Protohaven Wiki

• Reserve a timeslot at protohaven.org/product/equipment-area-reservations/
• Enclose the plasma cutting area with Welding Curtains
• Machine Setup:

• Check that water height is within roughly ⅛” to the top of slats
• Verify work area and gantry rails are clear of any obstacles
• Load your material on the water table
• Verify all E-Stop & Proximity Limit Switches are unlocked
• Verify torch mount is aligned with the magnetic base plate

• Inspect Torch Consumables

•  Check for appropriate nozzle type: regular or detail (swap if necessary)
• Check for damage (replace if necessary)

• Turn on CNC Control Box (red switch) and Plasma Power Unit

• Verify that motor on CNC Control Box  is enabled (black switch)
• Set appropriate amperage on the Plasma Power Unit (consult Hypertherm Torch Operator Manual to reference your Material Type & Thickness)
• Set the Plasma Power Unit to the appropriate Operating Mode.

(Non-continuous pilot arc is the standard for piercing and cutting metal plate)

• Attach Grounding Clamp to either the water bed or your material
• Verify a compressed air line is connected to the Plasma Power Unit

• Create/edit an existing tool for Material Type & Thickness by referencing the Hypertherm Torch Operator Manuall to your Material Type & Thickness:

• Feed Rate
• Pierce Delay
• Pierce Height
• Cut Height

• Import your plasma .DXF file as “new part”
• Select your part
• Create new “Plasma Cut” Operation (Operation>Plasma Cut)
• Select the layer that contains the vectors you want to cut
• Choose Contour Method

• Outside Offset is typical for jobs with a mix of closed/open profiles

• Enter the feed rate based on your material type and thickness
• Configure lead-in and lead-out settings and press OK
• Verify that the cutting preview shows the appropriate direction & leads
• Run the Post Processor to create your .TAP g-code file

• Hit flashing red “Reset” button to clear Emergency Stop condition

• If the button does not reset when clicked, check that E-Stops & Proximity Limit Switches are unlocked

• Select “Reference All Home” (wait until all three axis lights are green)
• Zero X, Y, and Z axis
• Load your file (File>Load G-Code)
• Jog the machine head to the left/front corner of the desired origin (arrow keys)

• Before zeroing, make note of the coordinates so that, if you need to restart mid-cut,  you’ll have the exact location to return to
• If prefered, select ”MDI Alt 2” to manually jog to the nearest whole number for your desired origin

• Zero X and Y on the left/front corner of the desired origin
• Zero Z with torch approximately ¼” above the material surface (page up/down)
• Trace the job location using jog/arrow keys to ensure your file fits where desired
• Safety Check:

• Identify nearest fire extinguisher
• Ensure E-Stop is easily accessible
• Put on appropriate eye protection

• Select  “Cycle Start” to begin cutting

• Wipe down and dry all rails, gear tracks, and machine components
• Select “Reference All Home” to jog the head of the machine
• Jog the machine head slightly away from Home/Proximity Limit Switches
• Turn off the CNC Control Box
• Note any major maintenance needs at protohaven.org/maintenance
• Disconnect the Ground Clamp and place it next to the power unit
• Recycle waste in appropriate scrap bins

Mach 3 basics, no THC control

https:%%//%%www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwaOBPTVOvs

A bit more on THC

https:%%//%%www.youtube.com/watch?v=kf8S3rL3wYw 

Sheet Cam tutorial set:

https:%%//%%www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcJ7QNc6wG4&list=PLIrtbMa8OzSXwUnT-7fsxovjY0vAIu14I 

HTML5 Speed Control (change your life)

https:%%//%%chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/html5-video-speed-control/ejdipbccipeloijefbkiakckfhdbgocg?hl=en