Using QCAM for Torchmate toolpath generation

QCAD Professional QCAD/CAM
1

I have an older Torchmate 24x24in plasma table. Currently I use QCAD to draw my profiles, bring the dxf into the Torchmate CAD (ancient, unintuitive, and glitchy which is why I’m here) to generate a toolpath, then bring that toolpath into the Torchmate driver software that directly drives the Torchmate signal generator.

I would like to eliminate the need for the Torchmate CAD and use QCAM instead. I am a total noob about most things CAM so I’m trying to figure out if QCAD will do what I want (I suspect it will).

Last night I created a couple simple parts. I configured a milling tool with .125in 1/4 circle lead ins and set the mill dia to .050 (just a rough guess of plasma arc cutting dia) and the desired travel speed based on my material thickness. I exported the toolpath as a dxf format and loaded into the Torchmate driver software. I couldn’t tell when it was and wasn’t firing the plasma but the dotted travel vs solid cut lines appeared correct.

Before I try to run this on my table as it is, is there anything obvious I’m missing?

After a little reading I’m not even sure I need to add in the .050 mill dia and travel speed… When I bring in the toolpath to the Torchmate driver I get the option to adjust a bunch of settings that I don’t typically change other than travel speed and I noticed it did not match what I had entered in the QCAM configuration. Is QCAM doing anything other than just generating a path for the Torchmate driver to follow and the driver handles everything else? Does the .050 I entered act as the kerf?

What about holes inside a part? Does CAM or the driver decide which side of the line to cut on? I suspect that is handled in CAM. Is there anything to watch out for there? I drew a circle inside a circle and on the dry run, it appeared to be working correctly.

Thank you in advance!

2

I was able to run home at lunch today and do a trial run of the toolpath I created. Everything as far as machine function was great but my dimensions were off.

Essentially made a washer, 2in OD and 1in ID nominally in the drawing. Actual dimensions were give or take a couple thou 1.940 OD and 1.060 ID. Seems pretty clear now that I have a kerf of .120 and the toolpath is following line on line the profile.

I thought I did this (though not enough) with the .050in kerf dia I estimated and set with the mill configuration. Is there someplace else I need to configure to account for the .120 kerf?

I will play around with it more tonight.

3

I found in the tool configuration I had it set to follow on the profile. I set that to ‘outside’ and updated the mill dia to .120. I could see both OD and ID toolpaths were offset to the correct side of my profile with correct lead ins.

Ran another 2in OD 1in ID washer and found my dimensions were still off by the same amount. Realized my error that .060 really meant .030 as a radial dimension and knocked my mill dia down to .060. Ran another piece and it was spot on.

Thanks for following along while I muddle through this. To anyone in the same spot as me - it appears QCAM can be a good option for creating toolpaths for Torchmate.