Multiaxis Tool Length Compensation

[Jim at Gentex]

Greetings all,

I have an application where I am cutting a Multiaxis Curve toolpath where I want to make slight mid-program adjustments to the depth of the cut at several different points along the cut.

Currently running the job with an older Heidenhain Mill Plus control, it is relatively easy to accomplish using the G39 (Activate Tool Offset) variable.

Here is a sample of the Heidenhain code:

...

N1013 X-1.0557 Y-2.9073 Z-1.459 B-87.054 C86.934
N1014 X-1.065 Y-2.9069 Z-1.4603 B-87.061 C86.844
N1015 X-1.0743 Y-2.9064 Z-1.4615 B-87.067 C86.754
N1016 X-1.0835 Y-2.906 Z-1.4628 B-87.074 C86.664
N1017 X-1.0928 Y-2.9056 Z-1.4641 B-87.08 C86.574
N1018 X-1.1021 Y-2.9052 Z-1.4653 B-87.087 C86.483
N1019 X-1.1114 Y-2.9047 Z-1.4666 B-87.094 C86.393
N1020 X-1.1207 Y-2.9043 Z-1.4678 B-87.1 C86.303

N1021 G40 (Cancel 3D Comp)
N1022 G39 L-0.003 (Negative L value cuts deeper at this point)
N1023 G141 (Activate 3D Comp)
N1024 X-1.1309 Y-2.9038 Z-1.4694 B-87.1 C86.209 F15
N1025 X-1.1412 Y-2.9032 Z-1.471 B-87.1 C86.115
N1026 X-1.1515 Y-2.9026 Z-1.4726 B-87.1 C86.021
N1027 X-1.1617 Y-2.9021 Z-1.4741 B-87.1 C85.926
N1028 X-1.172 Y-2.9015 Z-1.4757 B-87.1 C85.832
N1029 X-1.1822 Y-2.9009 Z-1.4773 B-87.1 C85.738
N1030 X-1.1925 Y-2.9004 Z-1.4789 B-87.1 C85.644
N1031 X-1.2027 Y-2.8998 Z-1.4804 B-87.1 C85.55
N1032 X-1.213 Y-2.8992 Z-1.482 B-87.1 C85.456
N1033 X-1.2215 Y-2.8985 Z-1.4835 B-87.121 C85.361

N1034 G40 (Cancel 3D Comp)
N1035 G39 L0 (Cancels previous G39 L value and returns cut to nominal depth)
N1036 G141(Activate 3D Comp)
N1037 X-1.23 Y-2.8978 Z-1.4849 B-87.142 C85.266 F15
N1038 X-1.2385 Y-2.8971 Z-1.4864 B-87.164 C85.171
N1039 X-1.2469 Y-2.8964 Z-1.4878 B-87.185 C85.076
N1040 X-1.2554 Y-2.8957 Z-1.4893 B-87.206 C84.981
...

In the example, I am able to change the depth of cut at line 1020 to cut .003 deeper, then cancel that .003 depth offset at line 1033 and return to nominal depth.

I may need to transition this particular job over to a Haas VF4 at some point, so my question is this: 

Is it possible to achieve this same kind of mid-program depth of cut adjustment on a Haas 5-axis mill using G43 / G44 variables that can be changed from part to part?

If so, what would the syntax look like on the Haas compared to the Heidenhain example above?

[Jim at Gentex]

:bump:

Come on Haas gurus!

I know you are here somewhere!!