Please don't buy premier plasma

[@metalman23]

I've had a terrible experience, with terrible setup instructions, little to no helpful customer service, cryptic YouTube instruction videos, and a pile of expensive steel that was cut wrong, so if any one is thinking about buying one, please save yourself the headache and go with something else.

I'm stuck with this machine now, and I have to make do with it somehow, maybe I can get some parts to make it work better.

[acourtjester]

When testing you cutting operations use a pen plotter to mark the metal without cutting. This is very helpful to actually see the cut plan operations without the plasma. I assume that the Premier controller uses a version of Mach3 to run the table.
If you describe your problems maybe a member can help you to get them fixed. Remember we are not there to see what is happening so be simple but have enough info so we can understand the problem. And try to tackle one problem at a time to lessen the confusion. Short videos are a great help if you can attach them, you may need to have a Google Drive account to upload them to and use the share function to attach the link here to be viewed.
Google drive is free for about 10 Gigs of info, very easy to use.

[@metalman23]

So it seems like everything in the Y axis is the correct measurement, but everything cut in the X axis is way too small,

I've calibrated the X axis over and over in Mach 3, I thought I had solved the problem, but every time I run the X axis calibration, it seems to be off, for instance, if I tell it to move 20", it'll move 20.03 so I input that, it recalibrates it, and I try it again and it'll move 19.875

[@metalman23]

When testing you cutting operations use a pen plotter to mark the metal without cutting. This is very helpful to actually see the cut plan operations without the plasma. I assume that the Premier controller uses a version of Mach3 to run the table.
If you describe your problems maybe a member can help you to get them fixed. Remember we are not there to see what is happening so be simple but have enough info so we can understand the problem. And try to tackle one problem at a time to lessen the confusion. Short videos are a great help if you can attach them, you may need to have a Google Drive account to upload them to and use the share function to attach the link here to be viewed.
Google drive is free for about 10 Gigs of info, very easy to use.

How do I set up a pen plotter? that would save me a lot of headache and expense for testing purposes

[kn612]

Manually calibrate your steps. It will be more accurate if you command the longest distance you feel comfortable with that won't crash.

And if you're good with the y axis calibration and the gear ratios are the same on the x axis, use those steps/unit from the y on the x.

[weldguy]

All great advice from these guys. Don't get too frustrated, it can take some time to dial things in but be patient and work through each issue one at a time and eventually things will be running smoothly I am sure.

[@metalman23]

Manually calibrate your steps. It will be more accurate if you command the longest distance you feel comfortable with that won't crash. Screenshot_20230427-123044~2.png

And if you're good with the y axis calibration and the gear ratios are the same on the x axis, use those steps/unit from the y on the x.

How do I manually configure, I can't find an option to manually input steps per unit, I'm using Mach 3

[@metalman23]

Found it

[acourtjester]

Here is a video that shows how to do the calibration in Mach 3. Don't worry about the first part as I think you may not need to do that and have the original Mach 3 screen set on your controller.
for a quick and easy pen plotter if you have a machine torch just rubber band a ink pen to the side of it and have it just below the torch tip (1/2") will do. The rubber band allows the pen to give a little if the Z goes to far, you just want to mark on a paper with the pen. Create a tool in SheetCam name it "pen tool" and use it for the g-code generation.
You can run a short G-code of a square make it about 5" square. Drive the pen down with the Z axis and after it touches the paper go about 0.010" more and zero out the Z DRO. If the pen does not mark the paper move it lower then the 0.010" maybe 0.020" it should draw a square on the paper for you to measure when the calibration is finished to see if it correct now.
Have fun Tom
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gjfQCz ... drive_link

[Dirtmotor]

I've had a terrible experience, with terrible setup instructions, little to no helpful customer service, cryptic YouTube instruction videos, and a pile of expensive steel that was cut wrong, so if any one is thinking about buying one, please save yourself the headache and go with something else.

I'm stuck with this machine now, and I have to make do with it somehow, maybe I can get some parts to make it work better.

Man sure sorry to hear about your bad experience with premier , I have owned one of their tables for over two years and have had the opposite experience with them ,they helped with my huge learning curve and what little problems were theirs they took prompt action to fix , Yes there are better tables out there for sure , But not too many in their price range . If you contact Raed he will take care of you .

[SegoMan DeSigns]

How do I set up a pen plotter? that would save me a lot of headache and expense for testing purposes

I wire tied a small piece of 1/2' conduit to the torch holder then I wrapped tape around a sharpie for a snug "But Movable" fit. My 95.5" x 47.5" rectangle had perfect 90* corners..

[@metalman23]

Thanks for the encouragement guys, I don't mean to bash the company, it's just been tough, and I've tried to reach out with specific concerns but haven't received much help.


I think i got the X axis figured out, I just copied the same settings from the Y seems to be working ok now

[@metalman23]

Here is a video that shows how to do the calibration in Mach 3. Don't worry about the first part as I think you may not need to do that and have the original Mach 3 screen set on your controller.
for a quick and easy pen plotter if you have a machine torch just rubber band a ink pen to the side of it and have it just below the torch tip (1/2") will do. The rubber band allows the pen to give a little if the Z goes to far, you just want to mark on a paper with the pen. Create a tool in SheetCam name it "pen tool" and use it for the g-code generation.
You can run a short G-code of a square make it about 5" square. Drive the pen down with the Z axis and after it touches the paper go about 0.010" more and zero out the Z DRO. If the pen does not mark the paper move it lower then the 0.010" maybe 0.020" it should draw a square on the paper for you to measure when the calibration is finished to see if it correct now.
Have fun Tom
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gjfQCz ... drive_link

Thanks, how can I make that pen thing work with the floating head? It'll want to go down until the head clicks, and then back up again

[acourtjester]

Can you mount it on the Z assembly so the floating head is not involved. Just put the pen tip below the torch tip.
Your going to get there soon.

[@metalman23]

I've had a terrible experience, with terrible setup instructions, little to no helpful customer service, cryptic YouTube instruction videos, and a pile of expensive steel that was cut wrong, so if any one is thinking about buying one, please save yourself the headache and go with something else.

I'm stuck with this machine now, and I have to make do with it somehow, maybe I can get some parts to make it work better.

Man sure sorry to hear about your bad experience with premier , I have owned one of their tables for over two years and have had the opposite experience with them ,they helped with my huge learning curve and what little problems were theirs they took prompt action to fix , Yes there are better tables out there for sure , But not too many in their price range . If you contact Raed he will take care of you .

I've tried to contact him and he's not replying

[adbuch]

Here is a video that shows how to do the calibration in Mach 3. Don't worry about the first part as I think you may not need to do that and have the original Mach 3 screen set on your controller.
for a quick and easy pen plotter if you have a machine torch just rubber band a ink pen to the side of it and have it just below the torch tip (1/2") will do. The rubber band allows the pen to give a little if the Z goes to far, you just want to mark on a paper with the pen. Create a tool in SheetCam name it "pen tool" and use it for the g-code generation.
You can run a short G-code of a square make it about 5" square. Drive the pen down with the Z axis and after it touches the paper go about 0.010" more and zero out the Z DRO. If the pen does not mark the paper move it lower then the 0.010" maybe 0.020" it should draw a square on the paper for you to measure when the calibration is finished to see if it correct now.
Have fun Tom

Thanks, how can I make that pen thing work with the floating head? It'll want to go down until the head clicks, and then back up again

For the floating head, I think you can simply turn off your thc and manually set your z height so that the pen is just touching the material surface and slightly retracted against the spring in the sharpie pen holder.

David

[Joe Jones]

It seems that you can name ANY brand or manufacturer of any product, and you will find someone who feels compelled to warn everyone to steer away from the product when making a purchasing decision.

I use PlasmaCam tables, and they certainly have received their fair share of "ANYTHING BUT" posts. I am even guilty of this, but not because of the tables or the software, but rather, because of my frustrations in dealing with the company at times.

I am now looking at buying a new GENESIS table, just so I can see what it is, and what it does, but at $14K for a decent table (table + the 'Big Three' software upgrades), that is a LOT of money to spend, just to satisfy my curiosity.

I am now getting into lasers. Specifically, X-TOOL lasers. I bought one and loved it. So I bought a second ... and a third ... and now I have about 16 lasers at last count, but I cannot be sure yet, because they are ALL stacked up in unopened boxes, waiting for me to get the second floor of the FrankenBarn together so I can work up there. I am getting close! THe 240VAC power has been corrected, and today I will have the first working air conditioner up there on the second floor!

I really like so many things about the X-TOOL products and the company, but it isn't hard to find posts by owners of competing brands, who take pot shots at X-TOOL, calling it a marketing company, complaining about how they are constantly innovative, and introducing new and better products, etc. Yet, the Net is chock full of complaints about all of the brands those X-TOOL naysayers own as well. So I don't believe there is any brand that stands out head and shoulders above the rest, as being the Holy Grail of cnc plasma tables, or lasers.

I suspect that the problems with this Premier Plasma table are more closely related to operator error, than the failure of the table or the software itself. However, I DO NOT KNOW, because I have not owned or used one. So perhaps in this case, the post is fully justified. Maybe with a little time and patience, and less presumption of evolutional dominance ("We don't need no stinking instructions!") the OP might discover how to get the results he wants, from the table.

It is Ford, Chevy, Dodge, or Honda, Harley, Ducati... Each owner of a specific brand will default to putting down the other brands, as a means of self-assurance that he has made the BEST choice. Conversely, he might refuse to acknowledge his own limitations, and blame the brand of machine he purchased, rather than to admit that HE just doesn't understand HOW to use it correctly.

It is human nature.

Joe

[Joe Jones]

Get a plastic tube with a cap on the lower end. Drill a small hole so the tip of the Sharpie pokes out through the hole. Mount the tube to the carriage.

When you drop the Sharpie into the tube, gravity will keep it in contact with the paper or material you are drawing on as the height alters slightly. Have the lower surface of the cap hover over the material, and use a tube that is just large enough for the Sharpie to freely drop through, with little wobble movement.

Joe

[@metalman23]

It seems that you can name ANY brand or manufacturer of any product, and you will find someone who feels compelled to warn everyone to steer away from the product when making a purchasing decision.

I use PlasmaCam tables, and they certainly have received their fair share of "ANYTHING BUT" posts. I am even guilty of this, but not because of the tables or the software, but rather, because of my frustrations in dealing with the company at times.

I am now looking at buying a new GENESIS table, just so I can see what it is, and what it does, but at $14K for a decent table (table + the 'Big Three' software upgrades), that is a LOT of money to spend, just to satisfy my curiosity.

I am now getting into lasers. Specifically, X-TOOL lasers. I bought one and loved it. So I bought a second ... and a third ... and now I have about 16 lasers at last count, but I cannot be sure yet, because they are ALL stacked up in unopened boxes, waiting for me to get the second floor of the FrankenBarn together so I can work up there. I am getting close! THe 240VAC power has been corrected, and today I will have the first working air conditioner up there on the second floor!

I really like so many things about the X-TOOL products and the company, but it isn't hard to find posts by owners of competing brands, who take pot shots at X-TOOL, calling it a marketing company, complaining about how they are constantly innovative, and introducing new and better products, etc. Yet, the Net is chock full of complaints about all of the brands those X-TOOL naysayers own as well. So I don't believe there is any brand that stands out head and shoulders above the rest, as being the Holy Grail of cnc plasma tables, or lasers.

I suspect that the problems with this Premier Plasma table are more closely related to operator error, than the failure of the table or the software itself. However, I DO NOT KNOW, because I have not owned or used one. So perhaps in this case, the post is fully justified. Maybe with a little time and patience, and less presumption of evolutional dominance ("We don't need no stinking instructions!") the OP might discover how to get the results he wants, from the table.

It is Ford, Chevy, Dodge, or Honda, Harley, Ducati... Each owner of a specific brand will default to putting down the other brands, as a means of self-assurance that he has made the BEST choice. Conversely, he might refuse to acknowledge his own limitations, and blame the brand of machine he purchased, rather than to admit that HE just doesn't understand HOW to use it correctly.

It is human nature.

Joe

Every keeps telling me it's operator error, I'm not an idiot, I know when somethings working, and when it's not

[acourtjester]

Keep the faith, there are lemons out there, the reason the "Lemon Laws" where written. Many member are here to help you make Lemon aid ( work on the problems), remote trouble shooting can take time. Where are you located?

[TJS]

Tom,
He is going to send me the file. I got him turned on to CNC plasma I think when I cut some stuff for him and he was in my shop. Hopefully we can get this rectified. I know some old Premier plasma vids have helped me out when they were using Inkscape and SheetCam when I was first starting.
T.J.

[Joe Jones]

Every keeps telling me it's operator error, I'm not an idiot, I know when somethings working, and when it's not

Don't take it personally. I never even hinted that you were incapable. I only stated that there are so many settings and things that control these tables, that one little OVERLOOKED setting can really mess with your day. I hope you solve the issue.

Joe

[acourtjester]

Great TJ that may give a direction toward what is causing his problem.

[adbuch]

Tom,
He is going to send me the file. I got him turned on to CNC plasma I think when I cut some stuff for him and he was in my shop. Hopefully we can get this rectified. I know some old Premier plasma vids have helped me out when they were using Inkscape and SheetCam when I was first starting.
T.J.

TJ - this is great news! Hopefully you can get him squared away. Are you pretty close to him so that you can actually see the table in action?
Thanks,
David