Plasma Cutting: Innovative Economical Solutions - Inova torch height control by InnerLogic

Whether you choose to install conventional Plasma, or High definition Plasma cutting, or Plasma marking / Plasma Punching systems on your machine, to get the best result you want a very accurate torch height control system to control the Z axis height of your torch. Each style of plasma system can only perform at its highest potential when the torch can be accurately and quickly positioned and controlled over your workpiece. We have built and evaluated many height control products, but one in particular stands way above all the rest. The Inova torch height control from InnerLogic is the best system available and it's very competitively priced as well.

We use this system on all our new machines, and retrofit it to many older style machines that use obsolete operating methods. If your parts have a lot of holes, and you are using an obsolete inductive height control system using a slow positioner, you can see a tremendous improvement in productivity. We have several customers whose older height control systems died, and parts were no longer available from the manufacturer. In many cases we repaired them by replacing individual components. In others we simply removed the old systems and replaced them with an Inova system. Without exception, all the operators are thrilled with their Inova systems. The old system took an average of 15 seconds to position the torch for each peirce. Then there was an additional 2-4 second delay while the torch preflows, before it would fire.

With the Inova system installed the drive system moves the torch over the spot where the pierce is to begin. The Inova system allows the Plasma system to start preflowing the torch, then rapidy moves at high speed to a safe distance above the plate (known as the crossover height) where it slows down to sense the plate and position itself. The torch then completes its preflow cycle and fires. On average each peirce saves 15 - 17 seconds for positioning. On a part with 350 holes, or pierce points this can save you over an hour and a half of time! This allows you to make more parts with the same overhead, greatly reducing your cost of operation and helping you to become more competitive. The additional benifits of a really high quality part, come from the accurate height control as the plate changes dimensionally as the part is cut. In addition the positioner is so fast, there is little reason to not retract the torch all the way between moves. This greatly reduces the chances of a torch striking a part that has tipped up as the machine traverses to the next peirce point. Of course, all Inova systems can be equipped with collision detectors to stop the machine in the event of a torch collision with the workpiece, which helps keep maintenance and repair costs down when Murphys Law steps in.