Eagle Plasma Component Setup Guide · come and go. The program screen will reappear showing it has detected your ESS. Close the program. Connect the Ethernet adapter to the printer

Calibrating Mach3

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The only reason to calibrate Mach3, or change the steps per motor setting, is when the finished cut comes out larger, or smaller than, the dimensions of your Qcad drawing. Always rule out mechanical issues before making these changes in Mach3. (See Troubleshooting)

Before you begin: You will need a ruler or other measuring device (inches), a large piece of cardboard and a pencil or pen.

Open Mach3 using the Mach3 Loader icon or select Mach3 Loader from the Start Menu.

Select the EaglePlasma profile; click OK.

Using the arrow keys on the keyboard, jog the X & Y axis to a convenient place on the table. Place the cardboard underneath the torch tip. Move the torch tip down, pg up/pg dn keys, and mark the cardboard directly below the torch. Move the torch back up to safe travel height. (Do not jog the X or Y axis!)

Calibrating Mach3

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Click on the Settings Alt-6 tab. Select Set Steps per Unit.

Fig 1 Fig 2 Fig 3

Choose X Axis, click OK (Fig 1), enter the number of inches you would like it to move the torch

along the X-axis (the greater the length you measure, the easier it is to find discrepancies), click OK (Fig 2). Measure the actual distance it moved and enter at Fig 3, click

OK.

Fig 4 Fig 5

Accept the Steps per Unit by clicking Yes (Fig 4), click OK (Fig 5). If necessary, repeat this

procedure on the Y-axis.

Mach3 Changing X & Y Axis Motion

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The eagleplasma Mach3 profile is pre-set to a standard orientation to the table. The up arrow keys move the carriage (Y-axis) across the gantry, away from zero. Down arrow key moves the carriage toward zero. Right arrow key moves the gantry (X-axis) across the table, away from zero. Left arrow key moves the gantry toward zero.

Depending on your relative position to the table, you may want to change the way the arrow keys cause the system to move. If your position is at an end of the table, you may want to see the carriage move across the gantry when you press the left and right arrow keys. Follow the instructions to swap the X & Y axis.

If you want to change X or Y-axis positive (+) or negative (-), or both, follow the instructions to reverse X and/or Y-axis motion.

To swap X & Y-axis:

Open Mach3 Loader, select Config/Ports and Pins.


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Under the Motor Outputs tab, change X-axis Step Pin# to 8, Dir Pin# to 3. Change Y-axis Step Pin# to 1, Dir Pin# to 7. Click OK; select Config/Save Settings to insure Mach3 reads the changes. Now the left & right arrow keys will move the carriage across the gantry, and the up & down arrow keys will move the gantry back and forth on the table.

Whenever you make changes to Mach3, it is a good idea to make a backup of your .xml (profile) with these changes. Go to My Computer/C: drive/Mach3 folder and locate the eagleplasma.xml. Copy the document and paste it to your desktop or USB hard drive (memory stick). If you have to reinstall Mach3, you can copy & paste the .xml file into the Mach3 folder. It saves having to repeat these procedures.


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Reverse X and/or Y-axis motion:

Open Mach3 Loader, select Config/Homing Limits.

Click the red x in either the X & Y Reversed column to change it to a green check mark. Click OK. Select Config/Save Settings to force Mach3 to read the changes.

Whenever you make changes to Mach3, it is a good idea to make a backup of your .xml (profile) with these changes. Go to My Computer/C drive/Mach3 folder and locate the eagleplasma.xml. Copy the document and paste it to your desktop or USB hard drive (memory stick). If you have to reinstall Mach3, you can copy & paste the .xml file into the Mach3 folder. It saves having to repeat these procedures.

Floating Head Set-up

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We recommend that you begin using our CNC system without Floating Head or THC. At this point you should have a Tool defined in SheetCam and be familiar with importing drawings, creating operations, posting tap files and executing G-code in Mach3. Import your 2inch circle file into

SheetCam and follow these directions.

Open a tool in SheetCam set the Pierce Height to .25”.

Select Options/Machine/Post Processor Tab; select A Eagle Plasma FH.


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Load the G-code and click on the Edit G-Code button.

Change the M03 to M0; close and Save the file. Jog the torch to the desired start position, zero all

axes and click Cycle Start. Mach3 will start to execute the file, but will stop at pierce height.

Measure the distance between the torch tip and the material.

Please note: The Floating Head does not work well with thin metal. If the material bows down from the weight of the torch, you will not get an accurate Switch Offset reading.

If the torch tip is ¼” (.25) from the metal, your Switch Offset is accurate, you can begin to use the

Floating Head post processor and set-up the THC. If not, continue the steps outlined in the following pages.


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To correct the Switch Offset, click Edit G-Code.

Fig 1 Fig 2

If the torch tip was less than .25in from the material, you will add the difference to the G92

number to make it a more negative number. For example: If the tip was .125in (1/8”) from the material, you would change the G92 number (Fig 1) to Z-0.2750 (Fig 2). It must remain a negative

number!

If the torch tip was more than .25in (1/4”) from the material, you will subtract the difference from the G92 number to make it a less negative number.

Close and save the file. Press Cycle Start and measure the offset of the torch tip from the material. If it is .25in away from the material, go to the next step. If not, continue to edit the G-Code until the torch

tip stops .25in above the metal.


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Open SheetCam TNG. In the Options menu, select Machine Options.

Select the Post processor tab. Select Edit post.


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Fig 1a Fig 2a

Scroll down to the switchoffset (Fig 1a) entry and change the number to the G92 number from

Mach3 (Edit G-Code). The number must remain a negative number; click Save (Fig2a).

You are now ready to use the Floating Head and set-up the THC.

Proma THC

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We recommend that you begin using our CNC system without Floating Head or THC. At this point you should have a Tool defined in SheetCam that is set to give you the best possible cut. Load the G-

code for your 2inch circle file into Mach3 and follow these directions.

Run code with the THC Off and note the average voltage displayed on the THC during the execution of the cut. Disregard the voltage during the initial pierce. Before the next cut, set the voltage recorded by pressing the up or down arrow on the THC. This number will remain until changed. Now when you cut with the THC turned on, Mach3 will move the torch up and down to maintain height.

Please Note: If you change any of the following - Cut Height, Feed Rate, Cutting Current, the set voltage on the THC will have to be changed for the new conditions. Additional Settings:

HYS – This setting controls how much the voltage must change before the THC responds. Default setting is 8V (plus or minus 4V before the THC responds). d–t – THC pierce delay. Default setting is .5 seconds. May need to change when cutting thin material with no pierce delay set in SheetCam. H-U – Anti-dive setting. Default setting is 200V; any higher voltage detected and the THC won’t respond. May need to change if your plasma cutter emits higher voltage.

Install & Configure the Ethernet Adapter

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With Mach3 closed, connect the Ethernet adapter to the LAN or Ethernet port on the computer. Make sure it has power. If Windows tries to set network values, click Cancel.

In the System Software Main Menu, select Install Software.

In the Install Software Menu, select Ethernet SS Install.


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Allow the program to make changes to the controlling computer. Select Yes.Windows will ask several set-up questions. Accept the default settings and install the utility.

Select "Start PC Configuration".

Select "Easy Mode".


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Select the Network Adapter that the ESS is connected to.

If you see multiple Network Adapters, power down the Ethernet adapter and click "Refresh Details". Under the "Status" column, the Ethernet Adapter will be down. Plug it back in and after a few seconds click "Refresh Details", the screen will show the adapter status as "Up". Left click to select the Ethernet adapter.


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Select "Configure Everything".

You will briefly see command screens come and go. The program screen will reappear showing it has detected your ESS. Close the program. Connect the Ethernet adapter to the printer cable included with the control box.

Open Mach3 Loader, be sure to select ESS v10da2 as the motion control device. Try jogging the system using the up/down, left/right arrow keys.


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Go to "Plugin Control" and select “ESS-v10da2 Config”.

On the bottom left portion of the screen, select this check box to allow THC Mode.

USB SmoothStepper Set Up

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Windows XP

Connect the SmoothStepper to your computer using the USB cable provided. You should see a blue “power on” LED illuminate on the SmoothStepper board (peek inside the enclosure, next to the USB connection). There will also be a steady red LED indicating the firmware is not yet loaded in the SmoothStepper. The Windows Hardware Wizard should appear. If not, go to the windows “Start” menu and under Settings/Control Panel select “Add Hardware”.

When the wizard appears, select “No, not this time”, and click

“Next” to continue.

Select “Install from a list…” and click

“Next” to continue.


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Select “Include this location in the search”. Click

the “Browse” button.

Navigate to the USB Scandisk, and

select the folder highlighted in the screen shot (right). Click OK


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Click “Next”.

Click “Continue Anyway”. This warning is because the driver is not digitally signed.


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If this prompt is displayed, click “Yes”.

Click “Finish”.


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Windows 2000

Connect the SmoothStepper to your computer using the USB cable provided. You should see a blue “power on” LED illuminate on the SmoothStepper board (peek inside the enclosure, next to the USB connection). There will also be a steady red LED indicating the firmware is not yet loaded in the SmoothStepper.

The Windows Hardware Wizard should appear. If not, go to the windows “Start” menu and under Settings/Control Panel select “Add Hardware”.

Click Next.

Choose “Search for a suitable driver for my device (recommended).

Click Next.


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Choose “Specify a location”. Click Next.

Navigate to the folder containing the Smooth Stepper driver files (USB Scandisk). Look for a file ftdibus.inf, select it, click Open,

click Okay, click

Next.


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Click Finish.


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Vista

Disconnect the computer from the internet.


Select “Locate and install driver software

Select “I don’t have the disc…”,

click Next.


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Click the Browse button and navigate to the USB Scandisk. Select the Smooth Stepper folder shown left. Be sure to check “Include subfolders.

Click Next.

Select “Install the driver software anyway”. This warning is because the driver is not digitally signed


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Wait for the drivers to install.

Upon successful installation you will see this dialog box. Click Close.


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Windows 7 Disconnect the computer from the internet.


Windows will try to find a driver, click cancel.

Click the Windows “Start” icon, Select Devices and Printers.


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Double click the the SmoothStepper icon, select the Hardware tab, double click SmoothStepper. In the new window, select Update Driver.

The SmoothStepper will be listed under “Unspecified”. There will be an exclamation point, in a yellow triangle, next to it.

Choose Browse my computer for driver software.


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Be sure to click Include subfolders, click browse and navigate to the USB Scandisk

Select the Smooth Stepper folder shown left. Be sure to check “Include subfolders. Click

Next.


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Windows 8 Disconnect the computer from the internet.


Windows will try to find a driver, click cancel.

To locate the device manager on Windows 8, move the mouse to the bottom right hand corner of the screen. When the following window pops up, select the Settings button. When the Settings window comes up, select Control Panel


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Double click the the SmoothStepper icon, select the Hardware tab, double click SmoothStepper. In the new window, select Update Driver.

The SmoothStepper will be listed under “Unspecified”. There will be an exclamation point, in a yellow triangle, next to it.

Choose Browse my computer for driver software.


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Be sure to click Include subfolders, click browse and navigate to the USB Scandisk

Select the Smooth Stepper folder shown left. Be sure to check “Include subfolders. Click

Next.


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Installing the SmoothStepper PlugIn for Mach3 If you are reading this on the Eagle Plasma System Software CD, you can skip this step. The plugin is installed with the Eagle Plasma Profile.

Navigate to the USB Scandisk, double click SmoothStepper_v17fe.

You will see this dialog box, click OK.


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Configuring Mach3 for the SmoothStepper

Open Mach3 using the Mach3 Loader icon or select Mach3 Loader from the Start Menu.

Select the EaglePlasma profile; click OK.


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Select the SmoothStepper_v17fe and click OK. If desired, select “Don’t ask me this again.

The SmoothStepper PlugIn will now do most of the configuration automatically. When it is done you should see the blue power-on LED, a steady green LED indicating that the PlugIn has loaded the firmware automatically and a blinking red LED that indicates Mach3 is transmitting data to the device. Close Mach3. The red led should be solid, and the green led should go out. This means the firmware has been unloaded.

Documents

Eagle Plasma Component Setup Guide · come and go. The program screen will reappear showing it has detected your ESS. Close the program. Connect the Ethernet adapter to the printer