Smithy CNC Mills - Manual (Page 91)

SmithyCNC Programmer’s Reference Manual: Tool File & Compensation 9-9
not be able to compensate properly when undersized tools are used.
For a tool path contour, the value for the cutter diameter in the tool table will be
a small positive number if the selected tool is slightly oversized and will be a
small negative number if the tool is slightly undersized. As implemented, if a
cutter diameter value is negative, the interpreter compensates on the other side
of the contour from the one programmed and uses the absolute value of the
given diameter. If the actual tool is the correct size, the value in the table
should be zero.
Tool Path Contour example
Suppose the diameter of the cutter currently in the spindle is 0.97, and the
diameter assumed in generating the tool path was 1.0. Then the value in the
tool table for the diameter for this tool should be -0.03. Here is an NC program
which cuts material away from the outside of the triangle in the figure.
N0010 G1 X1 Y4.5 (make alignment move)
N0020 G41 G1 Y3.5 (turn compensation on and make first
entry move)
N0030 G3 X2 Y2.5 I1 (make second entry move)
N0040 G2 X2.5 Y2 J-0.5 (cut along arc at top of tool path)
N0050 G1 Y-1 (cut along right side of tool path)
N0060 G2 X2 Y-1.5 I-0.5 (cut along arc at bottom right
of tool path)
N0070 G1 X-2 (cut along bottom side of tool path)
N0080 G2 X-2.3 Y-0.6 J0.5 (cut along arc at bottom left
of tool path)
N0090 G1 X1.7 Y2.4 (cut along hypotenuse of tool path)
N0100 G2 X2 Y2.5 I0.3 J-0.4 (cut along arc at top of
tool path)
N0110 G40 (turn compensation off)
This will result in the tool making an alignment move and two entry moves, and
then following a path slightly inside the path shown on the left in Figure 7 going
clockwise around the triangle. This path is to the right of the programmed path
even though G41 was programmed, because the diameter value is negative.
Programming Errors and Limitations
The interpreter will issue the following messages
involving cutter radius compensation.
1. Cannot change axis offsets with cutter radius comp