Summary of Contents for Proma MyPlasm CNC
- Page 1 MyPlasm CNC System Installer's manual: Assembly and commissioning* v1.2.mont. Łukasz Prokop *This manual is not a manual for the program, User manual can be downloaded from proma-elektronika.com...
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Page 2: Table Of Contents
Table of contents 1.0 Safety........................3 1.1 Grounding, shielding ........................3 1.2 Emergency stop ..........................4 2.0 Example diagram..................... 5 3.0 Basic parameters and requirements ................. 6 4.0 Commissioning the controller ................. 7 4.1 Software installation ......................... 7 4.2 Power supply and initial start-up ...................... -
Page 3: Safety
1.0 Safety. Caution: Plasma cutters are a source of life-threatening voltage (in HF/HV models it can exceed 10,000V) and generate very high interference which can disturb or damage the electronics (computer, controller, controllers). Assembly and connection should be carried out by a person with electrical qualifications. -
Page 4: Emergency Stop
This description refers to stopping the operation of the MyPlasm CNC system. The E-STOP button should short-circuit the IN input ( middle terminal ) to the MINUS ( right terminal ) of the controller's E-STOP input. -
Page 5: Example Diagram
2.0 Example diagram. → Click to download in high resolution ←. -
Page 6: Basic Parameters And Requirements
3.0 Basic parameters and requirements The MyPlasm CNC control system managed via USB 2.0 via the Windows control software, which can be downloaded for free from the manufacturer's website: proma-elektronika.com → "download". The software has a freeware licence which does not exclude use for commercial purposes. -
Page 7: Commissioning The Controller
The instructions assume that the software has factory settings. If this is not the case, it is recommended to restore them during the first start-up. Click the link below to go to useful VIDEO instructions : EN : MyPlasm CNC Step by step... -
Page 8: Power Supply And Initial Start-Up
4.2 Power supply and initial start-up IMPORTANT !!! Use the original USB cable supplied with the system by the manufacturer !!! Do not use USB extensions. The controller requires a 24V DC power supply to operate ( 1 - 2A recommended ), the controller's current consumption does not exceed 0.6A ( 600mA ). - Page 9 If everything is working correctly the program should display a message about correct communication with the controller. There may be a message about a communication problem RS485 / with the plasma interface ( because it is not currently connected ). The message should disappear when the Plasma Interface is deactivated.
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Page 10: Connecting The Motors
4.3 Connecting the motors The controller generates STEP(PUL) / DIR signals TTL ( 5V ). It can work with stepper motor drivers, servo stepper motors and servo drives if they support 5V STEP (PUL) / DIR signals . The controller outputs have been designed to drive the opto-isolated inputs of the controllers. -
Page 11: Configuration Of Drives
5.0 Configuration of drives The most important and difficult machine configuration stage is to configure the drives of each axis accordingly. This is an individual stage for different designs. The general principles of configuration will be described here. 5.1 Configuration of axis directions: The first step is to establish the correct direction of each axis, which must be physically IDENTICAL to the one in the program. - Page 12 Example for pinion / rack drive One revolution of the pinion moves the drive by the distance between the number of teeth of the rack. For rack with straight teeth, the distance between the teeth is determined by the so-called rack modulus where Module 1 means inter- tooth distance = p [mm],, Module 2 means 2p [mm];...
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Page 13: Micro-Stepping Division
The Z axis is usually driven by a ball screw. In the case of a screw drive, the feed rate per motor revolution is the pitch of the screw, taking into account the gearing (if used). 5.3 Micro-stepping division After the gear ratio parameters have been configured ( point 4.2 ), the appropriate stepping division of the motors should be determined - remember that the setting in the program and the configuration of the motor controllers must be IDENTICAL. -
Page 14: Configuration Validity Test
5.4 Configuration validity test The most convenient test for the correct configuration of an axis is to zero the X Y position, select the axis position and move it by any value and compare the coordinates on the screen with the actual axis displacement. - Page 15 The quality of the cut strongly depends on maintaining the correct cutting speed; excessive slowing down overheats the material. It is important that the machine operates at the highest possible speed while maintaining a high work culture. The first step is to determine the maximum speed of the machine.
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Page 16: Dynamic Test In Automatic Operation
5.6 Dynamic test in automatic operation. If the working dynamics are satisfactory in manual mode, tests should be carried out for automatic operation (in the air without starting the plasma cutter). To do this, using tool point to "virtual" design position - for example the bottom left corner, and point to the "also virtual"... - Page 17 It is recommended to test the machine at different cutting speeds. The dynamic parameters should be adjusted individually for each machine. The paths analyse button shows in colour where the cutting speed will be reduced to a safe speed. A good solution is to mount a pen and draw designs on paper. It helps to work out the best dynamics as well as locating any mechanical problems.
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Page 18: Reference - Home / Limit Switches
6.0 Reference - Home / Limit switches Although the system can operate without reference sensors ( Home / Limit ), they are worth using for several reasons. Firstly, they allow a reference run to be made, which enables the system to determine the exact position of each axis. - Page 19 Example of basic sensor arrangement on a machine with a two-sided Y- axis drive ( Y + Y' ). Separate home switches for the Y + Y' drives allow auto squaring of the gantry during reference travel. The homing switches need to have adjustment to allow the squareness to be set.
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Page 20: Setting The Homing
6.2 SETTING THE HOMING In the "MACHINE" tab, the homing option can be activated and the automatic basing speed can be specified. There is also an option to change the basing direction of the X, Y axis. By default, the X axis is based to the left and the Y axis is based "down"... -
Page 21: Soft Limits
7.0 Soft Limits Setting software limits allows the movements of the machine to be restricted to the actual working area only. To do this, the actual working ranges of each axis must be specified in the machine configuration, with the range of the Z axis calculated from the top position of the torch nozzle to the material grate. -
Page 22: Connecting The Plasma Source
8.0 Connecting the plasma source ATTENTION : The plasma source generates very high interference and voltages dangerous to health and life. Incorrect connection will irreversibly damage electronic components. The connection should be made by a qualified person. The voltage generated by HF/HV cutters exceeds 10,000V AC and the Blow-Back 200V DC. -
Page 23: Arc Striking Control ( Start / Stop )
8.2 Arc striking control ( Start / Stop ) With the SPACE key or by clicking on the button with the torch symbol, the interface relay responsible for switching on the arc can be activated. If the cutting machine has a CNC connector, check in the documentation which pins are responsible for switching on the arc ( PLASMA START ). -
Page 24: Measurement Of Plasma Arc Voltage
8.3 Measurement of plasma arc voltage. The plasma arc voltage ( 70 - 170V DC* ) is proportional to the distance of the electrode from the material being cut. This voltage is used by the SYSTEM to control the torch distance during cutting. This makes it possible to maintain a constant height during thermal distortion or uneven material alignment. - Page 25 Interface can be connected directly to the external current connectors to the plasma source, without CNC / Voltage Divider connector Please note that the PLUS potential is the MATERIAL CLAMP TERMINAL and the negative potential ( MINUS ) is fed to the ELECTRODE of the torch - usually via an air-current connector.
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Page 26: Interface/Source Configuration
8.4 Interface/source configuration Depending on the method of connection and voltage division, select the appropriate multiplier value in the "Electronics" tab : Voltage divider : 1:1 for cutters without voltage divider, raw arc voltage ( measurement via high voltage terminals ) 20:1 or 50:1 for cutters with voltage divider (measurement via DV low- voltage terminals) Voltage calibration % - Adjustment to non-standard ratios ( default 100 ) -
Page 27: Thc Arc Voltage Measurement Test
8.5 THC arc voltage measurement test. If everything has been connected correctly, the first test of the manual cut can be performed. To do this, please make a long simple "manual" cut and read the measured voltage that will be presented in the main program window under ARC : Lay the straight material about 2-3mm thick on the table. - Page 28 ( if the source has this option ), usually called ARC OK, OK TO MOVE etc. by connecting them to Input2 of the MyPlasm CNC controller ( IN and MINUS pins ) and selecting the corresponding option in the special...
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Page 29: Anti-Collision System
9.0 Anti-collision system The MyPlasmCNC system allows the connection of anti-collision sensors, which stop the work if an obstacle is met. The torch should be mounted 'swinging' on the Z-axis to allow it to bend without damaging it and, at the same time, trigger the stop(s) or inductive sensors to be connected to the COLLISION input. -
Page 30: Material Height Detection
10.0 Material height detection Automatic determination of the pre-set torch height above the material before cutting allows the torch to be set at the pre-set height above the material, even in the case of uneven or unevenly aligned material / thermal deformation, which cannot be taken into account in the programme. - Page 31 In order to test the correct operation of the function, make sure that the material detection input light lights up when the torch is lifted (sensor activation). The material Z-coordinate should then be reset to zero - touch the material to the torch and click Z = 0, Then click on the TEST button, as a result of which the torch will perform an automatic height detection of the material.
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Page 32: Ohmic - Touch / Contact System
The disadvantage of a mechanical detection system is the relatively high force required to lift the head, which does not work for very thin materials that bend during detection. The tactile system ( OHMIC ) does not have this disadvantage. 10.2 OHMIC –... - Page 33 If the OHMIC circuit closure is correctly signalled then the detection function can be tested identically to the floating head: The disadvantages of the touch-trigger system are unreliability in the case of dirty materials and high sensitivity to splashing of the torch with metallic dust (from cutting), which can short-circuit the nozzle, closing the circuit and blocking further operation.
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Page 34: Combined Ohmic / Floating Head / Collision System
10.3 Combined OHMIC / Floating Head / collision system. The best solution, which combines the advantages of both systems, is to use the two solutions simultaneously. Then, when the OHMIC sensor fails ( no contact on the soiled material ) the floating head sensor will work. -
Page 35: Special Functions
11.0 Special functions 11.1 Pointing The function allows "pointing" of holes for subsequent drilling - all objects smaller than the defined value in the second box [mm] will be "scored" with plasma for the time [ms] defined in the first box. The effect of the centring ( green crosses ) can be checked by clicking Path analysis: *Planned transfer of functions higher ( beyond special functions ) 11.2 Running time counters, number of pierces... -
Page 36: Functions Of Input1, Input2
Output options : n/a : Inactive Plasma On/Off : Equivalent output to the plasma switching output. Can use for gas/flame cutting output During work on : Output active during automatic operation. On/Off button : Output activated by its own button on the screen (possibility of defining its own button graphics: create file Out1.bmp or/and Out2.bmp in the profile folder. -
Page 37: Laser Pointer
11.5 Laser pointer A convenient pointing tool ( instead of the torch ) is the laser pointer. This function is only for referencing the material position prior to actual cutting. If there is a need to enter an offset of the pointer ( crosshair ) with respect to the torch axis, this can be done in the special functions, which is represented by a red indicator in the project window, from now on positioning takes place with respect to the position of the laser pointer and... -
Page 38: Gas Cutting Function
11.8 Gas cutting function When the function is selected, an additional preheating option is available ( to form a pond ). Parameters available in the main programme window : Preheating time and height ( before breakdown ).Use output “plasma on/off” to control relay that manages cutting oxygen on. 11.9 Milling function The system allows the operation of a milling machine for straight/flat 2D cutting. -
Page 39: Rotary Axis Functions
11.11 Rotary axis functions* At the time of writing this manual, the rotary axis is not supported ( BETA version ). More info : https://proma-elektronika.com/instructions/myplasm-cnc-system-rotary-axis/ 11.12 Automatic arc restart If no main arc is detected ( ARC OK feedback signal ), the system will retry. -
Page 40: Configuration And Profile Data Folder
12.2 Configuration and profile data folder All configuration data is stored in the PromaElektronika → MyPlasmCNC folder, which located system folder %ProgramData% ( by default, this is a hidden folder on the system drive C:\ProgramData\PromaElektronika\MyPlasmCNC . Quick access to profile folders using the button in “special” tab: In the folder, you can edit the logo.bmp graphic for each profile. -
Page 41: Recovery And Data Transfer
Create support file - The software configuration data is zipped ( ZIP ) and saved to the desktop - the file is ready to be emailed to support ( contact@proma-elektronika.com ). Open configuration - allows the configuration to be recreated from the support file - both functions are also useful for transferring configuration data between profiles or computers.
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