Integrating the automatic torch height control within the AMC 4 gives a number of benefits, these include:

• Better cut part finishes
  
  
• Higher machine productivity
  
  
• Far easier machine operation - there is only one human machine interface
  
  
• Reduced total system complexity increases system reliability
  
  
• Simple system maintenance
  
  
• Dramatically lower total system cost
  
  

Best cut part finishes result from optimising the control of the automatic height control axis. When the height axis is integrated into the machine controller all machine axes are controlled by one system, axis updates are all performed at the same time. The AMC height control algorithm uses 'adaptive' fuzzy logic.

Fuzzy logic ensures that the control learns how the height axis responds to changes in arc voltage and then modifies the control algorithm improving height system response providing the best cut possible. Additionally the actual speed of the cutting head can control the response of the height axis, when the cut speed reduces at corners or small radii the speed of the height axis can be reduced.

The AMC automatic height system has many features which simplify system setup and reduce height axis operating times increasing machine productivity, these include:

• height control axis parameters readily accessed from one control panel or from WinAMC
  
  
• arc voltage setting and readout
  
  
• settable pierce height, cut height, and retract distance
  
  
• surface detection sensitivity and speed settings accommodate different material thicknesses
  
  
• cap sensing interface option
  
  
• collision avoidance
  
  
• two operating modes, 'integrated', where the height control is integrated with other machine axis movements, - normally used for plasma cutting, and 'independent' where the axis height above the material is maintained throughout part production, often used with laser cutting.
  
  

Integrating the height axis within the machine controller greatly simplifies the total system hardware and wiring. The only additional items required are a motor drive, to drive the height axis slide - this is plugged into a spare drive slot in the AMC, and a small interface between the plasma generator and the AMC I/O. The interface is mounted in the plasma generator. No additional computer or controller or control panel is required.

The minimal amount of additional hardware needed makes system maintenance easy, the AMC controller has all the integrated tests for testing the height axis.

The total cost of the automatic height is very low due to the small amount of hardware required, system features are mostly implemented in the controller firmware.