PLASMAC(9)

NAME

plasmac - A plasma cutter controller

SYNOPSIS

loadrt plasmac

DESCRIPTION

A plasma cutting table control component for use with the LinuxCNC V2.8 or later.

VERSION:
1.238

SUMMARY:
Usage of this component is demonstrated in the QtPlasmaC example configurations included with LinuxCNC.

DISCLAIMER:
THE AUTHOR OF THIS SOFTWARE ACCEPTS ABSOLUTELY NO LIABILITY FOR ANY HARM OR LOSS RESULTING FROM ITS USE.

IT IS EXTREMELY UNWISE TO RELY ON SOFTWARE ALONE FOR SAFETY.

Any machinery capable of harming persons must have provisions for completely stopping all motors and moving parts etc. before persons enter any danger area.

All machinery must be designed to comply with local and national safety codes, and the author of this software can not, and does not, take any responsibility for such compliance.

FUNCTIONS

plasmac (requires a floating-point thread)

PINS

plasmac.arc-fail-delay float in
    arc start failure timeout (seconds)

plasmac.arc-lost-delay float in
    arc lost delay during a cut (seconds)

plasmac.arc-ok-high float in
    maximum voltage level for Arc OK signal [mode 0] (volts)

plasmac.arc-ok-in bit in
    external arc ok input signal [mode 1 & mode 2]

plasmac.arc-ok-low float in
    minimum voltage level for Arc OK signal [mode 0] (volts)

plasmac.arc-max-starts s32 in
    maximum attempts at starting the arc

plasmac.arc-voltage-in float in
    arc voltage input [mode 0 & mode 1] see Notes above

plasmac.arc-voltage-offset float in
    offset to set arc voltage to 0 at 0 volts

plasmac.arc-voltage-scale float in
    scale to convert arc_voltage input to actual volts

plasmac.thc-auto bit in
    enable automatic thc activation

plasmac.axis-x-max-limit float in
    axis x maximum limit, connect to ini.x.max-limit

plasmac.axis-x-min-limit float in
    axis x minimum limit, connect to ini.x.min-limit

plasmac.axis-x-position float in
    current x axis position, connect to axis.x.pos-cmd

plasmac.axis-y-max-limit float in
    axis y maximum limit, connect to ini.y.max-limit

plasmac.axis-y-min-limit float in
    axis y minimum limit, connect to ini.y.min-limit

plasmac.axis-y-position float in
    current y axis position, connect to axis.y.pos-cmd

plasmac.axis-z-max-limit float in
    axis z maximum limit, connect to ini.z.max-limit

plasmac.axis-z-min-limit float in
    axis z minimum limit, connect to ini.z.min-limit

plasmac.axis-z-position float in
    current z axis position, connect to joint.N.pos-fb

plasmac.breakaway bit in
    torch breakaway switch (optional, see float_switch)

plasmac.consumable-change bit in
    change consumables in torch

plasmac.cornerlock-enable bit in
    enable corner lock

plasmac.cornerlock-threshold float in
    corner lock threshold (% of requested feed rate), speeds below this disable THC

plasmac.current-velocity float in
    current machine velocity, connect to motion.current-vel

plasmac.cut-feed-rate float in
    cut feed rate from current material (machine units per minute)

plasmac.cut-height float in
    cut height (machine units)

plasmac.cut-recovery bit in
    recover from cut error

plasmac.cut-volts float in
    cut voltage (volts)

plasmac.cutting-start bit in
    start a new cut, connect to spindle.0.on

plasmac.debug-print bit in
    if true will print state changes as a debug aid

plasmac.external-estop bit in
    external E-stop input

plasmac.feed-override float in
    feed override value from GUI (connect to halui.feed-override.value)

plasmac.feed-reduction float in
    reduce adaptive feed to this percentage (connect to motion.analog-out-03)

plasmac.float-switch bit in
    float switch input (can also act as breakaway if it actuates when torch breaks away)

plasmac.float-switch-travel float in
    float switch travel (machine units)

plasmac.gcode-scale float in (default: 1)
    current G-code scale

plasmac.height-override float in
    height override adjustment (volts)

plasmac.height-per-volt float in
    torch height change per volt (machine units)

plasmac.homed bit in
    machine is homed

plasmac.ignore-arc-ok-0 bit in
    don't require arc ok for start or cutting

plasmac.ignore-arc-ok-1 bit in
    don't require arc ok for start or cutting

plasmac.kerf-width float in
    placeholder for better G-code portability between GUIs

plasmac.override-jog bit in
    override jog inhibit

plasmac.offset-set-probe bit in
    deploy probe for setting offsets

plasmac.offset-set-scribe bit in
    deploy scribe for setting offsets

plasmac.laser-recovery-start s32 in
    start laser offset for cut recovery

plasmac.laser-x-offset s32 in
    alignment laser x axis offset (scaled units)

plasmac.laser-y-offset s32 in
    alignment laser y axis offset (scaled units)

plasmac.lowpass-frequency float in
    lowpass cutoff frequency for arc voltage output

plasmac.machine-is-on bit in
    machine is on signal

plasmac.max-offset s32 in (default: 5)
    maximum height offset

plasmac.mesh-arc-ok bit in (default: FALSE)
    don't require arc ok for mesh mode

plasmac.mesh-enable bit in
    enable mesh cutting mode

plasmac.mode s32 in
    operating mode

plasmac.motion-type s32 in
    motion type, connect to motion.motion-type

plasmac.move-down bit in
    external thc down switch [mode 2]

plasmac.move-up bit in
    external thc up switch [mode 2]

plasmac.multi-tool bit in (default: 1)
    allows the use of multiple tools

plasmac.offset-probe-delay float in
    wait for probe to deploy (seconds)

plasmac.offset-probe-x float in
    X axis offset for offset probe (machine units)

plasmac.offset-probe-y float in
    Y axis offset for offset probe (machine units)

plasmac.offsets-active bit in
    offsets are active, connect to motion.eoffsets-active

plasmac.ohmic-sense-on-delay s32 in (default: 3)
    debounce cycles for ohmic sense on

plasmac.ohmic-sense-off-delay s32 in (default: 3)
    debounce cycles for ohmic sense off

plasmac.ohmic-sense-in bit in
    ohmic sense relay input

plasmac.ohmic-max-attempts s32 in
    maximum ohmic probe attempts before fallback to float switch

plasmac.ohmic-probe bit in
    ohmic probe input, from ohmic-sense-out or external component/pin

plasmac.ohmic-probe-enable bit in
    enable ohmic probe

plasmac.ohmic-probe-offset float in
    Z axis offset for ohmic probe (machine units)

plasmac.ohmic-test bit in
    test for shorted torch

plasmac.ok-sample-counts s32 in (default: 10)
    arc_ok number of valid samples required [mode 0]

plasmac.ok-sample-threshold float in (default: 10)
    arc_ok maximum arc voltage deviation allowed [mode 0]

plasmac.pause-at-end float in
    time to pause at end of cut

plasmac.paused-motion-speed float in
    multiplier for speed of motion when paused, from -1 to 1

plasmac.pid-d-gain float in
    derivative gain input [mode 0 & mode 1]

plasmac.pid-i-gain float in
    integral gain input [mode 0 & mode 1]

plasmac.pid-p-gain float in
    proportional gain input [mode 0 & mode 1]

plasmac.pierce-delay float in
    time required to pierce stock (seconds)

plasmac.probe-feed-rate float in
    probe down velocity (machine units per minute)

plasmac.probe-final-speed s32 in (default: 1)
    final probe speed (steps per servo period)

plasmac.pierce-height float in
    pierce height (machine units)

plasmac.probe-start-height float in
    probe starting height

plasmac.probe-test bit in
    probe test only

plasmac.program-is-idle bit in
    program is idle, connect to halui.program.is-idle

plasmac.program-is-paused bit in
    program is paused, connect to halui.program.is-paused

plasmac.program-is-running bit in
    program is running, connect to halui.program.is-running

plasmac.puddle-jump-delay float in
    Delay move from pierce height to cut height (seconds), leave disconnected if not required.

plasmac.puddle-jump-height float in
    Puddle jump height (percentage of pierce height), leave disconnected if not required.

plasmac.requested-velocity float in
    deprecated

plasmac.feed-upm float in
    requested feed_rate, connect to motion.feed-upm to use as the default (G-code units per minute)

plasmac.resolution s32 in (default: 100)
    multiplier for resolution of the offset counts

plasmac.restart-delay float in
    time from arc failure till next restart attempt

plasmac.safe-height float in
    requested safe traverse height (machine units)

plasmac.scribe-arm-delay float in
    delay from scribe arm to scribe on

plasmac.scribe-on-delay float in
    delay from scribe on to motion beginning

plasmac.scribe-start bit in
    start a new scribe, connect to spindle.1.on

plasmac.setup-feed-rate float in
    feed rate for moves to pierce and cut heights (machine units per minute)

plasmac.skip-ihs-distance float in
    skip IHS if less than this distance from last cut

plasmac.spotting-start bit in
    start a new spot, connect to spindle.2.on

plasmac.spotting-threshold float in
    threshold voltage to start spotting delay

plasmac.spotting-time float in
    torch off delay after spotting threshold reached

plasmac.thc-delay float in
    delay from cut feed rate reached to THC activate (seconds) [non auto THC]

plasmac.thc-disable bit in
    thc disable

plasmac.thc-enable bit in
    enable/disable thc and set the IHS skip type

plasmac.thc-feed-rate float in
    maximum feed rate for thc (machine units per minute)

plasmac.thc-sample-counts s32 in (default: 50)
    thc number of valid samples required [auto THC]

plasmac.thc-sample-threshold float in (default: 1)
    thc maximum arc voltage deviation allowed [auto THC]

plasmac.thc-threshold float in
    thc threshold (volts), changes below this have no effect

plasmac.torch-enable bit in
    enable torch

plasmac.torch-off bit in
    turn torch off

plasmac.torch-pulse-start bit in
    torch pulse start

plasmac.torch-pulse-time float in
    torch pulse time (seconds)

plasmac.units-per-mm float in
    for scale calcs, connect to halui.machine.units-per-mm

plasmac.use-auto-volts bit in
    use calculated voltage for thc baseline

plasmac.voidlock-enable bit in
    enable voidlock [mode 0 & mode 1]

plasmac.voidlock-on-cycles s32 in (default: 2)
    number of sampling cycles to activate voidlock

plasmac.voidlock-off-cycles s32 in (default: 10)
    number of sampling cycles to deactivate voidlock

plasmac.voidlock-slope s32 in (default: 500)
    voidlock slope in volts per second

plasmac.x-offset s32 in
    offset to apply to axis x for consumable change and cut recovery (scaled units)

plasmac.x-offset-current float in
    current x axis offset, connect to axis.x.eoffset

plasmac.xy-feed-rate float in
    feed-rate for consumable change

plasmac.y-offset s32 in
    offset to apply to axis y for consumable change and cut recovery (scaled units)

plasmac.y-offset-current float in
    current z axis offset, connect to axis.y.eoffset

plasmac.z-offset-current float in
    current z axis offset, connect to axis.z.eoffset

plasmac.zero-window float in (default: 0.1)
    sets window that voltage fluctuations show as zero (-0.1 to 0.1 at default value)

plasmac.adaptive-feed float out
    for reverse-run, connect to motion.adaptive-feed

plasmac.arc-ok-out bit out
    arc ok output

plasmac.arc-voltage-out float out
    arc voltage output [mode 0 & mode 1]

plasmac.consumable-changing bit out
    consumables are being changed

plasmac.cornerlock-is-locked bit out
    corner locked indicator

plasmac.cut-length float out
    length of current cut job

plasmac.cut-recovering bit out
    recovering from cut error

plasmac.cut-time float out
    cut time of current job

plasmac.cutting-stop bit out
    stop manual cut, connect to halui.spindle.0.stop

plasmac.feed-hold bit out
    feed hold, connect to motion.feed-hold

plasmac.jog-inhibit bit out
    jog inhibit, connect to motion.jog-inhibit

plasmac.laser-recovery-state s32 out
    laser recovery status

plasmac.led-down bit out
    thc move down indicator

plasmac.led-up bit out
    thc move up indicator

plasmac.offset-scale float out
    offset scale, connect to axis.<x y z>.eoffset-scale

plasmac.ohmic-enable bit out
    on only while probing

plasmac.ohmic-sense-out bit out
    ohmic sense output state

plasmac.paused-motion bit out
    paused motion flag, true when paused motion is active

plasmac.paused-time float out
    paused time during current job

plasmac.pierce-count s32 out
    number of pierce attempts (torch starts)

plasmac.probe-test-error bit out
    minimum limit reached while probe testing

plasmac.probe-time float out
    probe time of current job

plasmac.program-pause bit out
    pause the current program, connect to halui.program.pause

plasmac.program-resume bit out
    resume the currently paused program, connect to halui.program.resume

plasmac.program-run bit out
    run the currently loaded program, connect to halui.program.run

plasmac.program-stop bit out
    stop current program, connect to halui.program.stop

plasmac.rapid-time float out
    rapid motion time of current job

plasmac.run-time float out
    run time of current job

plasmac.safe-height-is-limited bit out
    safe height is limited indicator

plasmac.sensor-active bit out
    one of float, ohmic, or breakaway is detected

plasmac.scribe-arm bit out
    arm the scribe

plasmac.scribe-on bit out
    turn scribe on

plasmac.state-out s32 out
    current state

plasmac.stop-type-out s32 out
    current stop type

plasmac.thc-active bit out
    thc status output

plasmac.thc-enabled bit out
    thc is enabled

plasmac.torch-on bit out
    turn torch on, connect to your torch on input

plasmac.torch-time float out
    torch on time of current job

plasmac.voidlock-is-locked bit out
    voidlock is locked indicator [mode 0 & mode 1]

plasmac.x-offset-counts s32 out
    x offset for consumable change, connect to axis.x.eoffset-counts

plasmac.xy-offset-enable bit out
    enable x and y offsets, connect to axis.<x & y>.eoffset-enable

plasmac.y-offset-counts s32 out
    y offset for consumable change, connect to axis.y.eoffset-counts

plasmac.z-height float out
    current z axis height relative to the probed zero height

plasmac.z-offset-counts s32 out
    z offset for height control, connect to axis.z.eoffset-counts

plasmac.z-offset-enable bit out
    enable z offsets, connect to axis.z.eoffset-enable

plasmac.z-relative float out
    distance of Z from last probed height

plasmac.current-feed-rate float out
    current feed rate per minute

plasmac.requested-feed-rate float out
    requested feed rate

plasmac.low-cut-volts s32 in
    low cut voltage threshold while thc active

plasmac.target-samples s32 in (default: 6)
    number of samples for setting target_volts

plasmac.target-volts float out
    target voltage for thc, set by arc voltage at cut height

AUTHOR

Phillip A Carter & Gregory D Carl

LICENSE

GPLv2 or greater