Contouring

The 2D milling functions use standard cutter compensation commands with G41 for left and G42 for right hand. The cutter compensation is automatically turned on and off at the correct position within Vector.

Define a tool to use for contouring with NC-Tool Lib-Define Flat End Tool:

Draw a simple contour for illustration:

Draw-Arc-Coordinates, 1.0 radius, and Change-Break-Divide into 3 parts.

NC-2d Milling-Contour

Click Tool/Job

Select the tool previously defined from the tool library and describe the operation.

This contour will be cut on the outside, to the right, click Right on the Contour Tooling dialog. Only one cut will be made at .125, so do not check alternate direction of contours. Check and Click the Approach and Depart button

The Radius must be larger than the cutter radius set in the controller. Setting a smaller value will cause most controls to fault with a cutter comp error.

Set Start point on first entity =0. Use 1.5 times cutter diameter as a rule of thumb for Distance from contour.

Side of Contour is Right to match the cut direction on the contour.

Uncheck Break first entity as this is not a closed contour and will only be cut once from end to end.

The resulting contour toolpath looks like this:

When simulated from the NC-Job-Job Table, the tool is shown offset as it will be cut in the machine:

When the NC code is created, the cutter compensation commands are entered on the start line to turn cutter compensation on and on the ending line to turn cutter compensation off. The iso-g-code is shown below with the cutter comp codes highlighted:

N10 T4 D04 L04 S3250 F5 M06

N11 G00 X1.188 Y0. Z0.8

N12 G40 G00 X1.188 Y0. Z0.1 (turn cutter comp off)

N13 G01 X1.188 Y0. Z-0.125 F2

N14 G42 G01 X1.14 Y-0.053 F5 (turn right hand cutter comp on)

N15 G02 X1. Y0. I-0.06 J0.053

N16 G03 X0.5 Y0.866 I-1. J0.

N17 G03 X-0.5 Y0.866 I-0.5 J-0.866

N18 G03 X-1. Y0. I0.5 J-0.866

N19 G02 X-1.14 Y-0.053 I-0.08 J0.

N20 G40 G01 X-1.188 Y0. ( turn cutter comp off)

N21 G00 X-1.188 Y0. Z1.6

Cutter compensation is available NC-2D Milling-Contouring

And for the finish passes for:

NC-2D Milling- Pocket X-parallel

NC-2D Milling-Pocket Contour Parallel