Step 2: Modbus Configuration.

Step 3: Screen and Macro Installation.

Step 4: Configure I/O Functions

Step 5: Screen Description.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

• If the height adjustment is not smooth or overshoots the position, lower the % of correction speed.

• If you do not see action on the signals coming from the THC, try tracing them by measuring them at the output of the THC, the input of the breakout board, the LEDs of the breakout board, the Software Diagnostics, the software function, etc...  You need to understand where you are losing them.
• The idea is that the correction is as fast as possible, but that it does not oscillate up and down.  If it is set as too fast, you are going to find the Z axis moving like a sowing machine.

Descriptions of Macro:

These allow for adjusting the parameters on the fly via gcode.  This is useful to automate the parameters directly from the post processor or for cutting different areas with different parameters without having to stop to adjust the parameters manually. 

Macro 20300

Q – Set the Height parameter

P - Set the Delay parameter (0 - 10)

H - Set the V Range parameter (0 - 32)

E - Set the Set Point (40 - 265)

Syntax:
“M20300 Q2 P2 H2 E120”

This will set the pierce height to 2mm, the delay (time before starting to adjust the height) to 2 seconds, and will set the setpoint (target voltage) to 120 volts.

Macro 20301 (P)

1 = Auto Setpoint parameter active.

0 = Auto Setpoint parameter disabled.

Syntax:
“M20301 P1”

 Activates the Auto Setpoint feature.

NOTE:
No need to set all parameters

Test the complete sequence which includes probing, piercing cutting with THC.

Configure the THC parameters according to the manual: 

Run this G code that does not use macros:

N0050 F20       (Set the Probing Speed 20mm/sec)
N0060 G31 Z10   (Start probing axion on the Z-axis to a depth of up to 10mm)
N0070 G92 Z3    (Set work zero for the z axis using an offset of the switch) 
N0080 G00 Z2    (move the Z-Axis 2mm up. initial pierce )
N0090 M3        (Start the Torch)
N0100 G04 P2    (Set a Pause of 2 seconds to allow the pierce time.)
N0110 G00 Z3    (move the Z-Axis 3mm up. Cut height)
N0120 G01 X5    (Cut a 5mm square.)
N0130 Y5
N0140 X0
N0150 Y0
N0160 M5         (Turn off the Plasma)
N0170 G0  Z5     (move the Z-Axis 5mm up. Z_top)

Feel free to adjust it to your units or other preferences.

Test using the macros

Macros:

Keep in mind the macro will now execute the following actions when M32 (Start Cutting) and M52 (End Cutting):

1. If using a PTS-1 (Plasma Touch Sensor), the first section is to Enable the Probing action.  You should see the ENABLE LED on the PTS-1 and also on the breakout board on the LED for the pin that you wired and configured for activating the probe.  In these instructions, we are using Pin 1 on Port 2. 
2. The Z-axis lowers until the nozzle or sensor that you connected on the nozzle touches the plate and closes the circuit and activates the probe input.  You would momentarily see action for this on the TOUCH LED on the PTS-1 unit or the switch if using a Floating Head, on the LED for the input pin you assigned on the Breakout Board, and on the Probe LED on the UCCNC screen.
3. As soon as probing is completed, the Probe ENABLE is disabled and the z-axis moves to the Pierce position or the Pierce Height that you configured.
4. The plasma starts by activating the plasma relay and stays cutting for the duration of time that you configured or set as Pierce Time in Seconds.
5. After pierce time the z axis moves to the cut position that I set in cut height
6. The Plasma stays on and continues to execute g-code and THC if implemented until an M5 is reached or e-stop is pressed.

Configure the operation parameters in this screen:

G code with macro:

N0090 M32       (Probes, pierces, moves to cutting position, and start the torch)
N0100 G01 X5    (Cut a 5mm square.)
N0110 Y5
N0120 X0
N0130 Y0
N0150 M52       (Turn off the Plasma and move the z axis to Z_Top)