HELLO!
I am NEW to Mach 3. I am a CNC Aerospace Machinst / CNC Programmer by trade.
I built a CNC router and installed Mach 3. ALL works well, but I am unable to get Cutter Comp working.
Is there a Parameter I need to look for and set?
Thanks in advance.

Ebannaw (Don)

If you search here, you'll find a lot of cuter comp examples, as comp questions come up pretty often.

If you post some simple code, we can tell you why it's not working.

I beleive it may be due to needing negative comp

N100 G20
N102 G0 G17 G40 G49 G80 G90
N104 G0Z3.
N106 G0 G90 G54 X.4186 Y5.8646 S15000 M3
N110 G43 Z1.78 H235
N112 G1 Z.5825 F50.
N114 G41 D235 X-.8287 Y5.9208 F35.
N116 Y5.6
N118 Y4.9375
N120 G2 X-1.3125 Y4.4538 R.4838
N122 G1 X-1.5625
N124 G3 Y4.1712 R.1413
N126 G1 X-1.3125
N128 G2 X-.8287 Y3.6875 R.4837
N130 G1 Y3.3125
N132 G2 X-1.3125 Y2.8287 R.4838
N134 G1 X-1.5625
N136 G3 Y2.5463 R.1412
N138 G1 X-1.3125
N140 G2 X-.8287 Y2.0625 R.4838
N142 G1 Y1.6875
N144 G2 X-1.3125 Y1.2038 R.4838
N146 G1 X-1.5625
N148 G3 Y.9213 R.1413
N150 G1 X-1.3125
N152 G2 X-.8287 Y.4375 R.4838
N154 G1 Y-.0625
N156 G40 Y-.4125
N158 Z1.5825 F50.

It works ok here IF you fill in the tool table for tool#235 AND it has a radius less than the smallest radius of the Gcode. WHick looking at the code would be  R .141"

Just a thought, (;-) TP

Thanks for the response. I am using a .3125 Ø mill and a CC value of .010 also tried -.010 with no luck

:>{
Don

FIll in the tool table Tool#235 with the tool diameter and in this case it would have to be a .250" diam or smaller tool  or else it will error out when you try to run the Gcode.

I am not sure what those values are you are trying to use(;-)

May want to give the manual a read.

Just a thought, (;-) TP

To Ebbanaw;


 

 ( Plastic Edging using a .25 Diameter cutter )

GO G40 G49 G17

G80 G90 G20

M9 M5

M6 T1

M3 S400

G54 X-.25 Y0.

G43 H1 D1 Z.125
 
G1 Z-.015625 F15.

X16.25 Y0.

G0 Z.125

X-.25 Y0.

G1 Z-.03125 F15.

X16.25 Y0.

G0 Z.125

X-.25 Y0.

G1 Z-.046875 F15.

X16.25 Y0.
 
G0 Z.125

X-.25 Y0.

G1 Z-0625 F15.

X16.25 Y0.

M5 G0 Z10.

X0. Y0.

M30 M9

 

Tool Tabl:

 

Ref. Tool              Diameter                Height
 
1                           .25                         0.

I am having same cutter comp issue. Cutter comp wont read, I put g41 in and the y axis starts .125 into cutter and it moves .125 toward the front of machine when cut is finished making an angle cut. I am used to putting in the dia of cutter in tool table. I will try different things in the tool table. I have not seen a good answer here yet.

Perry A.

Cutter comp is a fairly simple function, it simply offsets the tool from the centerline of the cut. You must use a leadin move longer than the tool radius in order for mach3 to have room for mach3 to comp the move AND you must have a leadout move longer than tool radius in order for mach3 to have room to remove the comp.

You must also use the correct the correct offset move (G41/G42) based on direction of cut.

ALSO you need to understand you must use a tool radius smaller than the smallest radius of the cut OR you get an error that is NOT related to tool comp. You would get the same erro without tool comp BUT most people do not understand the difference and think it is TC related.

I am not sure without retesting that MACH3 will take the same tool radius as the smallest cut radius. The older version required SMALLER than the cut radius. I know we tested versions that could use the same tool radius as the smallest cut radius. 

Just a thought (;-) TP