SheetCAM Path Rules

SheetCAM path rules can be setup for things like turning off THC control on small parts and slowing down on corners.

 

Creating Path Rules:

Rules to prevent diving (Turn THC Off):

Under the options menu is job options. In there select the path rules tab and you can edit those rules parameters for your liking.  The idea is they turn the torch height control off at certain points to prevent it from diving.

If no rules in place, see if the THC Enable/On and THC Disable/Off Start Codes exist when trying to add a new rule set. If not you will need to create the code first so close out of this window and follow directions for creating code snippets. If they do exist you can adjust the settings as needed, but a starting point is shown below.

NOTE: the start and end code name is whatever name the code snippet was give and may be different than indicated below.

• Rule: On lead out
  Feed rate: 100%
  Start Code: Code: THC Disable
  Distance Before: .2 in
  End Code: Code: THC Enable

 

• Rule: On small shapes
  Smaller than: 2 in
  Feed Rate: 75%
  Start Code: Code: THC Disable
  End Code: Code: THC Enable

 

• Rule: On all corners
  Tighter than: 45 degrees
  Distance Before: 0.2 in
  Feed Rate: 100%
  Before Code: Code: THC Disable
  Distance After: 0.2 in
  End Code: Code: THC Enable

Creating Code Snippets:

Note: The info below is for enabling/disabling the torch height control. You can create custom code in macros to use.use Thatfor other purposes but that is beyond the scope of this document. 

1. Attached is M244.m1s file and should be saved to the c:\mach3\macros\plasma\ directory (the path may be a little different depending on your setup and profile name). If M244 already exists in your directly, change the attached file name to an available number and use that new number for the rest of the setup where we have 244. The code in this file simply toggles the state of the THC button on the plasma screen, effectively turning THC control on and off.
2. Under tools menu option, click the G code option.
3. Set the Code Name and enter the filename of the code to run in the box below, without the extension:
   
   •  
4. Click OK button

 

Creating Path Rules:

Rules to prevent diving (Turn THC Off):

Under the options menu is job options. In there select the path rules tab and you can edit those rules parameters for your liking.  The idea is they turn the torch height control off at certain points to prevent it from diving.

• Rule: On lead out
  Feed rate: 100%
  Start Code: Code: THC Toggle
  Distance Before: .2 in
  End Code: Code: THC Toggle

 

• Rule: On small shapes
  Smaller than: 2 in
  Feed Rate: 75%
  Start Code: Code: THC Toggle
  End Code: Code: THC Toggle

 

• Rule: On all corners
  Tighter than: 45 degrees
  Distance Before: 0.2 in
  Feed Rate: 100%
  Before Code: Code: THC Toggle
  Distance After: 0.2 in
  End Code: Code: THC Toggle

Using Path Rules

In order for the path rule to be used, it must be selected in the operation in sheetcam. Double click on the existing operation or when setting a new operation, select the Path rule to be used in the dropdown menu: