Read the description for G41/G42 carefully since there are leadin/out requirements related to cutter diameter. If you were not previously using cutter compensation it is doubtful if your CAM follows those rules for an even larger cutter. Why not simply redo the CAM?

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of spencer@...
Sent: May 11, 2021 3:43 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [MachCNC] tool offset

I am looking for a simple solution. I am using a 1/4" router bit to cut slots d shaped pockets and holes i would like to use a bigger cutter for various reasons. especially for testing i would like to do as little reprogramming as possible.

i have read about cutter compensation but can not make sense of it. is there a way to apply a cutter compensation and switch to a 3/8" bit and make the same sized slots holes pockets etc. Do i need to turn compensation on and off for each arc of a circle, for example or can i just make a 3/8" bit behave like a 1/4"? there are no features with a minimum inside dimension of less than 3/8"

--
Best regards, Spencer Chase
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only.
Spencer@...


(425) 791-0309

Read the description for G41/G42 carefully since there are leadin/out requirements related to cutter diameter. If you were not previously using cutter compensation it is doubtful if your CAM follows those rules for an even larger cutter. Why not simply redo the CAM?

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of
spencer@...
Sent: May 11, 2021 3:43 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [MachCNC] tool offset

I am looking for a simple solution. I am using a 1/4" router bit to cut slots d shaped pockets and holes i would like to use a bigger cutter for various reasons. especially for testing i would like to do as little reprogramming as possible.

i have read about cutter compensation but can not make sense of it. is there a way to apply a cutter compensation and switch to a 3/8" bit and make the same sized slots holes pockets etc. Do i need to turn compensation on and off for each arc of a circle, for example or can i just make a 3/8" bit behave like a 1/4"? there are no features with a minimum inside dimension of less than 3/8"

--
Best regards, Spencer Chase
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only.
Spencer@...


(425) 791-0309

Are your arcs defined in R or IJK format? If they are in radius mode it should be as simple as changing the radius. With IJK it is a little more complicated. See for a pretty good tutorial on how things work and possible pitfalls.

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of spencer@...
Sent: May 11, 2021 4:07 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [MachCNC] tool offset

i am trying to be lazy at least for initial testing. my code is a mess developed over time. i also wrote it a long time ago using various tools and do not remember how they work but certainly can learn again if forced to.

so the last question is: if i have circular pockets using arcs is there any simple change to the arcs that can effectively compensate for a larger cutter? i have been making my pockets with something like cambam?
so i never really learned the syntax for arcs.

I know there are all sorts of wizards for mach4. i will look soon but is there something for creating simple shapes like circular pockets and a d slot which is two straight moves and two arcs?

On 5/11/2021 12:55 PM, Ken Strauss wrote:

Read the description for G41/G42 carefully since there are leadin/out requirements related to cutter diameter. If you were not previously using cutter compensation it is doubtful if your CAM follows those rules for an even larger cutter. Why not simply redo the CAM?

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of
spencer@...
Sent: May 11, 2021 3:43 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [MachCNC] tool offset

I am looking for a simple solution. I am using a 1/4" router bit to cut slots d shaped pockets and holes i would like to use a bigger cutter for various reasons. especially for testing i would like to do as little reprogramming as possible.

i have read about cutter compensation but can not make sense of it. is there a way to apply a cutter compensation and switch to a 3/8" bit and make the same sized slots holes pockets etc. Do i need to turn compensation on and off for each arc of a circle, for example or can i just make a 3/8" bit behave like a 1/4"? there are no features with a minimum inside dimension of less than 3/8"

--
Best regards, Spencer Chase
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only.
Spencer@...


(425) 791-0309

--
Best regards, Spencer Chase
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only.
Spencer@...


(425) 791-0309

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of spencer@...
Sent: May-11-21 1:07 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [MachCNC] tool offset

i am trying to be lazy at least for initial testing. my code is a mess
developed over time. i also wrote it a long time ago using various tools
and do not remember how they work but certainly can learn again if
forced to.

so the last question is: if i have circular pockets using arcs is there
any simple change to the arcs that can effectively compensate for a
larger cutter? i have been making my pockets with something like cambam?
so i never really learned the syntax for arcs.

I know there are all sorts of wizards for mach4. i will look soon but is
there something for creating simple shapes like circular pockets and a d
slot which is two straight moves and two arcs?

On 5/11/2021 12:55 PM, Ken Strauss wrote:

Read the description for G41/G42 carefully since there are leadin/out requirements related to cutter diameter. If you were not

previously using cutter compensation it is doubtful if your CAM follows those rules for an even larger cutter. Why not simply redo the
CAM?

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of spencer@...
Sent: May 11, 2021 3:43 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [MachCNC] tool offset

I am looking for a simple solution. I am using a 1/4" router bit to cut slots d shaped pockets and holes i would like to use a bigger

cutter for various reasons. especially for testing i would like to do as little reprogramming as possible.

i have read about cutter compensation but can not make sense of it. is there a way to apply a cutter compensation and switch to a

3/8" bit and make the same sized slots holes pockets etc. Do i need to turn compensation on and off for each arc of a circle, for
example or can i just make a 3/8" bit behave like a 1/4"? there are no features with a minimum inside dimension of less than 3/8"

--
Best regards, Spencer Chase
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only.
Spencer@...


(425) 791-0309

--
Best regards, Spencer Chase
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only.
Spencer@...


(425) 791-0309

Are your arcs defined in R or IJK format? If they are in radius mode it should be as simple as changing the radius. With IJK it is a little more complicated. See for a pretty good tutorial on how things work and possible pitfalls.

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of
spencer@...
Sent: May 11, 2021 4:07 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [MachCNC] tool offset

i am trying to be lazy at least for initial testing. my code is a mess developed over time. i also wrote it a long time ago using various tools and do not remember how they work but certainly can learn again if forced to.

so the last question is: if i have circular pockets using arcs is there any simple change to the arcs that can effectively compensate for a larger cutter? i have been making my pockets with something like cambam?
so i never really learned the syntax for arcs.

I know there are all sorts of wizards for mach4. i will look soon but is there something for creating simple shapes like circular pockets and a d slot which is two straight moves and two arcs?

On 5/11/2021 12:55 PM, Ken Strauss wrote:

Read the description for G41/G42 carefully since there are leadin/out requirements related to cutter diameter. If you were not previously using cutter compensation it is doubtful if your CAM follows those rules for an even larger cutter. Why not simply redo the CAM?

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of
spencer@...
Sent: May 11, 2021 3:43 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [MachCNC] tool offset

I am looking for a simple solution. I am using a 1/4" router bit to cut slots d shaped pockets and holes i would like to use a bigger cutter for various reasons. especially for testing i would like to do as little reprogramming as possible.

i have read about cutter compensation but can not make sense of it. is there a way to apply a cutter compensation and switch to a 3/8" bit and make the same sized slots holes pockets etc. Do i need to turn compensation on and off for each arc of a circle, for example or can i just make a 3/8" bit behave like a 1/4"? there are no features with a minimum inside dimension of less than 3/8"

--
Best regards, Spencer Chase
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only.
Spencer@...


(425) 791-0309

--
Best regards, Spencer Chase
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only.
Spencer@...


(425) 791-0309

I haven't done D slots yet but I do have circular arcs.

Either IJ or Radius mode G-Code is generated. The code is written in Pascal via Lazarus IDE which means write once, compile anywhere. The attached photo was done on a MachineKit BeagleBone Black. I've run it on Raspberry Pi, LinuxCNC and of course Windows.

I can send you the source code and you can get the free Lazarus or I can send the EXE in a zip file.

You can also use metric parameters as the attached windows version of the program shows.

John

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of spencer@...
Sent: May-11-21 1:07 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [MachCNC] tool offset

i am trying to be lazy at least for initial testing. my code is a mess
developed over time. i also wrote it a long time ago using various tools
and do not remember how they work but certainly can learn again if
forced to.

so the last question is: if i have circular pockets using arcs is there
any simple change to the arcs that can effectively compensate for a
larger cutter? i have been making my pockets with something like cambam?
so i never really learned the syntax for arcs.

I know there are all sorts of wizards for mach4. i will look soon but is
there something for creating simple shapes like circular pockets and a d
slot which is two straight moves and two arcs?

On 5/11/2021 12:55 PM, Ken Strauss wrote:

Read the description for G41/G42 carefully since there are leadin/out requirements related to cutter diameter. If you were not

previously using cutter compensation it is doubtful if your CAM follows those rules for an even larger cutter. Why not simply redo the
CAM?

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of spencer@...
Sent: May 11, 2021 3:43 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [MachCNC] tool offset

I am looking for a simple solution. I am using a 1/4" router bit to cut slots d shaped pockets and holes i would like to use a bigger

cutter for various reasons. especially for testing i would like to do as little reprogramming as possible.

i have read about cutter compensation but can not make sense of it. is there a way to apply a cutter compensation and switch to a

3/8" bit and make the same sized slots holes pockets etc. Do i need to turn compensation on and off for each arc of a circle, for
example or can i just make a 3/8" bit behave like a 1/4"? there are no features with a minimum inside dimension of less than 3/8"

--
Best regards, Spencer Chase
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only.
Spencer@...


(425) 791-0309

--
Best regards, Spencer Chase
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only.
Spencer@...


(425) 791-0309

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of spencer@...
Sent: May-11-21 1:48 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [MachCNC] tool offset

thaniks, i think cambam does similar things but is quite old and maybe i
should try what you use. a zip file would be good.

On 5/11/2021 1:33 PM, John Dammeyer wrote:

I haven't done D slots yet but I do have circular arcs.

Either IJ or Radius mode G-Code is generated. The code is written in Pascal via Lazarus IDE which means write once, compile

anywhere. The attached photo was done on a MachineKit BeagleBone Black. I've run it on Raspberry Pi, LinuxCNC and of course
Windows.

I can send you the source code and you can get the free Lazarus or I can send the EXE in a zip file.

You can also use metric parameters as the attached windows version of the program shows.

John

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of spencer@...
Sent: May-11-21 1:07 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [MachCNC] tool offset

i am trying to be lazy at least for initial testing. my code is a mess
developed over time. i also wrote it a long time ago using various tools
and do not remember how they work but certainly can learn again if
forced to.

so the last question is: if i have circular pockets using arcs is there
any simple change to the arcs that can effectively compensate for a
larger cutter? i have been making my pockets with something like cambam?
so i never really learned the syntax for arcs.

I know there are all sorts of wizards for mach4. i will look soon but is
there something for creating simple shapes like circular pockets and a d
slot which is two straight moves and two arcs?

On 5/11/2021 12:55 PM, Ken Strauss wrote:

Read the description for G41/G42 carefully since there are leadin/out requirements related to cutter diameter. If you were not

previously using cutter compensation it is doubtful if your CAM follows those rules for an even larger cutter. Why not simply redo

the

CAM?

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of spencer@...
Sent: May 11, 2021 3:43 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [MachCNC] tool offset

I am looking for a simple solution. I am using a 1/4" router bit to cut slots d shaped pockets and holes i would like to use a bigger

cutter for various reasons. especially for testing i would like to do as little reprogramming as possible.

i have read about cutter compensation but can not make sense of it. is there a way to apply a cutter compensation and switch to

a

3/8" bit and make the same sized slots holes pockets etc. Do i need to turn compensation on and off for each arc of a circle, for
example or can i just make a 3/8" bit behave like a 1/4"? there are no features with a minimum inside dimension of less than 3/8"

--
Best regards, Spencer Chase
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only.
Spencer@...


(425) 791-0309

--
Best regards, Spencer Chase
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only.
Spencer@...


(425) 791-0309

--
Best regards, Spencer Chase
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only.
Spencer@...


(425) 791-0309

I am looking for a simple solution. I am using a 1/4" router bit to cut slots d shaped pockets and holes i would like to use a bigger cutter for various reasons. especially for testing i would like to do as little reprogramming as possible.
i have read about cutter compensation but can not make sense of it. is there a way to apply a cutter compensation and switch to a 3/8" bit and make the same sized slots holes pockets etc. Do i need to turn compensation on and off for each arc of a circle, for example or can i just make a 3/8" bit behave like a 1/4"? there are no features with a minimum inside dimension of less than 3/8"

I have emailed you a zip that has the source and the exe. Depending on your email server it may not allow you to receive something with an exe in it.
John

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of spencer@...
Sent: May-11-21 1:48 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [MachCNC] tool offset

thaniks, i think cambam does similar things but is quite old and maybe i
should try what you use. a zip file would be good.

On 5/11/2021 1:33 PM, John Dammeyer wrote:

I haven't done D slots yet but I do have circular arcs.

Either IJ or Radius mode G-Code is generated. The code is written in Pascal via Lazarus IDE which means write once, compile

anywhere. The attached photo was done on a MachineKit BeagleBone Black. I've run it on Raspberry Pi, LinuxCNC and of course
Windows.

I can send you the source code and you can get the free Lazarus or I can send the EXE in a zip file.

You can also use metric parameters as the attached windows version of the program shows.

John

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of spencer@...
Sent: May-11-21 1:07 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [MachCNC] tool offset

i am trying to be lazy at least for initial testing. my code is a mess
developed over time. i also wrote it a long time ago using various tools
and do not remember how they work but certainly can learn again if
forced to.

so the last question is: if i have circular pockets using arcs is there
any simple change to the arcs that can effectively compensate for a
larger cutter? i have been making my pockets with something like cambam?
so i never really learned the syntax for arcs.

I know there are all sorts of wizards for mach4. i will look soon but is
there something for creating simple shapes like circular pockets and a d
slot which is two straight moves and two arcs?

On 5/11/2021 12:55 PM, Ken Strauss wrote:

Read the description for G41/G42 carefully since there are leadin/out requirements related to cutter diameter. If you were not

previously using cutter compensation it is doubtful if your CAM follows those rules for an even larger cutter. Why not simply redo

the

CAM?

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of spencer@...
Sent: May 11, 2021 3:43 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [MachCNC] tool offset

I am looking for a simple solution. I am using a 1/4" router bit to cut slots d shaped pockets and holes i would like to use a bigger

cutter for various reasons. especially for testing i would like to do as little reprogramming as possible.

i have read about cutter compensation but can not make sense of it. is there a way to apply a cutter compensation and switch to

a

3/8" bit and make the same sized slots holes pockets etc. Do i need to turn compensation on and off for each arc of a circle, for
example or can i just make a 3/8" bit behave like a 1/4"? there are no features with a minimum inside dimension of less than 3/8"

--
Best regards, Spencer Chase
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only.
Spencer@...


(425) 791-0309

--
Best regards, Spencer Chase
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only.
Spencer@...


(425) 791-0309

--
Best regards, Spencer Chase
67550 Bell Springs Rd.
Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only.
Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only.
Spencer@...


(425) 791-0309

There are wizards in the Mach4 set that do circular pockets, rectangular pockets and 'dog bone' or link pockets.

The wizards also save a job file, so you could create the job file with one size tool, save the gcode, change the tool selections and save the gcode again. One job would create many gcode files.

ron ginger


On 5/11/2021 3:43 PM, spencer@... wrote:

I am looking for a simple solution. I am using a 1/4" router bit to cut slots d shaped pockets and holes i would like to use a bigger cutter for various reasons. especially for testing i would like to do as little reprogramming as possible.

i have read about cutter compensation but can not make sense of it. is there a way to apply a cutter compensation and switch to a 3/8" bit and make the same sized slots holes pockets etc. Do i need to turn compensation on and off for each arc of a circle, for example or can i just make a 3/8" bit behave like a 1/4"? there are no features with a minimum inside dimension of less than 3/8"

i looked around and could not find the wizards for circular pockets etc. cam bam is a little non intuitive so it takes a few minutes remembering the tool chain process.
i would love to use the mach4 wiz if i can find it?
On 5/11/2021 2:40 PM, Ron Ginger wrote:

There are wizards in the Mach4 set that do circular pockets, rectangular pockets and 'dog bone' or link pockets.

The wizards also save a job file, so you could create the job file with one size tool, save the gcode, change the tool selections and save the gcode again. One job would create many gcode files.

ron ginger


On 5/11/2021 3:43 PM, spencer@... wrote:

I am looking for a simple solution. I am using a 1/4" router bit to cut slots d shaped pockets and holes i would like to use a bigger cutter for various reasons. especially for testing i would like to do as little reprogramming as possible.

i have read about cutter compensation but can not make sense of it. is there a way to apply a cutter compensation and switch to a 3/8" bit and make the same sized slots holes pockets etc. Do i need to turn compensation on and off for each arc of a circle, for example or can i just make a 3/8" bit behave like a 1/4"? there are no features with a minimum inside dimension of less than 3/8"

I am speaking about the Mach4 wizards. They can be downloadd from the Mach site, machsupport.com. They run in demo mode without a license, you can use it all and create job file, but you cannot save gcode.

The menu buttons are down the right side of the window.

ron ginger

On 5/11/2021 6:39 PM, spencer@... wrote:

i looked around and could not find the wizards for circular pockets etc. cam bam is a little non intuitive so it takes a few minutes remembering the tool chain process.

i would love to use the mach4 wiz if i can find it?

On 5/11/2021 2:40 PM, Ron Ginger wrote:

There are wizards in the Mach4 set that do circular pockets, rectangular pockets and 'dog bone' or link pockets.

The wizards also save a job file, so you could create the job file with one size tool, save the gcode, change the tool selections and save the gcode again. One job would create many gcode files.

ron ginger


On 5/11/2021 3:43 PM, spencer@... wrote:

I am looking for a simple solution. I am using a 1/4" router bit to cut slots d shaped pockets and holes i would like to use a bigger cutter for various reasons. especially for testing i would like to do as little reprogramming as possible.

i have read about cutter compensation but can not make sense of it. is there a way to apply a cutter compensation and switch to a 3/8" bit and make the same sized slots holes pockets etc. Do i need to turn compensation on and off for each arc of a circle, for example or can i just make a 3/8" bit behave like a 1/4"? there are no features with a minimum inside dimension of less than 3/8"

i have a license and expected the wizards to show up in the wizard tab, did not know i needed to download them. will try that.

On 5/11/2021 3:54 PM, Ron Ginger wrote:

I am speaking about the Mach4 wizards. They can be downloadd from the Mach site, machsupport.com. They run in demo mode without a license, you can use it all and create job file, but you cannot save gcode.

The menu buttons are down the right side of the window.

ron ginger

On 5/11/2021 6:39 PM, spencer@... wrote:

i looked around and could not find the wizards for circular pockets etc. cam bam is a little non intuitive so it takes a few minutes remembering the tool chain process.

i would love to use the mach4 wiz if i can find it?

On 5/11/2021 2:40 PM, Ron Ginger wrote:

There are wizards in the Mach4 set that do circular pockets, rectangular pockets and 'dog bone' or link pockets.

The wizards also save a job file, so you could create the job file with one size tool, save the gcode, change the tool selections and save the gcode again. One job would create many gcode files.

ron ginger


On 5/11/2021 3:43 PM, spencer@... wrote:

I am looking for a simple solution. I am using a 1/4" router bit to cut slots d shaped pockets and holes i would like to use a bigger cutter for various reasons. especially for testing i would like to do as little reprogramming as possible.

i have read about cutter compensation but can not make sense of it. is there a way to apply a cutter compensation and switch to a 3/8" bit and make the same sized slots holes pockets etc. Do i need to turn compensation on and off for each arc of a circle, for example or can i just make a 3/8" bit behave like a 1/4"? there are no features with a minimum inside dimension of less than 3/8"

On 5/12/2021 12:31 AM, spencer@... wrote:

i installed the wizards, where do i access them?

They are a separate program you cannot call them from Mach. But you can transfer the gcode directly into mach.

We made them a separate program so they could be used with other controllers- even linnuxcnc, or Mach3. I was careful to generate very basic gcode so they should be controller independent.

ron ginger

I installed the wizards and the process seemed to complete but nothing shows up in the recently added programs list and i can not find the newly installed programs anywhere? Any hints?
On 5/12/2021 4:54 AM, Ron Ginger wrote:

On 5/12/2021 12:31 AM, spencer@... wrote:

i installed the wizards, where do i access them?

They are a separate program you cannot call them from Mach. But you can transfer the gcode directly into mach.

We made them a separate program so they could be used with other controllers- even linnuxcnc, or Mach3. I was careful to generate very basic gcode so they should be controller independent.

ron ginger