cutter comp question

[joeyjrc]

Does anyone use cutter comp on there tormach. I've had mine for 2 years now and never tried it because the manual advised not to because it doesn't work well with mach3. I write all my g-code, I don't have cad/cam and it would be nice to use cutter comp if it works.
Any advise would be appreciated.
Thanks.

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[JohnToner]

Joey,

I also write all my g-code and use cutter radius comp all the time w/o any problems. Only two things to be aware of. First, make certain to not use right when you need left. I know that sounds like a no-brainer, but trust me, there's a good reason I point this out. Second, you have to provide adequate lead in. I don't remember the minimum. I always allow a bit more than the dia. of the cutting tool. Practice on wax if you have any, else on wood.

[popspipes]

I wonder what the difference between cutter compensation in hand coding/Mach and setting the cutter diameter in CAM is? If I grind a cutter diameter that is smaller than the original, I just change the diameter in CAM and the cutter will cut the same size again. I never have any problems with this, maybe I dont understand the difference??

[JohnToner]

Mike, I still haven't cut my teeth in CAD/CAM, but in the tool configuration we can compensate for wear and I would expect, though I don't know, that the wear correction would apply in either case.

[SCzEngrgGroup]

I wonder what the difference between cutter compensation in hand coding/Mach and setting the cutter diameter in CAM is? If I grind a cutter diameter that is smaller than the original, I just change the diameter in CAM and the cutter will cut the same size again. I never have any problems with this, maybe I dont understand the difference??

Functionally, there is no difference whatsoever, except.... If you're really going for every bit of accuracy, and actually measure your tool diameters, doing offsets on the machine lets you fine-tune dimensions by changing the tool table in Mach3, without having to go back to CAM and re-generate the G-code. On machines in this class, it seems a little silly to me, as you're not really getting that kind of accuracy most of the time anyway, except under very exceptional, well-controlled situations.

Regards,
Ray L.

[ger21]

Mike, I still haven't cut my teeth in CAD/CAM, but in the tool configuration we can compensate for wear and I would expect, though I don't know, that the wear correction would apply in either case.

Mach3 does not use the wear correction value, whether you use comp or not.

[SCzEngrgGroup]

Mach3 does not use the wear correction value, whether you use comp or not.

Yes, but you can get the same effect by fudging the diameter field, providing you're using cutter comp...

Regards,
Ray L.

[popspipes]

Thanks for the clarification, I grind my cutters when they get dull or broken and I just put the new dimension in the tool table in Mach and in the cam program. I have wondered what the differences were. I dont need it often but its handy on fixtures where I need a close fit, I can adjust the cutter diameter in cam to get the fit right.

[SCzEngrgGroup]

Thanks for the clarification, I grind my cutters when they get dull or broken and I just put the new dimension in the tool table in Mach and in the cam program. I have wondered what the differences were. I dont need it often but its handy on fixtures where I need a close fit, I can adjust the cutter diameter in cam to get the fit right.

If you're doing cutter comp in CAM, there is no point in putting tool diameter into Mach3 - it won't ever use it. Also vice-versa...

Regards,
Ray L.

[JohnToner]

Ray, thanks for the info. Since nothing I do is that critical, I'd never tried calling out wear, though I'd seen it in the tool config table. Like most with Tormachs, I just measure the tool. Odds are I'll break it before it wears a significant amount.

[popspipes]

Dang---- you sure hit the nail on the head with that John!!

[joeyjrc]

Thanks everybody, I'll give it a try. Maybe this year I'll finally get cad/cam and learn it.

[JohnToner]

Mike, there's an upside. When the price of scrap carbide goes up I'l be rich

[popspipes]

Mike, there's an upside. When the price of scrap carbide goes up I'l be rich

I am in the same boat John, My "tool shortening" machine has made its share of scrap as well!!

[popspipes]

If you're doing cutter comp in CAM, there is no point in putting tool diameter into Mach3 - it won't ever use it. Also vice-versa...

Regards,
Ray L.

Youre right, but I just do it to keep track of the actual size of the tool, just for reference only.