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CamBam help (General usage) / Re: Plasma cutting lead ins and outs position
« on: June 01, 2018, 19:31:27 pm »
This "solution" may get me in trouble but here goes...
Instead of trying to make CAMBAM function with a CNC plasma cutter, I strongly suggest that you use SheetCAM [sheetcam.com] as it was designed from the ground up to be used with a plasma cutter. It is inexpensive as well, plus there are several add-ons that will helps speed production.
My perspective on this is from having owned a CNC plasma cutter [has been sold .. welder/partner had more bugs that plasma cutter!] as well as a 3-axis router, and having used CAMBAM, and SheetCAM. The plasma table was 8'x10' used a CandCNC controller, wiring and steppers, and a Hyperthern plasma torch, run by MACH3, so all the electronics were hardwired together..touch height, xoyo, plus the cutting speed, height and all the other parameters that are needed for efficient plasma cutting.
Practical hints...ground everything with the overkill mode even make it redundant....use uninterruptible power supplies on all electronics .. one for computer one for CandCNC controller...talk to electrician about isolating circuits.
SheetCAM is designed so lead-ins and lead-outs are defined with a click of a button. Which side to cut on is also defined with the click of a button. Nesting is easy as well.
Further, the combination of torch tip, cutting speed and type of metal can all be defined as "tools", so there is no need to constantly be setting these up..especially if CandCNC controller is used.
Plus, the forum is just as nice as this one with the creator of SheetCAM posting often and in detail.
Plus, there are MANY youTube tutorials that are excellent.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcJ7QNc6wG4
It is intellectually rewarding to solve problems about software, however, if the objective it to get the job done, then using a tool designed for efficiency and accuracy is the better path.
I sincerely hope this "solution" does not insult anyone.
Instead of trying to make CAMBAM function with a CNC plasma cutter, I strongly suggest that you use SheetCAM [sheetcam.com] as it was designed from the ground up to be used with a plasma cutter. It is inexpensive as well, plus there are several add-ons that will helps speed production.
My perspective on this is from having owned a CNC plasma cutter [has been sold .. welder/partner had more bugs that plasma cutter!] as well as a 3-axis router, and having used CAMBAM, and SheetCAM. The plasma table was 8'x10' used a CandCNC controller, wiring and steppers, and a Hyperthern plasma torch, run by MACH3, so all the electronics were hardwired together..touch height, xoyo, plus the cutting speed, height and all the other parameters that are needed for efficient plasma cutting.
Practical hints...ground everything with the overkill mode even make it redundant....use uninterruptible power supplies on all electronics .. one for computer one for CandCNC controller...talk to electrician about isolating circuits.
SheetCAM is designed so lead-ins and lead-outs are defined with a click of a button. Which side to cut on is also defined with the click of a button. Nesting is easy as well.
Further, the combination of torch tip, cutting speed and type of metal can all be defined as "tools", so there is no need to constantly be setting these up..especially if CandCNC controller is used.
Plus, the forum is just as nice as this one with the creator of SheetCAM posting often and in detail.
Plus, there are MANY youTube tutorials that are excellent.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcJ7QNc6wG4
It is intellectually rewarding to solve problems about software, however, if the objective it to get the job done, then using a tool designed for efficiency and accuracy is the better path.
I sincerely hope this "solution" does not insult anyone.