Procedure for Generating CUTCOM Syntaxes

You can generate cutter compensation (CUTCOM) instructions for Profile Contouring, Pocketing, and Circular Milling operations.

The activation/deactivation of cutter compensation is possible by using NC macros on these operations:

  • For Profile Contouring operations, compensation can be defined on Approach, Retract, Return to finish pass, and Return between levels macros for each pass.
  • For Circular Milling operations, compensation can be defined on Approach, Retract, and Return between levels macros for each pass.
  • For Pocketing operations, compensation can be defined on Retract, Return to finish pass, and Return between levels macros on the side finish pass only.

Compensation is possible by inserting a dedicated PP Word instruction in a macro tool path. In the generated APT source, CUTCOM syntaxes are inserted as follows:


  • CUTCOM/LEFT or CUTCOM/RIGHT (from point where CUTCOM is activated). The valuation LEFT or RIGHT is automatically defined by the system in order to respect the machining side.
  • CUTCOM/OFF (from point where CUTCOM is deactivated).

The stages in this procedure are as follows:

Related Topics
Profile Contouring
Pocketing
2.5 to 5-Axis Drilling Operations

Select the Compensation Output Option

The Compensation output allows you to manage the generation of CUTCOM instructions in the NC data output.

  • Go to the Strategy tab of the machining operation and set Compensation output to None.

    The other options are:

    • 2D Radial profile: both the tool tip and cutter profile are visualized during tool path replay. Cutter compensation instructions are automatically generated in the NC data output. An approach macro must be defined to allow the compensation to be applied.
    • 2D Radial tip: the tool tip is visualized during tool path replay. Cutter compensation instructions are automatically generated in the NC data output. An approach macro must be defined to allow the compensation to be applied.

    With None, the cutter compensation instructions are not generated automatically in the NC data output. The procedure below describes how to manage the cutter compensation manually.

Select Position in Macro for Cutter Compensation

This procedure describes you how to select a position in macro for cutter compensation

  • Go to the Macro tab of the machining operation dialog box.

    See Defining Macros

    1. In the Macro Management frame, right-click the Approach line and select the Activate contextual command.
    2. In the Current Macro Toolbox frame, select the desired mode.

      A sensitive icon representing this approach motion is displayed.

    3. Right-click the point (green cross) where the cutter compensation is to be inserted in the macro path and select PPword list.



Insert CUTCOM PP Word in the Macro

This procedure describes you how to insert customized PP word in macro tool path.

  1. In the PP Word Selection dialog box, click PP Word to access the PP word table.

    Note: This command is accessible only if a machine and an associated PP table are defined on the part operation.

    The PP Word Selection Assistant appears.

  2. Select the major word CUTCOM in the list (Major words with parameters).

    See Inserting PP Instructions.



  3. Select the appropriate NC_CUTCOM syntax, then click Apply to add the syntax and Close to exit the dialog box.

    • NC_CUTCOM_ON activates the cutter compensation. CUTCOM/LEFT or CUTCOM/RIGHT is generated in the APT source. The valuation LEFT/RIGHT is automatically defined by the system in order to respect the machining side.
    • NC_CUTCOM_OFF deactivates the cutter compensation. CUTCOM/OFF is generated in the APT source.

    The PP Words Selection dialog box appears again.

  4. Click OK to insert the NC_CUTCOM_ON PP word in macro tool path.



Complete the Machining Operation Definition

Define the other parameters of the operation (geometry, tool, and machining strategy).

  • Click OK to validate the machining operation and exit the dialog box.

Generated APT Source

Here is an example of the type of APT source that can be obtained for a Profile Contouring operation when a NC_CUTCOM_ON word was inserted in the approach macro and a NC_CUTCOM_OFF word was inserted in the retract macro.



$$Start generation of:Profile Contouring.1
FEDRAT/ 300.0000,MMPM
SPINDL/ 500.0000,SFM,CLW
  


GOTO/-110.00000, 80.00000, 10.00000
GOTO/-110.00000, 80.00000, 0.00000
CUTCOM/LEFT
GOTO/-110.00000, 70.00000, 0.00000
INTOL/0.10000
OUTTOL/0.00000
AUTOPS
INDIRV/0.00000, -1.00000, 0.00000
TLON,GOFWD(CIRCLE/-100.00000,
70.00000,0.00000,$
10.00000),ON,(LINE/-100.00000,
70.00000,0.00000,$
-100.00000, 60.00000, 0.00000)

Approach macro: 

NC_CUTCOM_ON

is generated as

CUTCOM/LEFT

 

FEDRAT/ 1000.0000,MMPM
GOTO / 100.00000, 60.00000, 0.00000
INDIRV/ 1.00000, 0.00000, 0.00000
TLON,GOFWD/ (CIRCLE/ 100.00000, 
50.00000, 0.00000,$
10.00000),ON,(LINE/ 100.00000, 
50.00000, 0.00000,$
110.00000, 50.00000, 0.00000)
GOTO / 110.00000, -50.00000
  

FEDRAT/200.0000,MMPM
INDIRV/0.00000, -1.00000, 0.00000
TLON,GOFWD(CIRCLE/120.00000,
 -50.00000,0.00000,$
10.00000),ON,(LINE/120.00000,
-50.00000,0.00000,$
120.00000, -60.00000, 0.00000)
CUTCOM/OFF
GOTO/130.00000, -60.00000, 0.00000
GOTO/ 30.00000, -60.00000, 10.00000

Retract macro:

NC_CUTCOM_OFF

is generated as

CUTCOM/OFF