Resources
Plasma Compatibility.
Requirements.
The four things a plasma cutter needs to be considered compatible with the Mach 1 or any other industrial automation system.
CNC / automation port
A small multi-pin connector (often 14-pin) on the back of the power supply, not where the torch plugs in. The Mach 1's control cable connects here to fire the torch and hand off control. Many cutters include it; on others it's an add-on kit we can put on your quote.
A 180° machine torch
Also called a mechanized, barrel, or robotic torch. It mounts straight into the Mach 1's torch holder and is triggered through the CNC port. Standard hand torches typically aren't plug-and-play, but most brands offer a machine torch as a bolt-on part.
Mechanized consumables + ohmic clips
Hand-cutting consumables sit too close to the plate for torch height control to do its job. Mechanized consumables hold the right tip-to-material distance, and ohmic clips let the Mach 1 find the plate surface and set pierce height automatically.
The right control cable
The cable which allows the Mach 1 Plasma Attachment to communicate properly with the CNC port on your plasma cutter. The standard CNC cable comes with the Mach 1, keep reading to see if you need a special control cable.
Check your cutter.
Pick your make and model, answer a couple of questions, get the parts list.
Your plasma cutter
What brand is your plasma cutter?
Don't see yours? Tell us what you run. If it has a CNC interface or one is available for it, odds are good we can drive it.
Control cables
Mach 1 plasma control cables.
The Mach 1 Plasma Attachment sends signals to the CNC port installed on your plasma cutter. Most plasma cutters follow the standard, which comes with every Mach 1 Plasma Attachment. If you have a CNC port that doesn't look like the Standard pinout here, order the correct control cable pre-made to work with the Mach 1, or order the unterminated control cable and wire it directly to the necessary signals based on the Pin Out diagram for the Plasma Attachment.
Upgrading a plasma cutter
No CNC port? You can still often convert it.
Plenty of older or unlisted plasma cutters can still run on the Mach 1. Check with the manufacturer of your plasma cutter to see if they offer a CNC Upgrade kit like the one pictured below, or a universal machine torch which has a CNC port built right into the torch. Even if your manufacturer doesn't have options like these, if you can connect the unterminated CNC control cable to your plasma cutter's appropriate arc start signals, the Mach 1 may still be able to control it reliably. If you have any questions contact us!
