Torch Height Controller
What does the THC controller do?
The THC controller ensures that the torch ten remains at the same height above the workpiece at all times. In most cases this is 2 mm depending on the cutting tip that is mounted in the torch. The cutting height is important for a good cutting result.
How does the THC controller work?
The THC controller reads the voltage consumption of the plasma cutter during cutting. This is received via the control current cable that is connected between the control box and the plasma cutter. The voltage is displayed live on the screen of the control box.
The THC controller starts its height control when it receives a voltage reading from the plasma cutter. So when the arc is switched on.
How do you adjust the THC controller?
The arrow keys on the controller are used to set the nominal voltage value. This is the voltage that the plasma cutter consumes. This value is linked to the ideal cutting settings and is influenced by adjustments to the following points:
- The material thickness to be processed
- The cutting speed
- The cutting height
- The set amperage of the plasma cutter
An example: we are going to process a 2 mm plate. With a cutting speed of 6720 mm/min and for this we use the 45 amp cutting tip (also set the plasma cutter to 45 amps). We are going to cut at a cutting height of 2 mm. When we adjust one of the above four, the voltage consumption of the plasma cutter will also change.
For example, if the distance between the material and the torch increases, the plasma cutter will increase its voltage to maintain the arc. The controller will then correct this by sending the torch slightly downwards. And the voltage will stabilize again. This also applies to the material thickness, etc.
So you set the nominal voltage on the THC controller and the arc will be corrected to that value at all times. In order to keep the cutting height stable.
How can one determine the nominal voltage?
This can be done in two ways. The first way is to use the table of the machine torch. This can be found on the manuals page. Here are the voltage values listed. Any correction is necessary because it does not always correspond 100% with reality.
We will go through the second "manual" method below.
Step 1.
Determine the cutting tip you want to use and set the plasma cutter to the appropriate amperage. This can be found on the cutting tip.
FYI. The cutting tip can be determined using the table of the machine torch as described above.
Step 2.
Determine the cutting height. In this case 2 mm cutting height. This can be set by using a 2 mm shim. Then, when ''jogging'', set the control to incr. mode. And give the increments a value of 200 mm (1). With the arrow keys on the keyboard, you can now move the axis 200 mm back and forth. The feed rate is also set to the desired value (2). In this case 6720 mm/min.
Step 3.
Now we can cut almost a 200mm piece at a cutting height of 2mm.The only thing left to do to read the correct value is to prevent the height controller from being activated while it is not yet set correctly. This can be done by entering code M8 in the MDI screen and confirming this with the Enter key. This deactivate the z-axis motor (for Acros 80/150 remove the Z-axis motor cable to deactivate the motor). This way it will not move. With code M9 you activate it again.
Attention! To enable or disable the Z axis with code M8 and M9, this function must first be activated. Here describes how to do this. This only applies to the Acros 80S and 105S.
Step 4.
Now we can cut. Click on the TORCH icon to turn on the torch and then immediately press the arrow key. This will manually cut a piece of 200 mm. Read the voltage value on the screen of the THC controller and then set it with the arrow keys. Do not forget to press M9 to activate the z-axis (Z-axis motor cable back in for the Acros 80/150). The value is now set.
Other height controller settings.
''SPE'' (SPEED) - This parameter controls the speed of the Z-axis movement during cutting when the height controller is activated (clock frequency).
''d-t'' (delay time) – delay time. This allows you to set the response time. This is the number of seconds the controller should wait after receiving a signal to move the Z-axis up or down. This is variable from 0.1 - 9.9 sec. The factory setting is 0.5 sec.
Attention! Take the pierce delay into account. Make sure the number of seconds is set higher than the pierce delay seconds. Otherwise the controller will start to adjust during piercing.
''H-V'' (High Voltage) – Value of the no-load voltage of the plasma cutter. Cutting arc 50-300 V. Default setting is 200 V.
''tSt'' (test) – Simulation of controller operation. The system simulates a voltage measurement (up and down) so that the operation can be tested.
''dir'' (direction) – This allows the rotation direction to be reversed when the Z-axis is rotating in the wrong direction.
Below is an example of the torch touching the workpiece. The height controller is not set correctly causing the torch to be pressed down against the workpiece.
