30. 10. 2019.

Cutter Compensation for Beginners - Fusion 360 Blog

(http://autodesk.com)

Fusion 360 Blog (https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/blog/) > Cutter Compensation for Beginners

« Back to Blog home page (https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/blog/)

Cutter Compensation for Beginners

By: Tim Paul (https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/blog/author/tim-paul/) | Posted 11 months ago

A few days ago, I was at a friend’s shop. He is someone I would consider a competent
machinist, programmer, and businessperson. Most of his business involves rapid
prototyping parts for Silicon Valley and Bay Area companies. Many of the parts are
complex. After a part was done, he measured a bore, punched some numbers into his
calculator, ran back into his office, and made some adjustments to his program. He
reposted the program and re-ran the bore operations. I watched all of this activity, and
once the part was done I asked what he did. He explained that he needed to bore
another 0.0015″ larger, so he went into Fusion and entered negative Stock to Leave to
adjust the size.
 
I always say that whatever process you have that makes good parts and is profitable is an
acceptable process. But, I’ve also started to see that there are a lot of people not using
cutter compensation to adjust the size of their features. So I thought it was time to write
something about it.
 
What is Cutter Compensation?
 
Cutter compensation (cutter comp), also sometimes called Cutter Diameter Compensation
(CDC), provides a way to adjust the toolpath at the machine to compensate for tool size,
tool wear, and tool deflection. When I originally started programming by manually writing
G-Code, I used cutter comp to offset the tool by the radius. This allowed me to program
toolpaths centered along part features rather than needing to offset the tool path
geometry to compensate for the tool size. Figure 1 shows how CDC Right (G41) causes
the tool to move to the right of the programmed path to adjust the feature size.
 
Note: Cutter comp turns on or off with a line move, but never an arc. Commanding
G40/G41/G42 with an arc move will cause a diameter compensation error that will stop
the program. Notice the line move labeled “Lead In Line” in Figure 1. The line move needs

https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/blog/cutter-compensation/ 1/7
30. 10. 2019. Cutter Compensation for Beginners - Fusion 360 Blog

to be longer than the radius of the tool in the diameter offset table of your machine
control. Remember this as I talk about “In Control” and “Wear” compensation types later.
 

Figure 1: Cutter Compensation vs Planned Toolpath

 
Most CAM systems offer different compensation types. See Figure 2 for the list Fusion
360 offers. “In Computer,” “In Control,” “Wear,” “Inverse Wear,” and “Off” are the
common compensation types. “In Computer” and “Wear” are the most common
compensation types I tend to see in industry. Here is a basic run down of the different
types and when you might use them.
 

Figure 2: Cutter Compensation options in Fusion 360

https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/blog/cutter-compensation/ 2/7
30. 10. 2019. Cutter Compensation for Beginners - Fusion 360 Blog

 
In Computer
The toolpath is offset from the feature geometry by the radius of the selected tool. I
mostly use this when roughing or machining features I don’t plan to adjust for size. When
roughing I may have a 0.010” stock to leave allowance, but my tool size typically varies
less than 0.001.” So there is no need for tool compensation. Also, roughing cycles don’t
typically offer tool compensation options. When no compensation type is offered, the
default is “In Computer,” as the CAM system offsets the toolpath by the radius of the
selected tool. I also use “In Computer” when chamfering. I buy quality tools that have
accurately defined tip diameters, so I use consistently accurate tool offset measuring and
rarely need to adjust my chamfer size.
 
In Control
The toolpath centerline follows the feature geometry. The output code includes a G41
(right comp) or a G42 (left comp), shown below in Figure 3, to offset the tool by the tool
radius from the Diameter Offset Table in the machine control. For example, a ¼” tool
should have .250 listed in the diameter offset table in the machine control. The output
code also includes a G40 to cancel the compensation when the tool path is complete.
 
“In Control” is an older method of cutter comp and is common when manually
programming G-Code. This method saves a lot of time compared to manually calculating
offset toolpaths. It makes sense for shops to use this method when they use both CAM
software and manually write G-Code programs. Remember that the line move to turn
on/off cutter comp needs to be at least the radius of the tool. This means that the lead
in/out lines need to be at least 0.1251” for a ¼” diameter tool. To adjust the part feature
size for a boss or a bore, incrementally change the diameter offset table by the positive or
negative amount you want to adjust the size.
 
Example: A target of boss of 1.000” measured at 1.001” would require an incremental
adjustment of -0.001”.
 

https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/blog/cutter-compensation/ 3/7
30. 10. 2019. Cutter Compensation for Beginners - Fusion 360 Blog

Figure 3: G41 (right compensation) vs G42 (left compensation)

 
Wear
The toolpath centerline outputs offset from the feature geometry by the radius of the
selected tool. Just like “In Control” compensation type, the output code for “Wear” comp
includes a G41 (right comp) or a G42 (left comp) to offset the tool by the tool radius from
the Diameter Offset Table in the machine control. The output code also includes a G40 to
cancel the compensation when the tool path is complete. The difference is that the
diameter in the offset table in the machine control is typically set to zero or the small
difference between the programmed tool diameter and the actual measured diameter.
 
Example: a ¼” diameter tool measures 0.251 inches. The diameter listed in the offset
table in the machine control would be 0.001”.
 
Most shops that strictly use CAM software to generate toolpaths use “Wear”
compensation, as there is more flexibility with smaller lead in/outs. If your ¼” diameter
tool measured .251” and your tool offset table had a 0.001” diameter you would only
need a 0.0006” lead in/out to turn on/off your cutter comp. This allows you to get into
smaller pockets and other confined areas. Adjusting the part feature size uses the same
workflow as “In Control,” as explained in that section. A common work flow to set up
your tool for wear comp is to probe the length and diameter of your tool and then back

https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/blog/cutter-compensation/ 4/7
30. 10. 2019. Cutter Compensation for Beginners - Fusion 360 Blog

out the programmed tool diameter from the offset table in the control. This leaves only
the difference between the programmed tool diameter and the measured diameter in the
offset table.
 
With a well-calibrated tool probe, it’s common to get very accurate parts with no
compensation needed. One trick for people who have tool probes in their machines is to
edit the tool probe macros to back out the tool diameter automatically. This requires a
fairly good understanding of Macro programming and editing. Years ago, Henry Llere
from Selway helped me edit my macros to do this automatically. It’s a small thing that has
saved me hours over the years. This is a great example of why you should have a good
relationship with your machine tool partner.
 
Inverse Wear
This is identical to “Wear,” except you enter the wear adjustment opposite of “Wear”.
Example: If you needed to make a boss .001” smaller you would change the diameter
offset table incrementally +.001. This is driven by settings in the machine control and is
less common than standard wear comp.
 

Figure 4: Values for use with Wear or Inverse Wear cutter compensation in a Diameter Offset Table at the machine control

 
Off
The tool path centerline follows the feature geometry on center and the output code has
no compensation codes. This is commonly used for operations like tracing text with an
engraving tool.
https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/blog/cutter-compensation/ 5/7
30. 10. 2019. Cutter Compensation for Beginners - Fusion 360 Blog

 
Nothing I’m writing here is revolutionary. My hope is to get people that aren’t using
cutter comp, or don’t have a solid understanding of what it is, to learn more about it and
consider using it. Beyond cutter comp, we all have details about our trade that we could
and should learn more about.
 
Ready to try out cutter compensation in your manufacturing process? Try Fusion 360 for
free today! (https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/overview)

 Category: CAM (https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/blog/category/cam/)

GET FUSION 360 NEWS IN YOUR INBOX

Subscribe to get product updates and enhancements, useful Fusion 360 tips and tutorials, roadmap
updates and community stories.

Email address Monthly Updates

I AGREE TO THE USE OF MY PERSONAL INFORMATION AS

DESCRIBED IN THE AUTODESK PRIVACY STATEMENT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN AUTODESK. CHECK

THIS BOX TO RECEIVE ELECTRONIC MESSAGES (INCLUDING
MARKETING E-MAILS AT THE ADDRESS YOU PROVIDED)
FROM AUTODESK, INCLUDING ON EMERGING TRENDS,
EVENTS, SOLUTIONS AND EXCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITIES.
AUTODESK WILL PERSONALIZE THE CONTENT WE SEND YOU
BASED ON HOW YOU INTERACT WITH OUR MESSAGES. YOU
ARE IN CONTROL. MANAGE YOUR PREFERENCE OR
UNSUBSCRIBE AT ANYTIME. VIEW AUTODESK'S CONTACT
INFORMATION AND PRIVACY STATEMENT.

SIGN ME UP

Protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of

Service apply.

Related Posts
G-Code: The CNC Programming Language 10 Milling Toolpaths for Your First 2D CNC
(https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion- Machining Project
360/blog/cnc-programming-fundamentals-g- (https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-
code/) 360/blog/10-2d-cnc-milling-toolpaths/)

https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/blog/cutter-compensation/ 6/7
30. 10. 2019. Cutter Compensation for Beginners - Fusion 360 Blog

Learn about the fundamentals of CNC Learn about the 10 milling toolpaths to use for
programming and G-code including blocks, your first 2D CNC machining process…
modals, address codes, canned…

Privacy settings

https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/blog/cutter-compensation/ 7/7