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Written by the author of the bestselling CNC Programming Handbook and the recent release Fanuc CNC Custom Macros, this practical and very useful resource covers several programming subjects, including how to program cams and tapered end mills, that are virtually impossible to find anywhere. Other, more common, subjects, such as cutter radius offset and thread milling are covered in great depth.

• Presents detailed part programming suggestions for a variety of machining operations.
  
• Includes discussions on the following major subjects: thread milling methods, knurling, programming cams, part reversal methods, using pallet changers, applying special grooving and threading techniques, and many more.
  
• Provides numerous illustrations, charts, tables, and practical examples, allowing users to fully understand all concepts.
  
• Many methods presented can also be adapted to programming methods using a CAM system.

I found many typos and errors in the things I am familiar with and now wonder about the things I'm not.

This handbook by Smid on the subject of CNC programming tackles the subject from a different angle than his bestselling "CNC Programming Handbook". That book is a more basic one aimed at beginners. This book is more advanced and contains several programming subjects that are very difficult to find either in other books or on the web. Even where there is overlap with the author's "CNC Programming Guide", this book provides much more depth of coverage on various subjects than that book does. As is standard with this author, this book includes many clear detailed drawings that greatly assist in visualizing the procedures covered. Whenever applicable, a complete programming example is provided. Equations and all tools used in each example are boxed and clearly labeled. As always, this author's instructions and explanations are clear and detailed. I show the table of contents next as the best way of explaining the book's contents:
1. Part Program Development
2. Calculating Contour Points
3. Formulas for Contouring
4. Using Cutter Radius Offset
5. Part Reversal in Milling
6. Using Tapered End Mills
7. Special Purpose G-COdes
8. Tool Length Offset Change
9. Block Skip Applications
10. Standard and Rigid Tapping
11. Polar Coordinates
12. Subprogram Development
13. Turning and Boring in Depth
14. Programming Tapers
15. Techniques for Grooving
16. Techniques for Threading
17. Restrictions in Threading
18. Practical Thread Milling
19. Knurling on CNC Lathes
20. Four-Axis Lthes
21. Pallet Changers
22. Working With Planes
23. Programming CAMs
24. Introduction to Macros
25. Did You Know That?
26. References and Resources

Technical readers who are familiar with the CNC Programming Handbook by Peter Smid will, without doubt, also react favourably to this book. The format is similar and there are hundreds of excellent illustrations and programming examples. While the previous book dealt mainly with theory and concepts, this work moves on to real life applications of these concepts. Examples include the use of tapered endmills in programming, multiaxis lathes, custom cycles, knurling, and other tips and tricks.