Great conversion. How do you trigger the torch from the CNC controls? I would have thought that you would need to wire into the switch lines to trigger it, but you don't show that in this video.
Every CNC control card will have a fast relay output that is controlled by gcode, in my case with Mach 3 as a controller, it is the M05 code to start the torch and the M03 to stop. The two wires that used to go to the handheld trigger will be wired to this relay instead.
@@JohnHansknecht Makes sense. Did you connect to those wires inside the torch head, near the connection to the plasma cutter, or inside the plasma cutter housing?
@@engineerable Once you have cut the switch out of the head, there is no reason to keep the two wires that went to it within the cable. They can be pulled out and routed directly to the CNC card. Sometimes wires aren't easy to pull out of the assembly because they are cable tied in a few locations. In this case, you will notice that your connector that goes to the torch power supply is only a two-wire connection, so you can snip them off or unsolder them, and then send a new two wires over to your cnc card.
I just received your eBay machine plasma cutter housing you sell. Looks well made, very nice print quality. What printer do you use? I'm going to be making a video of the plasma cutter build using your adapter. Will let people know where to get it. Have you rigged up a ARC ON signal, or don't find it necessary for your use?
@engineerable the cheap Yeswelders pretty much let you know when arc is on because it blasts air and ignites an arc unless you haven't installed the consumables correctly. I use a Prusa I3Mk3. Print could actually look a little better, but I have been having first layer adhesion issues. Working on improving that.
I'm not absolutely sure. When I look at Amazon for the Lotos 5500D, it appears to be the same IPT-40 head as mine, yet in some of the review videos on Amazon, it is a different head. You will have to open your head and look closely and compare to what is seen in my video. Including the ROTATION angle of the hex head on the brass mechanism as it sits in the housing. Let me know what you find.
@@JohnHansknecht I checked mine and where your head sensor wires tie into the switch wires, mine go back to the machine separate, meaning the head sensors 2 wires go all the way to pins at the machine connection as well as the trigger has 2 wires that go all the way to the pins at the machine connection. Since I don't use the switch can I just dead end those? However on the sensor for the tip I bet I would have to tie those together maybe? I really don't know. Other than that it is the same as yours.
@@riverbottomband The "switch" connection from your machine will connect to your CNC controller instead of the handheld switch. If your machine watches the two pins that detect the head is in place, then you can either drill out my housing to slip those two spring pins in, or you can short out the circuit because it is the brass of the head that shorts the two pins. You do this at your own risk, because lack of a head exposes high voltage.
No, that is a different torch type. In general, High Frequency start machines are a nightmare for CNC. The DS Pro series uses a blow-back starting method that has no high frequency.
I don't understand why the question would be asked unless you are attempting to copy my intellectual property. It is offered for sale for a reasonable price.
@@JohnHansknecht I'm planning on using the best arc plasma cutter and would like to know if PLA would hold up to the heat. Not looking to steal your business brotha!
@@mamburgey5 Torch heads don't get hot because the plasma is actually beyond the copper tip from the high air flow. I haven't seen any sparks go straight up in a way that could hit the printed part. The torch head consumables redirect all sparks outward.
Great conversion. How do you trigger the torch from the CNC controls? I would have thought that you would need to wire into the switch lines to trigger it, but you don't show that in this video.
Every CNC control card will have a fast relay output that is controlled by gcode, in my case with Mach 3 as a controller, it is the M05 code to start the torch and the M03 to stop. The two wires that used to go to the handheld trigger will be wired to this relay instead.
@@JohnHansknecht Makes sense. Did you connect to those wires inside the torch head, near the connection to the plasma cutter, or inside the plasma cutter housing?
@@engineerable Once you have cut the switch out of the head, there is no reason to keep the two wires that went to it within the cable. They can be pulled out and routed directly to the CNC card. Sometimes wires aren't easy to pull out of the assembly because they are cable tied in a few locations. In this case, you will notice that your connector that goes to the torch power supply is only a two-wire connection, so you can snip them off or unsolder them, and then send a new two wires over to your cnc card.
I just received your eBay machine plasma cutter housing you sell. Looks well made, very nice print quality. What printer do you use? I'm going to be making a video of the plasma cutter build using your adapter. Will let people know where to get it. Have you rigged up a ARC ON signal, or don't find it necessary for your use?
@engineerable the cheap Yeswelders pretty much let you know when arc is on because it blasts air and ignites an arc unless you haven't installed the consumables correctly. I use a Prusa I3Mk3. Print could actually look a little better, but I have been having first layer adhesion issues. Working on improving that.
Would this work with the Lotos 5500D CNC plasma? Thanks and awesome work.
I'm not absolutely sure. When I look at Amazon for the Lotos 5500D, it appears to be the same IPT-40 head as mine, yet in some of the review videos on Amazon, it is a different head. You will have to open your head and look closely and compare to what is seen in my video. Including the ROTATION angle of the hex head on the brass mechanism as it sits in the housing. Let me know what you find.
@@JohnHansknecht I do know its an IPT-60. Does the number indicate amp capabilities? Ill check it tomorrow and let you know if it matches yours.
@@JohnHansknecht I checked mine and where your head sensor wires tie into the switch wires, mine go back to the machine separate, meaning the head sensors 2 wires go all the way to pins at the machine connection as well as the trigger has 2 wires that go all the way to the pins at the machine connection. Since I don't use the switch can I just dead end those? However on the sensor for the tip I bet I would have to tie those together maybe? I really don't know. Other than that it is the same as yours.
@@riverbottomband The "switch" connection from your machine will connect to your CNC controller instead of the handheld switch. If your machine watches the two pins that detect the head is in place, then you can either drill out my housing to slip those two spring pins in, or you can short out the circuit because it is the brass of the head that shorts the two pins. You do this at your own risk, because lack of a head exposes high voltage.
Hey John .. where can I buy a housing to convert torch to CNC plasma .. thank you
www.ebay.com/itm/285632445121
Hi John, do you know if you can use the Yeswelder Cut 55DS? I have one that is not the pro.
No, that is a different torch type. In general, High Frequency start machines are a nightmare for CNC. The DS Pro series uses a blow-back starting method that has no high frequency.
@@JohnHansknecht Thanks for the info. Looks like I may need to buy another one. I'm sure my wife will love that. haha.
Do you have one that would work with a hypertherm unit?
I don't. I'm sure I could modify my design, but I would need one to actually measure.
What material are you 3d printing with? PLA?
I don't understand why the question would be asked unless you are attempting to copy my intellectual property. It is offered for sale for a reasonable price.
@@JohnHansknecht I'm planning on using the best arc plasma cutter and would like to know if PLA would hold up to the heat. Not looking to steal your business brotha!
@@mamburgey5 Torch heads don't get hot because the plasma is actually beyond the copper tip from the high air flow. I haven't seen any sparks go straight up in a way that could hit the printed part. The torch head consumables redirect all sparks outward.
Hey! Would you be willing to sell the STL files?
Sorry, no. Too easy for someone to post online in a forum.