DIY CNC Plasma - Torch Height Controller Installation

[@x_ph1l]

Thanks for the video! I'm going to build similar CNC plasma table in future (once I get a bigger shop), so this was really useful!

[@benjaminusey382]

Your torch is shaking in your mount no doubt causing irregularities in your cut. Try to secure it a little better. Your edges will come out better.

[@rsz90182]

I also noticed the blue torch and the label shaking. You can use a heavier gantry and torch mount and don't be afraid to make it move 65lb dumbbell back and forth with stability.

[@maga_q_anon8384]

Dang. Would of been nice to see the wiring process on the THC. Im using an Adrenio Board with a 5v relay

[@jvmiller1995]

Hey Bob just a a tip. consumables for a plasma cutters are rated in amps 40 amps 60 amps and so on. The higher the amps the bigger the orifice. you need to match your amps to what your consumables are rated for cutting on low amps with a big tip will produce crap cuts and burn up tips a lot faster. I don't have a HF plasma so I can't say what they come with or sell for them but they should be marked but figuring out what size you got and not go to far under that amperage might help improve your results and make tips last longer

[@MakingStuff]

The HF plasma cutter just has one size of tip and electrode. I know it doesn't make cuts like a Hyoertherm Powermax, but it gets the job I need done. I hope to upgrade to a better plasma cutter in the near future. Thanks for watching!

[@gustavocalderon8463]

I like a lot the way you did your plasma table , very simple and stable. Could you please chare the file of the box for thc

[@dungeonmechanic4672]

Ok thanks for all your help

[@UnorthodoxFabrication]

I have been messing around with a diy plasma table I bought for 5800.00 and it has the THC already but it always eats consumables because it touches the work and over heats. The preset for the THC have been at 120V and I look forward to dropping them down to see if this helps. Thanks for the video.

[@SGOI_AUS]

try 105 - 110V bro i got mine set between 108 and 111V every torch and setup different but round the ballpark have a go around there and let me know obviously different size and steel diff results but have a go around there

[@joshuacaylor881]

Good stuff brother!

[@MakingStuff]

Thanks!

[@under22100]

Hello sir, i also made the cnc plasma machine without THC or z-axis. When i doing any job on the cnc is plasma torch is always on. When i doing holes in metal sheet is holes are done but the path is also cut. Pl's help me. The THC is needed to torch on/off or failure of sheetcam design when i made the design.

[@pyrofool123]

I'm a bit late but have you considered using an ohmic sensor instead of a floating head?

[@MakingStuff]

Yes, maybe on the next upgrade. This was easier to DIY at the time. Thanks for watching!

[@orlandosanchez520]

Hi i was wondering if you had an extra cover like the one you printed out for the THC. i would like to buy one if you do.

[@SivaKumar-oj2ld]

Which model mach3 controllers use

[@Scorbes]

Hello I’m just wondering where you wired in the torch height controller into the breakout board? Great videos thank you.

[@MakingStuff]

It gets 3 pins on the break out board. One for up, one for down and one for ARC OK.

[@bryanjk]

I can't tell if THC installed intended as click bait but it worked on me.

[@krazed0451]

I've ignored this video a few times as I was wondering why there were weed videos in my feed :-P

[@diamondperformancefab5931]

LMAO, stoner

[@JBFromOZ]

Great stuff thanks for sharing

[@fasousa4798]

Why is it sparking so much above surface? Was a consumable problem or recurrent issues?

[@brooksdw]

is there something you have to do to work in program mode ?

[@ceshadow76]

Hello man, I am building a 2x2 mt plasma CNC, I have nema 23 motors, DM 542 drivers, a Mach3 Usb 5 Axis 100khz Cnc Controller Card, I dont have the height control, which is not expensive and easy to get, can you suggest one? You have plans to help me with its construction, I will thank you, greetings from Peru.

[@Allan-mf1he]

Wonder is there is a fiber laser DIY option?

[@nujayfabrication8089]

Do you sell those 3d printed little boxes ?

[@nanashadrackboakye8235]

if i may ask.... where did you order the Proma THC......... i ordered mine from ebay and i have been waiting for months......im guessing i was scammed... still waiting though. but your video inspired me to order again but i dont want to be fooled the second time. nice vid

[@MakingStuff]

I got mine on ebay too.

[@tjkoker]

Hi Bob, I have to say, you really have a broad spectrum of knowledge at your disposal. As well as the fact that you had the Cajones' to make a video that is insightful as well as instructive. Hats off to you! Oh, I do occasionally get a bit nervous about your long hair around all the moving parts. How do you work around that?

[@MakingStuff]

Never had an issue with hair and tools or anything else. I'm just careful and don't stick my head where it doesn't belong :) Thanks for watching!

[@carroceriasnicar]

friend do you use arduino? you know if I can put that thc on my arduino?

[@FlavioOliveira]

Amigo, instalei uma tocha plasma na minha cnc e ela recebeu interferência quando acionei a tocha e isso fez com que a cnc parasse. Voce sabe me falar o que pode ser esse problema?

[@josecarlossotoornelas6264]

Hi! Friend you can made a video how calibrate the thc!! Please

[@JerkerMontelius]

Cant you get a straight torch head? So that you dont have to mount that in such awkward angle?

[@MakingStuff]

Watch the CNC plasma update videos.

[@JerkerMontelius]

@@MakingStuff I will do that

[@EZ_shop]

Good job Bob. Yep, the door slider's got to go. Ciao, Marco.

[@MakingStuff]

Already working on a solution. Thanks for watching.

[@batfrog84]

very help full thank you

[@steveu235]

would a better quality plasma cutter such as a hypertherm give a cleaner cut

[@MakingStuff]

The HF plasma cutter does quite well on thin sheet metal for signs and stencils. A hypertherm will probably do better on thicker metal.

[@nanashadrackboakye8235]

Hi, I want to add proma thc 150 to my newly built plasma table.... How is your experience working with it till now. I'm at a point to buy proma ($300) on ebay or others less priced than proma....... Your advise would be really counted on! Thanks

[@MakingStuff]

I love it, have had no issues with it.

[@nanashadrackboakye8235]

@@MakingStuff many thanks

[@steveu235]

Ive been watching youtubes on how to make THC's but that talk about voltage dividers to reduce the voltage so the low voltage boards can handle the voltage while reading the highs and lows. Does your plasma cutter have a voltage divider or is it that a proma does not need to read from a voltage divider. Hope you understand what I'm trying to ask.

[@MakingStuff]

The Harbor Freight plasma cutter does not have a voltage divider. I had to hook it up to the arc voltage to use the Proma. If you watch the video that I uploaded yesterday, I upgraded to a Hypertherm. It does have a voltage divider on it, so on the Proma I used the 50:1 instead of the direct arc voltage.

[@NemesisRTCW]

Proma can use full arc voltage or a 50: 1 divider, depending on where you connect it. I have used both, and cut quality is the same, but I would prefer the 50:1 connection as you only have a low voltage signal from the thc to the controller.

[@abdulrahmnanalabbacy7492]

I just got my cnc plasma machine from china, as I tried to get it up for running there is problem that I have and I hope someone can help. when I tried to cut a piece of metal, it doesn't start, it keep popes up message box say " ARC BREAK ALARM" I tried it manually the arc work. sometime the machine runs but not arc, doesn't cut at all. any idea work could be wrong? I was told be the guy who I bought it from I need to clamp it on the material not on the bed, and I need to adjust the voltage higher. Is that right? Anything will help. Thanks

[@mannieromero2697]

Great video !

[@MakingStuff]

Thank you.

[@TechBuild]

Which CNC controller board are you using to control the stepper motor drivers?

[@MakingStuff]

www.makingstuff.info/Projects/CNC_Plasma_Update

[@TechBuild]

@@MakingStuff Thank you.

[@ricardomaggiore5518]

hello, i would like to ask you if you have tried to cut under water...

[@MakingStuff]

Nope.

[@akhileshkumar2003]

CAN U TELL WHERE I CAN GET THIS HEIGHT CONTROLLER , THE LINK IN THE DESCRIPTION DOESNT HAVE THIS ANYMORE ,

[@MakingStuff]

I got mine on ebay, but here are some search results for you. duckduckgo.com/?q=proma+compact+150+thc&t=ffab&atb=v1-1&ia=web

[@cnctoolspro1]

I love all your videos. what size wire did you use for + and - on the Proma?

[@MakingStuff]

20ga for all the hook ups other than the arc signal.

[@TechBuild]

Will this THC work with the Hypertherm Powermax 45 XP?

[@MakingStuff]

Yes I am using it with one in my current setup. Check out the 3 update videos at the end of this playlist. kzbin.info/www/bejne/morQfIV8jcuVaqs

[@charlesbrowning5441]

Is your switch wired normal open r close thanks Dewayne

[@MakingStuff]

Normally closed. If it is wired open is is more susceptible to noise.

[@SegoMan]

What's the cut out size for the Proma display to stick through the black box?

[@MakingStuff]

35mm x 45mm

[@SegoMan]

Thanks! I'm laying out control panels tonight for my 6x12 build.

[@realsoftgames7174]

got a question about the sheet metal your using what is the price roughly per sheet?

[@MakingStuff]

Around $80 per sheet.

[@kennethmichaels8747]

How much did that cost to build that table

[@MakingStuff]

I've got all the costs broken down here. makingstuff.info/Projects/CNC_Plasma

[@fhiltechinnovation9772]

thank you so much for the video, ''its gives me an idea, ''

[@timdietrich286]

Are you using an Ethernet smooth stepper in conbination with your thc

[@MakingStuff]

No

[@LoudandProudBSE]

@making stuff Im currently working on a build similiar to yours but Im using Mach 3. The 150 THC uses 3 Input pins on the Hobby CNC Pro 4 Axis... did you eliminate some of your limit switches?

[@MakingStuff]

Yes you will run out of input pins using just the hobbycnc board. In one of the videos I mentioned that there was a second printer port in the machine. I used that second printer port and a $25 break out board from Amazon to get the extra input pins I needed to keep the limit switches. I did run w/o limit switches until I got the second board up and running.

[@LoudandProudBSE]

@@MakingStuff ok understood. The Promo THC-SD looks like it may be an alternative that doesnt eat up any ports. Have any experience with them?

[@chrisrenaud4141]

Whats the benefit of this? just for sheet metal that is not perfectly flat?

[@MakingStuff]

Yeah, it also will be while it's being cut.

[@sbirdranch]

Congratulations. I have to figure out how to wire mine. Because I use the same controller for my router as I will for my plasma it will be a little more complicated. Maybe I can use a different pin for Z with the plasma setup...hmmmm.

[@MakingStuff]

I wired the THC up to the second parallel port and used a separate break out board. Maybe you could do the same thing?

[@4dscreenart]

Will this work with Mach 3?

[@MakingStuff]

Have no clue. I only use LinuxCNC.

[@mastermoarman]

Really cool video. I want to build one now lol. That floating z looks a bit wiggly. Here's a slightly better 3d printed one you might like.

[@MakingStuff]

Do you forget the link to the 3D printed one?

[@mastermoarman]

@@MakingStuff why yes I did www.thingiverse.com/thing:2516238

[@MakingStuff]

Thanks, I'll check it out.

[@dungeonmechanic4672]

Hi... where did you purchase the proma controller from? I am having a difficult time locating it.

[@MakingStuff]

I got it on Ebay.

[@dungeonmechanic4672]

I've been looking, but I haven't been able to find it is it listed under proma? Or another name?

[@MakingStuff]

Looks like there is no one selling them on ebay right now. If you can't find a Proma, I have heard that Price THCs are good too, however I have never used one so I can't say for sure.

[@nanashadrackboakye8235]

@@MakingStuff they are good... A friend uses one but now they don't sell one with raw voltage input, only 50:1 port.....

[@marijanjakara6262]

It seems that your cutting speed is too slow, try increase speed by double, you will get more dust but finish will be much nicer almost without dross. Or lower amperage, it looks very thin sheet metal.

[@patakiattila8970]

Bob, i think you missunderstand the concept how a THC works. When you showed those test cuts you don't have to set different volts. You have to watch Proma what volts it shows at a given feedrate at specified amps.(of course delay time has to be set maximum so you can watch it without before Proma starts to control and volts varies. By the way that feed is just way too slow.

[@MakingStuff]

Thanks. I had a bad electrode in the torch when I shot the video. I think that was causing the voltage on the Proma to be very sporadic. Of course I didn't know this until after the video was posted. I'm making a new floating Z and will go back and check this.

[@officialprinters6744]

THC mach 3 breakout board connection plzzz

[@MakingStuff]

Sorry I don't know Mach3

[@officialprinters6744]

@@MakingStuff okey Give more detail THC connection.

[@aycompay]

Please add lighting to your work area. It is hard to see what you are describing.

[@MakingStuff]

The new LED lights went in last week, no joke. Future videos should be brighter. Thanks for watching.

[@microtech.corp.2260]

How about metal sensor for replace the THC?

[@diamondperformancefab5931]

How about learn better English before you try to give English speaking people advice. It doesn't even make sense. "Metal sensor" Is much too vague. What are you referring to?

[@steveu235]

@@diamondperformancefab5931 Hes not giving advice, if you see the question mark at the end of his sentence you should know he is asking a question. maybe YOU should take some language lessons. he is probably asking about a proximity sensor.

[@boots7859]

I'm all in for tech solutions, however sometimes it seems like stepping back and rethinking the problem helps. Here, the problem is your metal is warping due to heat. Instead of adjust the head with electronics/sensing, etc, why not adjust the material being cut? Off the cuff, it would seem like it might be possible to put 2-3 legs spaced 2-3 inches away from and around the cutting head with captive bearing balls for heads. Bottom of the ball would be zero'd against the metal pressed against the table before starting. Then your cutting head would be raised above that level to the height it needs to be. Every time you start a cut, the head lowers, the ball bearing faced legs push the sheet metal to table, and the cutting head is now at the proper height against nominally flat metal. A drawback might be the balls rolling over previously cut material, however I imagine some sort of compressed spring on the top of each leg would be able to provide just enough 'give'. I'd like to build one of these, so will try it, and then probably end up with a torch height controller anyways.... But then, what about making the table an electromagnet, and pulling the material against it?

[@NemesisRTCW]

That will not work, as the material will spring back. Yes you can force it flat, but If you want to cut you will need the perfect torch to metal clearancefor maximum quality. Also if your 3 prongs do not touch the material (because 1 or more of them are in a previously cut area, thus not pushing on the plate) then your not even going to a correct pierce hight. Voltage measuring torch hight control is needed, there are no ways around it. Magnetic backing plate seems a good idea, but gives problems. 1 the magnetic field will mess up your arc. 2 As you have metal on the back of your metalte be cut your cut quality will be very bad. 3 heat and plasma arc will damage your magnet backing, so it would prove to be very expensive.

[@khalil1919setif]

Rechrche chema thc price cnc avac poste plasma s stamos125 bliz

[@nicolasgallegos1110]

Your machine had more vibration,this is the problem Sr

[@DieselRamcharger]

No, it won't. learning WTF you are doing instead of throwing money down a hole will fix the problem

[@jeblowme2nite]

Leave the comment section to those that are informed

[@muh1h1]

I don't personally need no thc in my life. Drugs are bad mkaaaay!