Re: Can CNCPro users provide some input?

Tom,

Constant vector velocity (contouring; the art of going as fast as the
part geometry and F word will let us) is tougher! And arguably, more
important. Although long time cnc operators find lots of useful
things to do with cutter radius compensation, the truth is, it CAN be
done by another program, prior to cutting.(don't beat me up re: in-
process measurement, i.e., adaptive control which does probe and
modify the toolpath DURING runtime. That's oranges, and we're talkin'
apples)

The speed (and smoothness of velocity variations) at which the
toolpath is traversed will have a lot to do with the success of the
part. No CAM program can do this for you; it HAS to be done by the
controller!

Most, if not all of the 'special' cases involved in G41 & G42 are
documented in cnc books (Madisons' book, for example) and of course
in the EMC source code which is there for all to see and use. They
are even apparent in MANUAL machining texts: After all, the manual
operators had/have to contend with cutter diameter as well!

Hope this helps.

Ballendo

> G41 and G42 are very challenging upgrades. Dennis, at Supercam
>found this out recently. A long time ago, a professor at Carnege U
>in Pittsburg, PA tried to do it and it was a disaster. I kind of
>think it is probably the most difficult thing to put into a
>control.
> Tom Eldredge