System information

SECTION FOUR - PREPARATORY FUNCTIONS (G CODES)
Inside "V" Cutter Compensation
Note: The tool stays away from the programmed point (2) by a distance more than the tool
radius. If the compensated point (2') was any closer to (2), the tool would gouge the sides
of the part.
Sample part exercise
As the system requires three points to generate a compensated point, care should be taken when
the cutter compensation is turned on or off.
The magnitude for the axis movement for leaving or entering the part must be greater than the
amount of cutter compensation expected. The following figure under Step 1 shows that the
machine position at point (1) is identical for both the compensated as well as the uncompensated
tool path. This is because the first point cannot be compensated as it has no previous point to
make up a three point set for the compensation routine. Therefore, the compensation should be
turned on before the tool enters the work.
For ease of programming, the tool should enter and leave the part perpendicular to the part
surface. This is not a strict requirement, but it simplifies understanding how the cutter
compensation will behave entering and exiting the workpiece. If in doubt about how the
displaced tool path will look, it is advisable to rough sketch, by hand, lines parallel to the part
surface from start to end or use the F6 (Both) key when verifying. Often problems will become
apparent immediately.
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