm 45 to a friend in Arizona and a hypertherm 65 to a friend in New Mexico. I also gave another hypertherm 45 with a hand torch to my neighbor, and he was really happy about that. They came with the tables that I bought at the AUCTIONS and they were just sitting around collecting dust so I gave them to friends who could use them, and they just compensated me for the shipping charges which was nice.

I still have a hypertherm 1000 that needs to find a home. I think that one comes with a hand torch.

Of course, in about a month or maybe six weeks my thousand watt fiber laser table will be set up in the new barn extension! It will become my new “go to“ machine for cutting steel sheet. The Samson 510 plasma table will still be there and I suppose I will use it for various things like when I need to cut very heavy plate or something that doesn’t require the precision of the laser. I am really anxious to get that machine up and running! Depending on the weather, it is possible that they will have poured the concrete pad for the extension before I get home on Tuesday night.

Joe

[adbuch]

Here is another option.

genesis.pdf

genesis.jpg

[Joe Jones]

Yeah, the new Plasmacam table is an option I suppose. Unfortunately, it is only available in a 4 x 4 format. Also, Plasmacam will not allow me to bring my Software over from my 510 table to the genesis table. They want me to buy the full Monty of upgrades all over again and I’m just not willing to invest another 16 or $17,000 Into Software upgrades just so I can cut it on a genesis Table instead of a DHC 2 or a Samson 510.

Joe

[adbuch]

Looks like lots of "bells and whistles" to me. Also - for those who already spent the big bucks for Design Edge with all upgrades - kind of a rip-off. Unless I could use my current Design Edge license - no way I would spend lots more money just to have the same software capability. That's probably another reason they went with the new wi-fi controller design - so the new owners will have to buy the same software (slightly modified) over again.

I suppose one could buy the Genesis table and then modify it to work with the DHC2 controller and software. But why waste the money. It's not going to cut parts any better than my DHC2 tables.

[Joe Jones]

Actually, it will cut parts a lot better. They got rid of the rails. They got rid of the grates and went to a herringbone flat bar system. They raised the gantry. They got rid of the bearings that roll on the painted surfaces. There are real bearings now and they roll on stainless steel surfaces. The carriage is a much better design. All three motors on the table are identical and interchangeable. There are more features of the new table as well.

I am like you though. If I could move my full Monty design edge Software license to the new Table, I would buy one immediately, but Plasmacam wants me to pay for all of that software and those upgrades again and I’m just not going to do it.


Joe

[adbuch]

I'll bet if I cut one part on my table and the same part on the Genesis table using my same Hypertherm cutter - using the same settings - nobody could tell the difference, including myself. The parts should be identical - regardless of any differences in gantry, grates, table sides, etc. Lots of bling on the new table - but cut quality should/will be the same.

[Joe Jones]

It would be an interesting test!

Joe