I am successfully using the Gcodes below on my router table with a 5mm router (T1) which is shown as Diameter 0 (I think) in Mach3. The tool dia was entered in Sheetcam when writing the G Codes which have been tacked together using Temp Offset to write this 2 part code.
I would like to change to a 3mm cutter. I have added T2 to my Tool Table as Diameter -2.
When I try to add a line "G41 T2" anywhere I get the error "Cannot change axis offsets with cutter radius comp on line . . ."

Please Help.

N0000 (Combined L & R Fig12 Targets with offset shift)
N0010 (Post processor: Mach2.post)
N0020 (Date: 20/04/2007)
N0030 G21 (Units: Metric)
N0040 G40 G90
N0050 F1
N0060 (Part: ~$Fig12RHmod001)
N0070 (Process: Outside offset 0, Mill/Router, 5 mm diameter, 5 mm Deep)
N0090 M06 T1  (Mill/Router, 5 mm diameter)
N0120 M03 S500
N0125 G00 Z40
N0130 X-325.5000 Y231.0000
N0150 G00 Z0.0000
N0160 Z-15.0000
N0170 G01 X122.0979 F1500
N0180 G02 X125.9975 Y229.9065 I0.0000 J-7.5000
N0190 G01 X329.3996 Y106.0965
N0200 G02 X333.0000 Y99.6900 I-3.8996 J-6.4065
N0210 G01 Y-99.6900
N0220 G02 X329.3996 Y-106.0965 I-7.5000 J0.0000
N0230 G01 X125.9975 Y-229.9065
N0240 G02 X122.0979 Y-231.0000 I-3.8996 J6.4065
N0250 G01 X-325.5000 Y-231.0000
N0260 G02 X-331.0000 Y-223.5000 I0.0000 J7.5000
N0265 G01 Y-216 Z0.0
N0270 G01 Y-137.0000
N0280 G02 X-323.5000 Y-129.5000 I7.5000 J0.0000
N0290 G01 X-265.5000
N0300 G03 X-265.5000 Y-124.5000 I0.0000 J2.5000
N0310 G01 X-323.5000
N0320 G02 X-331.0000 Y-117.0000 I0.0000 J7.5000
N0330 G01 Y-73.5000
N0340 G02 X-323.5000 Y-66.0000 I7.5000 J0.0000
N0350 G01 X-283.5000
N0360 G03 X-283.5000 Y-61.0000 I0.0000 J2.5000
N0370 G01 X-323.5000
N0380 G02 X-331.0000 Y-53.5000 I0.0000 J7.5000
N0390 G01 Y53.5000
N0400 G02 X-323.5000 Y61.0000 I7.5000 J0.0000
N0410 G01 X-283.5000
N0420 G03 X-283.5000 Y66.0000 I0.0000 J2.5000
N0430 G01 X-323.5000
N0440 G02 X-331.0000 Y73.5000 I0.0000 J7.5000
N0450 G01 Y117.0000
N0460 G02 X-323.5000 Y124.5000 I7.5000 J0.0000
N0470 G01 X-265.5000
N0480 G03 X-265.5000 Y129.5000 I0.0000 J2.5000
N0490 G01 X-323.5000
N0500 G02 X-331.0000 Y137.0000 I0.0000 J7.5000
N0550 G01 Y216
N0510 G01 Y223.5000 Z-15.00
N0520 G02 X-323.5000 Y231.0000 I7.5000 J0.0000
N0530 G00 X-323.5 Y231.0 Z0.0

N0540 G52 X-683 Y0.00 (Set Temp Offset)

N0000 (Filename: ~$Fig12LHmod008.tap)
N0010 (Post processor: Mach2.post)
N0020 (Date: 19/04/2007)
N0030 G21 (Units: Metric)
N0040 G40 G90
N0050 F1
N0070 (Process: Outside offset 0, Mill/Router, 5 mm diameter, 5 mm Deep)
N0090 M06 T1  (Mill/Router, 5 mm diameter)
N0130 X333.0000 Y223.5000
N0150 G01 Z-10.00 F1500
N0160 Z-15.0000
N0170 G03 X325.5000 Y231.0000 I-7.5000 J0.0000
N0180 G01 X-122.0979
N0190 G03 X-125.9975 Y229.9065 I0.0000 J-7.5000
N0200 G01 X-329.3996 Y106.0965
N0210 G03 X-333.0000 Y99.6900 I3.8996 J-6.4065
N0220 G01 Y-99.6900
N0230 G03 X-329.3996 Y-106.0965 I7.5000 J0.0000
N0240 G01 X-125.9975 Y-229.9065
N0250 G03 X-122.0979 Y-231.0000 I3.8996 J6.4065
N0260 G01 X325.5000 Y-231.0000
N0270 G03 X333.0000 Y-223.5000 I0.0000 J7.5000
N0275 G01 Y-216 Z0.0
N0280 G01 Y-137.0000 F1500
N0290 G03 X325.5000 Y-129.5000 I-7.5000 J0.0000 F1000
N0300 G01 X267.5000
N0310 G02 X267.5000 Y-124.5000 I0.0000 J2.5000
N0320 G01 X325.5000
N0330 G03 X333.0000 Y-117.0000 I0.0000 J7.5000
N0340 G01 Y-73.5000
N0350 G03 X325.5000 Y-66.0000 I-7.5000 J0.0000
N0360 G01 X285.5000
N0370 G02 X285.5000 Y-61.0000 I0.0000 J2.5000
N0380 G01 X325.5000
N0390 G03 X333.0000 Y-53.5000 I0.0000 J7.5000
N0400 G01 Y53.5000
N0410 G03 X325.5000 Y61.0000 I-7.5000 J0.0000
N0420 G01 X285.5000
N0430 G02 X285.5000 Y66.0000 I0.0000 J2.5000
N0440 G01 X325.5000
N0450 G03 X333.0000 Y73.5000 I0.0000 J7.5000
N0460 G01 Y117.0000
N0470 G03 X325.5000 Y124.5000 I-7.5000 J0.0000
N0480 G01 X267.5000
N0490 G02 X267.5000 Y129.5000 I0.0000 J2.5000
N0500 G01 X325.5000
N0510 G03 X333.0000 Y137.0000 I0.0000 J7.5000
N0515 G01 Y216
N0520 G01 Y225.5000 Z-15
N0530 G00 Z25.0000
N0540 M05


G52 X0 Y0 Z0 (Cancel Offset Shift)
N0580 Y460
N0590 X390
M30

You need to have prep moves to get comp to work... have a look at the mach3 manual and that should help...


Thanks
Brian

Thanks Brian. I've spent 4 hours + searching the manual but no luck yet. I can't be the first person that's had to find this. Maybe somebody kind will save me any more pain ?

I believe what you need to do is turn off the comp before you change tools and then turn it back on. It seems I remember something about not being able to change the offsetts with comp on. Please post the rest of the error message what is the line number it calls for. (;-) TP

Thanks ;
"Cannot change axis offsets with cutter radius comp on line Number #54"

"Cannot change axis offsets with cutter radius comp on line number #54"
But I've since decided that this relates to not being able to do both "Set Temp Offset" while G52 Cutter Radius Offset is programmed. I've written G40 (Cancel Cutter Radius Compenation) before line #54 & the Error goes away but the cutter compensation still hasn't worked between the lines where I've written G42 T2 (I've tried it everywhere between line 11 & 15). I've also tried G42 X-2.0 Y-2.0 & a few other codes.

http://www.artsoftcontrols.com/documentation/M3M1_84-A2.pdf

Have a look at section 9, it should help...

thanks
Brian

Thanks Brian. I've got the manual. I'm actually quite literate - It's my legitimacy that's in question. I've read Section 9 till my eyes are red. I don't know how to write the code for Cutter compensation.
OR
Am I supposed to rewrite EVERY line of my code using the information I've learned in Section 9 ?
Surely witing "G41" onto the front of line 12 of my code isn't going to tell my machine Which tool, How much compensation or anything specific to my newly installed cutter ?
Is there a manual for complete dummies like me ?

Section B.3.1.1

http://www.isd.mel.nist.gov/personnel/kramer/pubs/RS274NGC_3.web/RS274NGC_38a.html

If you have a drawing , bring into LCAM and let it program the tool change and do the Offsetting. Then look at the code it produces. Lcam pretty much has it down pat as a programming Gcode example. ( Thanks Brian/ART)

 Easier to show you than explain it.

(;-) TP