Re: PLASMA NOISE

Raul,
What brand of Plasma are you using? According to torchmate, If my
memmory serves correctly, if a unit that uses high frequency for the
pilot arc,it will act like a spark plug firing and wreak havok with
your electronics. Torchmate is a distributor for hypertherm because
they supposedly build their units to not have this problem. You can
read more about it rather than relying on my memory at
www.torchmate.com
Good luck,
Dale

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., Jon Elson <elson@p...> wrote:
> Raul Lara wrote:
>
> > I?m using the software to run a plasma cutter (gantry
> > style)
> >
> > I?m getting an interference between the motors and the
> > plasma.
> >
> > If I run the machine without the plasma, it runs very
> > smooth, but once I turn the plasma on the motors gets
> > something as an on/off pattern or like a vibration.
> >
> > The plasma cut is not even, it?s something like a
> > small zig zag pattern.
> >
> > I?m running the machine with Geckodrives G201, Pacific
> > Scientific stepper motors and Microkinetics PWR36
> > power supply.
> >
> > What can I do to isolate this problem?
> >
>
> Most likely, the problem is the plasma machine is inducing noise
> into the step input of the Gecko drives. You first should isolate
> the plasma torch from the entire motion gantry. Sheets of
> plastic may do fine for this. Then, you have the workpiece.
> it could be hard to isolate the workpiece from the table.
> I don't have any great ideas here.
>
> Make sure the wires from the computer to the gecko drives
> are kept well away from anything connected to the plasma
> machine. You may need to electrically isolate the motors
> from the gantry.
>
> Jon