Anyone tried the THC3T-03-Stand-Alone-Plasma-Torch-Height-Controller

I have the thc3t-04 and have been impressed with it so far takes a little to configure but once done works like a charm cheap yes works yes and have had plenty of support from the company

Hi Andrew (Shad71),

I've been working on my own very fully featured DIY THC for quite some time now but it will only be a basic THC UP / THC DOWN signal sending type, nothing like your Simplicity with fully external PID control. I recently bought some cnc software and did some testing with a logic analyser to test reaction times of certain features. Unfortunately, I ended up devastated after my testing revealed one of the most important plasma functions did not work as advertised and effectively made the software useless (for my needs) until they fix that particular feature.

So until that's fixed it's back to Mach3 and the first THC I'm considering is your Simplicity (my THC has been designed around and talks to the other software, not Mach3). As has been previously mentioned, what interested me in your THC is:

1). Torch refire - I've needed that one a few times.
2). Voltage sampling – I believe Candcnc had problems and abandoned theirs
3). THC disable input
4). Hole centre marking feature - I designed a board to do that very thing 1-2 years ago, so obviously that's important to me.

Some questions I have on the Simplicity are:

1). Does the Simplicity not have the Puddle Jump feature that is in your other THC
2). What is the time delay from receiving a THC Disable signal to Z step pulses stopping.
3). This question is about synchronous Torch on/off switching. I.E. can this be done with the Neuron. If I want to turn on the torch synchronously with XY motion then I’d have in the gcode:

X1 X moves 1mm
M11 P3 Turn on output 3 at next motion move
X10 Motion move, output 1 turns on at beginning of this move

Likewise I want to be able to turn the torch off before the end of an XY move so I program something like:

M10 P3 Turn off output 3 at next motion move
X12 Output 3 turns of at X10 position and X moves 2 more mm

The above means the Torch On signal (output 3) must “pass through” the Neuron without any “significant” delay (i.e. very quickly). Also the Arc OK signal is irrelevant in this case because XY motion must start/continue without any Arc OK present, BUT the THC would need to enable THC after the torch has switched on and disable THC before the torch is switched off. I also realise you can't have the torch refire feature when doing a synchronuos fire with motion. You simply rely on the torch firing first time.

Can such operation be accomplished with the Neuron in addition to the normal starting using M3 and Arc OK.

So what is the purpose of all that ??
Open lines on thinner sheet and avoiding the round pierce holes by starting a pierce with motion.
Likewise turning the torch off a mm or 2 before the end of a cut to avoid a blow out divot.
Similarly hole cutting where users often get a divot as the plug drops out. Switching the torch off before motion ends prevents this divot.

Thanks,

Keith.

Hello Keith!
Very impressed with your knowledge of plasma cutting. I think you will understand me very good :)
About Simplicity futures, yes it's have Torch refire, Voltage sampling, have THC disable input and Hole center marking feature.

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1). Does the Simplicity not have the Puddle Jump feature that is in your other THC

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Yes, Simplicity does not have Puddle Jump (Jump above the workpiece that the torch is raised to clear the top dross puddle that can form during the pierce. It is the torch height after Pierce)
Most of my customers not use this function and I decide to not use this function in Simplicity. Now only Lite and Professional version have this future.

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2). What is the time delay from receiving a THC Disable signal to Z step pulses stopping.

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Time delay for all inputs is 5 milliseconds. This is minimal time for denouncing of the input signals.

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3). This question is about synchronous Torch on/off switching.

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I understand what you mean. All Neuron controllers before turn on the torch make Initial height sensing procedure. Then rapidly move on the transfer height and turn on the torch. Next, system wait ArcOK signal from plasma cutter.
When ArcOK signal issue, torch move on the pierce height for piercing......
As I understand you want to start XY motion immediately after torch on and without ArcOk control. In this situation we not have the torch refire feature. Now Simplicity make 3 attempts to refire if ArcOK signal will not issue during 3 sec after torch on.
But Simplicity can make it. Just you have to activate ArcOK input (in the menu) and set Pierce time to zero value. Controller turn on the torch, and immediately will issue Motion command to CNC . Next - regular THC control.

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Likewise I want to be able to turn the torch off before the end of an XY move

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We have only discrete I/O interface for Simplicity, but can do this. Simplicity have "Retract delay" future. This is the time interval between Torch off signal from CNC and start of the torch retract procedure. In this case the plasma power supply turn off immediately and delay timer will start. After finishing of the delay, Motion signal will turn off and torch retract procedure will issue. I hope you understand (sorry for my English).
For example you set RetractDelay value to 2 seconds.
........
M10 P3 Turn off output 3 at next motion move
X12 Output 3 turns of at X10 position, controller turn off the cutter, but not turn off the Motion signal, X moves 2 more mm
When 2 sec RetractDelay will end, Motion signal will turn off and torch will start retract.
I hope this answers your questions. Also look on the cutting sequence diagram.
Attachment 316800

Thanks very much Andrew,

I completely overlooked the switch debounce delay needed for inputs. I've been designing my DIY system with direct TTL signal communication to the CNC controller so haven't needed that. I suppose 5 mS is not too bad because at say a cutting speed of 6000 mm/min the torch should only move 0.5 mm in that time. Even adding the torch on relay activation time might get a max distance of 1mm. Some gcode creativity could perhaps gets around that.

Got to say Andrew, I like the way you think. When I first looked at one of your manuals I thought this guy doesn't like to overlook anything. You seem to think of any feature you can include in your THC. I've had the torch misfire happen quite a few times but never thought to have a refire feature. Good thinking.

Would really like that puddle jump feature in the Simplicity though (hint hint) LOL. I would go for your other THC but I think you said it ONLY works with Mach3 and if I am correct it doesn't have the hole centre marking feature.

No apologies needed for your english Andrew. On the contrary, I have a lot of appreciation for you having learnt a 2nd language.

Keith.

I think to add Puddle jump future to the simplicity controller too.
Other Neuron controllers works only with Mach3/4 CNC software. And for Start/Stop signals for Mach3 we have 25 msec max delay, for Mach4 10 msec (plugin loop timing). This value is too large for synchronous Torch on/off switching (especially for high cutting speed).
Hold input have 5 msec delay on all controllers. All controllers has hole centre marking future.
Just a lot of future are not described in the user manual, because this is embedded part of the cutting process, which determine how the system will behave in different situations without any human intervention.

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Originally Posted by ozyjimbo

I have the thc3t-04 and have been impressed with it so far takes a little to configure but once done works like a charm cheap yes works yes and have had plenty of support from the company

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It's an old thread, but you seem to be happy with the: thc3t-04 If you have any information on setting the thing up I would appreciate oyur input, I want to buy the same version, the one that is stand alone. 250. Sounds great. Any information would be great, Thanks in advance!

about the only problem i had was with the torch height sensor apart ftom that it was pretty easy to setup but if you are looking for a budget thc check out the mini thc i have one and it's great

https://www.ebay.com/p/Minithc-Unive...thC/1337949302