Torch Breakaway, Ohmic Touch Off, or Float Switch?? - RESOLVED

[dovrosenberg]

I have a round torch mount with 2 NPN NC proximity switches and a Primeweld Cut60 UPM 105 plasma torch with hypertherm consumables. I wired up one of the switches as a breakaway switch and the other as a float switch. I was planning on also adding the torch touch off. I am second guessing the value of having a float switch along with the ohmic touch off. With the round torch mount and 2 sensors - when the breakaway sensor trips, it is necessary to reset the the acorn. I was thinking about just using the round mount as 2 break away switches and the touch off ohmic.

Can a single round torch mount with 2 sensors work well as both a float and break away? Is an ohmic touch off reliable on a water table?

I noticed when I set Input 2 to TorchFloatSwitch that it wasnt green in the acorn wizard like Input 1 that was set to TorchBreakAwayOk. I assume that is as expected

[Joey]

The Float switch is treated like a breakaway by the PLC when tripped outside of a touch off cycle. So wiring both switches as float switches is about the same.

I would wire the round mount switches as to the float switch input so you still have touch off capability and they will be treated like a breakaway if they trigger outside of a touch off cycle.

The Ohmic is better for thinner materials that might flex before the float switch triggers during a touch off. If your float switch is sensitive enough you may find the ohmic touch off is not necessary.

Acorn Plasma will try to Purge air through the torch to clear water if the torch touch is already triggered when a touch off cycle is called. This is to clear any debris from the consumables if possible. If the Torch touch is still triggered, then the touch off cycle will default to the Float switch.

[dovrosenberg]

So I dont need to set the input to TorchBreakAway? Just use TorchFloat and wire the sensors in series?

[Joey]

Exactly

[ShawnM]

I also have the round mount with two NPN sensors in it. I have them both wired as breakaway switches and have the ohmic sensor on my Hypertherm torch. I had issues in the beginning with water in the torch but soon learned to keep the water level slightly lower and rarely had any issues after that. If I do I just purge the water with the torch fire button. The great thing is there are several ways to set up your machine and tailor it to your type of cutting.