To manually change TAC (Taper Angle Control) and VOC (Variable Offset Control) on a material, you need to open the Material setup found in the CAM tab by clicking the "Select" command. Click on the "Edit material" icon to the right and select the material, quality and thickness you want to change.
If there's no TVL file connected to the material, you can change the TAC and VOC values at the bottom of the AWJ tab. (If a material has a TVL file, the values are already there).
Cut a part on your machine similar to the one on the image below with Rough quality on one side and X-Fine on the other. It's important that you cut it without any TAC or VOC!
Measure the part on the top of the material (A and C) and on the bottom (B and D). Input the values to the right, and cut once more with TAC and VOC activated. Measure again and do some fine tuning if you need to.
If you haven't activated the function in IGEMS, please go to CAM/Process dropdown/Strategy/Cutting.
Comments
6 comments
Hi Joakim,
This is Bryant from GNT Tech Taiwan.
Thank you for such a clear description.
So, basically we have a waterjet machine, and we want to use TAP to overcome the tapper.
I have done the way you described above before. Could you please tell me more about the cutting speed measurement before we cut the part for the VOC measurement?
The way I did was doing a manual cutting with fix speed to get the number for machineability.
Somehow, the judgement of the speed might be various.
Do I just use the speed it cuts thorugh? Or not cutting through? Or almost cutting through?
Hi Bryant,
You should use a speed so that the jet doesn't cut through. But I usually just set a machinability value based on other materials. If you click on the "?" to the right of the Machinability value you will see a list of materials and their values.
Approximate a value between two other materials and cut a test part, then change the value accordingly if you want a faster or slower cut.
This method is often faster and gives you more understanding of the material.
Joakim
Hi Joakim,
That's nice.Let's start a scenario!
So, when I am cutting some "usual material" or let's define it as common material like steel, alumium, or stainless steel.
There are some recommond machineability on the list as you said:
304 stainless steel.... 81.9
mild steel ....87.6
For now, I will have to cut carbonfiber, which is different selection from those metal material.
What kind of number would you go for?
Bryant
Unfortunately I don't have any experience cutting carbon fiber. Maybe somewhere around 400? If you don't want to waste material, go with a lower machinability value and work your way up.
Joakim
Thank you Joakim! You have been extremelly helpful.
I am not trying to get any data from you but the thought.
The way you told me is helping me to determine if I am on the right track.
I do understand material can be differnt in different counrties, and it will make the machineablilty vary.Eventhough there are some good data in Igems, I still have to test for the best outcome.
These are the photos of titanium I cut based on the parameter in database.

Bryant
Thank you Bryant!
Please use the community in the future for questions.
Good luck with the carbon fiber.
Joakim
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