Google doing the DEEEEEEEP Web Crawl on pre-2010 topics. We need to dig up the very 1st technical posting and answer it as though it were asked today.

There are some distinct differences in G10 (with regard to writing to parameters) in the different generations of controls. 0i-C and 0i-D are more like 16i/18i generation controls, and the 0i-F is more like 30i/31i Series controls. 16i/18i sample; G90G10L50(WRITING TO PARAMETERS) N20R4(I/O CHANNEL TO CARD) G11(FINISH WRITING TO PARAMETERS) 30i/30i Sample G90G10L52(WRITING TO PARAMETERS) N20R4(CHANGE TO FLASH CARD) G11(FINISH WRITING TO PARAMETERS) It's just a number but it's a very important number.

Me either. I always prove out my probing cycles at the machine. Once proven, I put them in Manual Entries, and all is good and right in the world. It's only a hack if you're trying to cheat the system. Things like this are precisely why Manual Entry was created, therefore, NOT a hack,

You caaaaaaaaaaaan however it does require some extra work on the front end to stop the look ahead to make certain the calculations happen. Some machines have a buffer stop M-Code set/created from the factory. Others do not. In the machines that do not, one has to be created and assigned. Not a big deal if somebody knows how to do that, REALLY problematic if they don't. The average 3/4-Axis user probably thinks many of us are just being a PITA for harping on the issue(s) above. That's fine, this isn't their world... today. However, if things continue as the industry anticipates it will, this will soon be their world so paying attention and learning would be in their best interest. I say that because the number of 5-Axis machines getting delivered increases every single year. In my 16 years at the company I am at, we've only had 2 years where that didn't hold up. 2009 and 2010. Situations/conditions like this are why Applications Engineers exist.

That is the other way; by direct variable. That is 100% good to go as well. It all depends on what the end game is. If you need to do some math to an individual axis, variable nunmber/name( #5221=xxxxx/[#_WZG54[1]]=xxxxx) is the more straight forward way to go IMHO. G90G10L2P1X[#_ABSMT[1]]Y[#_ABSMT[2]]Z[#_ABSMT[3]]A[#_ABSMT[4]]C[#_ABSMT[5]] G11 G90G10L2P1X#5021Y#5022Z#5023A#5024C#5025 G11 Your variable example (current machine position X, Y, and X) name is [#_ABSMT[1]] [#_ABSMT[2]] [#_ABSMT[3]] #5221=#5021 #5222=#5022 #5223=#5023 #5224=#5024 #5225=#5025 Many ways to skin the cat. By direct variable number writing, no need to G11. When using G10, shoudl use g11. hth

Correct IMHO. Re: Ball/Bull... I'll preface this statement by saying I would never do this, however, I recently lost a battle with a customer regarding + Tool Lengths (they elected to run negative tool length offsets on their 5-Axis machine so it can be like all their other machines in the shop - no judgement other than they are really missing out but, they have to work with their 4 walls and I do not), so, there are ALL kinds of practices out there. Some sound, others... not so much. I guess the bottom line is I'm just going to need to work though the tool offset table R/D G/W and CR G/W then Swarf_Flow_Curve-01.txt Swarf_Flow_Curve-02.txt Swarf_Flow_Curve-06.txt *-01 is New School Swarf - Side Autodetect *-02 is Old School Swarf Wear *-06 is Old School Computer Seems like there is no shutting G43.8 off from the toolpath itself. Good thing I can from within CAMplete.

I think leaving anything between 20 and 30% Diameter is probably sufficient. I think I read 3/4 not 1/4. Sorry.

Why upgrade software. EVER? You should just use Notepad to write your programs. I mean it works. It's bug free...

You want to make sure you leave enough to "cut" or for the tool to actually bite into. Don't and you risk some VERY unfavorable cutting conditions that you may only be able to grind, EDM, or ceramic tool your way out of.

Using G10 you can write to parameters, the offset tables you mentioned also you can write to the WSEC Offset Table and the RTDFO Offset Table. 3D Tool Comp CR Columns.. Those are all the ones I use on a fairly regular basis. WSEC (G54.4 P1 - P7) G10L23P1X0.0Y0.0Z0.0A0.0B0.0C0.0I0.0J0.0 G11 RTDFO (G54.2 P1 - P8) G10L23P3X0.0Y0.0Z0.0B0.0 G11 Writing to the F/G I/O Channel Parameter G90G10L52(WRITING TO PARAMETERS) N20R4(CHANGE TO FLASH CARD) G11(FINISH WRITING TO PARAMETERS) (0 and 1 = RS232) (4 = CARD) (5 = DATASERVER) 3D Tool Comp Corner Rad Geometry and Wear G10G90L110P1R0.000 (G) G10G90L111P1R0.000 (W) G11 Always remember to use G11 after you're done. Odd things can happen if you have probes and lasers and you don't close it out. HTH

Yeah, you can't machine that feature that way. If you want to Swarf it you need to make the floor your wall and the wall your floor.

My request is quite simple; Give us comp selections just like the old school Flow 5-Ax, Curve 5-Ax, and swarf. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy, then set/flag the condition in the NCI. That's it.

Not really. I still need the selection... if for no other reason than as a guide for what the comp table values need to be.

In CAMplete, I've got a setting to specify 3D Comp enabled toolpaths ID'd by op type number. I'll I can add or subtract to this list if I feel so inclined. My main point in this whole discussion is in Old-School 5-Axis Flowing, Curve 5-Axis and Old School Swarf the comp selection method is there. The new MW paths it is not. For me the post question is irrelevant. I can get whatever output I need by any number of methods. Should be a pretty simple ask IMHO. And if comp is supported, is it left, right, wear, or control, or reverse wear. I fully understand 3D Tool Comp works "differently", however I want to know that I'm going to get G41.2/G42.2 , or whatever other comp option I'm choosing... AND what data I need to put into my comp table in the control. When I get to select what I want, I know what data to put in the offset table. No selection means I've gotta guess. So, forgive me if I'd prefer to not guess when I'm running somebody's $800,000 or $1,000,000 investment.

So @Aaron Eberhard - CNC Software what mode is the compensation? Wear, Control, or Reverse Wear?

It functions as another device that the CNC has program access/storage to. It is usually accessed externally through FTP over a network where programs are dropped onto. The CNC then runs from that device. In a 3xi series control (30i, 31i, 32i, etc...) programs can be run from them just as one runs from CNC_MEM. Same editing capabilities, etc... Older 16/18 series controls you needed to use M198 Pxxxx to run from them. That requirement is no longer the case.

I've combed every single Swarf Milling Operation page, every pull down on every page. Multiple times. Please show me @Aaron Eberhard - CNC Software where I'm missing the ability to enable cutter comp.

Yeah, I can totally get CAMplete to do whatever I need it to, I just need the MW toolpaths to give me the switch/pull down... Is that available @Aaron Eberhard - CNC Software?

Correct @crazy^millman I should preface my statements with "...on a table/table kinematic..." since that is 95% of what I spend my time with and on. There's a few things we could do differently, however, I have SO many 1st time 5-Axis users to work with and a good chunk of my job is teaching our customers reliable methods to accomplish given tasks. If people choose to use 5-Axis linking, I've got a CAMplete NC format that supports that and the standard 5-Axis Matsuura machine control option configuration in the US will do whatever dance anyone cares to do with it. As a matter of preference, since I put my hands directly on other people's machines, I choose safety over cool factor or capability. If the customers want the cool factor, I can help with that too.

The safest move is pre-position in TWP then engage TCP. That will give you predictable motion at a glance. Plusses and minuses to everything.

In the Mastercam File I/O settings in CAMplete I can totally specify comp supported toolpaths, however In MC's MW operations I don't see the pull down to set L/R/Control/Wear, etc... unless it's just automatic, which is kind of not optimal IMHO.

Show me in a MW 5-Axis toolpath where the wear/control/none, etc... pull-down for comp is please. @Aaron Eberhard - CNC Software

As do I. A logical cross IMHO. With even a basic understanding of either, one can form a basic understanding of the structure and formatting. At least that's was how it was for me.

Ever make those parts where you have unilateral tolerances that erase ALL the tolerance because everything is RFS? And QC says you need to hold it instead of picking up the phone? Those Engineers need to be publicly flogged. This is why companies NEED Manufacturing Engineers that have ACTUAL manufacturing experience instead of the toilet paper they have hanging on the wall.

I'd suggest having G43.4 active for your positioning/transition moves. This will give you that kind of motion. Please note, it "can" be dangerous in certain sometimes unpredictable situations like if the positioning move passes through 0,0,0. At that point the next move has an infinite number of solutions and will produce aggressive moves and could result in a collision. HTH