Explanation of Tool Compensation in CNC Machining Centers-Tool Radius Compensation

CNC machining centers have tool radius compensation, and when programming, the diameter of the tool can be disregarded. Tool length compensation is applicable to all tools, while tool radius compensation is generally only used for milling cutters; When the milling cutter processes the outer or inner contour of the workpiece, tool radius compensation is used.

 When using the end face milling cutter to process the end face of the workpiece, only tool length compensation is required.

The tool radius compensation of CNC machining centers is a relatively difficult instruction to understand and use, so they are not willing to use it in programming. In fact, understanding and mastering it can bring great convenience to programming and machining; When preparing a program to process the shape of a workpiece with a milling cutter, the first step is to carefully calculate the coordinate values based on the overall dimensions of the workpiece and the radius of the tool to determine the path taken by the tool center. The tool radius used is only the radius value of this milling cutter. 

After completing the program, it is found that this milling cutter is not suitable for switching to other diameter cutters. At this point, it is necessary to recalculate the coordinate values of the path taken by the tool center, This is simply too difficult to recalculate for molds with complex shapes. The contour processing of a workpiece can be divided into rough machining and precision machining. After the rough machining program is programmed, the rough machining is completed.

After rough machining, the overall dimensions of the workpiece have changed, and the workload of calculating the center coordinates of the precision machining tool is too large; If tool radius compensation is used, the tool radius can be ignored and programmed according to the workpiece size. Then, the tool radius is used as radius compensation and placed in the radius compensation register. Temporary replacement of milling cutters or rough and fine machining can be carried out. Simply changing the tool radius compensation value can control the size of the workpiece's external dimensions, and there is basically no need to make any modifications to the program.