CNC PROGRAMMING

WORKBOOK

LESSON-10
CUTTER COMPENSATION
 LESSON-10 - G40, G41, & G42 CUTTER COMPENSATION

Cutter Compensation is used to offset the center of the cutter and move the cutter either to
the left or right the distance of the cutter radius. When cutting angled geometry, substantial
computations are required to determine the center of the cutter. Using Cutter Compensation, you
can program the part as if the center of the cutter will be travelling along the geometry.

G40 CUTTER COMPENSATION CANCEL

G40 will cancel the G41 or G42 cutter compensation commands.

G41 CUTTER COMPENSATION LEFT

G41 will action cutter compensation left. The tool is moved to the left of the programmed path to
compensate for the radius of the tool. A Dnn must also be programmed to select the correct tool
size from the DIAMETER/RADIUS offset display register.

G42 CUTTER COMPENSATION RIGHT

G42 will action cutter compensation right. The tool is moved to the right of the programmed path
to compensate for the size of the tool.

G41

G41
G41 Left of the Line G42 Right of the Line

G41 : Tool is moved to the left of the profile (e.g. Outside Profile shown as above)
G42 : Tool is moved to the right of the profile (e.g. Inside Profile shown as above)

Lesson 10 - 2
 LESSON-10 - G40, G41, & G42 CUTTER COMPENSATION

Without Cutter Compensation Using Cutter Compensation

% %
O10011 O10012
N1 T12 M06 (3/4” Flat Endmill) N1 T12 M06 (3/4” Flat Endmill)
N2 G90 G54 G00 X-.575 Y-.200 S1500 M03 N2 G90 G54 G00 X-.575 Y-.200 S1500 M03
N3 G43 H12 Z2. N3 G43 H12 Z2.
N4 Z.1 N4 Z.1
N5 G01 Z-.25 F10. N5 G01 Z-.25 F10.
N6 X-.375 (Point B) N6 G41 X0. D12 (Origin)
N7 Y?.???? (Point C) N7 Y1.0 (P1)
N8 X?.???? Y2.375 (Point D) N8 X1.732 Y2.0 (P2)
N9 X2.875 (Point E) N9 X2.875
N10 M05 N10 G40 M05
N11 G00 Z2. N11 G00 Z2.
N12 G91 G28 Z0. (Machine Home Z-Axis) N12 G91 G28 Z0. (Machine Home Z-Axis)
N13 G28 X0. Y0. (Machine Home X,Y-Axis) N13 G28 X0. Y0. (Machine Home X,Y-Axis)
N14 M30 N14 M30
% %

The Cutter Compensation (G41) will reflect the actual part geometry (O, P1, P2..) instead of Cutter
Centers (Point B,C,D & E)

Lesson 10 - 3
LESSON-10 - CNC - PART #13

Lesson 10 - 4
 LESSON-10 - CNC - PART #13
 The Machining Process
 Ø.750” Endmill - Tool # 5
 Machine the profile and pocket using cutter compensation
 0.750” diameter end mill Spindle Speed = 2100 Feed rate = 25 IPM
 Ø.375” Spot Drill - Tool # 6
 Spot Drill Spindle Speed = 2750 Feed rate = 11 IPM
 Ø.201” Drill - Tool # 8
 0.201” diameter Drill Spindle Speed = 4500 Feed rate = 15 IPM
 Ø.25”-20 UNC Tap - Tool # 9
 0.250-20 UNC Tap Spindle Speed = 1000 Feed rate = 50 IPM

Lesson 10 - 5
 LESSON-10 - CNC - PART #13
 WORK OUT THE ABSOLUTE X AND Y COORDINATES FOR THE VARIOUS
POSITIONS TO MACHINE THE PART
 X0Y0 is at the lower left corner of the part

• WORK OUT THE ABSOLUTE X AND Y COORDINATES FOR THE TWO HOLES

G90 X Y
1
2

Lesson 10 - 6
 LESSON-10 - CNC - PART #13
 WORK OUT THE ABSOLUTE X AND Y COORDINATES FOR THE VARIOUS
POSITIONS TO MACHINE THE PART - CONTOUR
 X0Y0 is at the lower left of the part

• WORK OUT THE ABSOLUTE X AND Y COORDINATES FOR THE VARIOUS

POSITIONS OF THE 0.75’ DIAMETER END MILL TO MACHINE THE CONTOUR
G90 X Y G90 X Y
1 12
2 13
3 14
4 15
5 16
6 17
7
8
9
10
11

Lesson 10 - 7
 LESSON-10 - CNC - PART #13
 WORK OUT THE ABSOLUTE X AND Y COORDINATES FOR THE VARIOUS
POSITIONS TO MACHINE THE PART - POCKET
 X0Y0 is at the lower left of the part

• WORK OUT THE ABSOLUTE X AND Y COORDINATES FOR THE VARIOUS

POSITIONS OF THE 0.75’ DIAMETER END MILL TO MACHINE THE POCKET
G90 X Y
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13

Lesson 10 - 8
 TAPPING CANNED CYCLE G84

G84 TAPPING CANNED CYCLE

Format: G99 G84 X1.0 Y0.5 Z-.35 R.1 F50.
X* Rapid X-axis location
Y* Rapid Y-axis location
Z Z-depth (tap to Z-depth starting from R plane)
R R-plane (rapid point to start feeding)
F Feed rate in inches (mm) per minute
* Indicates optional

This G84 code is used for tapping pre-drilled holes. When the bottom of the hole is reached the
spindle rotates in the reverse direction and retracts from the hole to the R-plane at the
programmed feed rate.

Steps for the Tapping Cycle:

1. Rapid to the XY position.
2. Rapid to the R-Plane.
3. Feed to the depth of the thread with clockwise spindle rotation (M03).
4. Spindle rotation stops at the bottom of the hole.
5. The spindle changes to reverse rotation (M04) and retracts at feed rate to the R-Plane.
6. Spindle rotation stop.
7. Spindle rotation clockwise (M03).

After the G84 tapping operation is completed, either a G98 or G99 command controls the return
height — G99 returns the tool to the R-plane; G98 returns the tool to the initial height.

The feed rate and the spindle speed calculation for the tapping cycle are important since there is a
direct relationship between the spindle speed and the lead of the tap.
For Example Feed Calculation:
Spindle Speed = 1000 RPM
¼-20 UNC Tap Lead = 1/20 = 0.05
Feed rate = 0.05 x 1000 = 50 Inchers Per Minute

Lesson 10 - 9
 LESSON-10 - CNC - PART #13
 CREATE THE PROGRAM TO MACHINE THE PART
 The Machining Process
 Ø.750” Endmill - Tool # 5
 Machine the profile and pocket using cutter compensation
 0.750” diameter end mill Spindle Speed = 2100 Feed rate = 25 IPM
 Ø.375” Spot Drill - Tool # 6
 Spot Drill Spindle Speed = 2750 Feed rate = 11 IPM
 Ø.201” Drill - Tool # 8
 0.201” diameter Drill Spindle Speed = 4500 Feed rate = 15 IPM
 Ø.25”-20 UNC Tap - Tool # 9
 0.201” diameter Drill Spindle Speed = 1000 Feed rate = 50 IPM
%
O888
N10 G20
N20 G00 G17 G40 G49 G80 G90 (MACHINE DEFAULT SETTING)
N30

Lesson 10 - 10
LESSON-10 - CNC - PART #13 - Continued

Lesson 10 - 11
LESSON-10 - CNC - PART #14

Lesson 10 - 12
 LESSON-10 - CNC - PART #14
 The Machining Process
 Ø.750” Endmill - Tool # 5
 Machine the profile and pocket using cutter compensation
 0.750” diameter end mill Spindle Speed = 2100 Feed rate = 25 IPM
 Ø.375” Spot Drill - Tool # 6
 Spot Drill Spindle Speed = 2750 Feed rate = 11 IPM
 Ø.201” Drill - Tool # 8
 0.201” diameter Drill Spindle Speed = 4500 Feed rate = 15 IPM
 Ø.25”-20 UNC Tap - Tool # 9
 0.201” diameter Drill Spindle Speed = 1000 Feed rate = 50 IPM

Lesson 10 - 13
 LESSON-10 - CNC - PART #14
 WORK OUT THE ABSOLUTE X AND Y COORDINATES FOR THE VARIOUS
POSITIONS TO MACHINE THE PART
 X0Y0 is at the lower left of the part

• WORK OUT THE ABSOLUTE X AND Y COORDINATES FOR THE TWO HOLES

G90 X Y
1
2

Lesson 10 - 14
 LESSON-10 - CNC - PART #14
 WORK OUT THE ABSOLUTE X AND Y COORDINATES FOR THE VARIOUS
POSITIONS TO MACHINE THE PART - CONTOUR
 X0Y0 is at the lower left of the part

• WORK OUT THE ABSOLUTE X AND Y COORDINATES FOR THE VARIOUS

POSITIONS OF THE 0.75’ DIAMETER END MILL TO MACHINE CONTOUR
G90 X Y G90 X Y
1 12
2 13
3 14
4 15
5 16
6 17
7
8
9
10
11

Lesson 10 - 15
 LESSON-10 - CNC - PART #14
 WORK OUT THE ABSOLUTE X AND Y COORDINATES FOR THE VARIOUS
POSITIONS TO MACHINE THE PART - POCKET
 X0Y0 is at the lower left of the part

• WORK OUT THE ABSOLUTE X AND Y COORDINATES FOR THE VARIOUS

POSITIONS OF THE 0.75’ DIAMETER END MILL TO MACHINE POCKET
G90 X Y
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13

Lesson 10 - 16
 LESSON-10 - CNC - PART #14
 CREATE THE PROGRAM TO MACHINE THE PART
 The Machining Process
 Ø.750” Endmill - Tool # 5
 Machine the profile and pocket using cutter compensation
 0.750” diameter end mill Spindle Speed = 2100 Feed rate = 25 IPM
 Ø.375” Spot Drill - Tool # 6
 Spot Drill Spindle Speed = 2750 Feed rate = 11 IPM
 Ø.201” Drill - Tool # 8
 0.201” diameter Drill Spindle Speed = 4500 Feed rate = 15 IPM
 Ø.25”-20 UNC Tap - Tool # 9
 0.201” diameter Drill Spindle Speed = 1000 Feed rate = 50 IPM
%
O003
N10 G20
N20 G00 G17 G40 G49 G80 G90 (MACHINE DEFAULT SETTING)
N30

Lesson 10 - 17
LESSON-10 - CNC - PART #14 - Continued

Lesson 10 - 18