Originally Posted by
low79fx
dustin407
The floating torch assembly on your z axis,what exactly does it do and how does it adjust and maintain its height? As does it have some kind of preload tension, I don't see a motor for adjustment other than z axis motor. I do note that when torch touches work and rises there is slight movement on vertical torch slide. How is this achieved? I sound like a little kid asking the same thing over and over but I just gotta know how it works.
I'll try to answer your questions in general terms.
The floating head part of the "Z" axis allows the Z axis to move the torch into contact with the plate & trip a micro switch. This micro switch tells the "system" you have touched off on the plate & in turn moves the Z axis back up a pre determined distance, or to pierce height above the plate surface. (depending on your particular build. No two machines will be exactly the same)
The height is then most usually maintained by arc voltage. If the gap between the torch tip & plate surface increases or decreases the voltage varies & "the system" adjusts automatically up or down to maintain desired voltage. This value is pretty much proportional to gap or distance from tip to plate.
If it works.....Don't fix it!