Why Your Lathe Tapers Cut Oversize: Tool Nose Radius Comp

Tool nose radius compensation on a CNC lathe — why your tapers and radii cut oversize, what G41 and G42 actually do, and how to set the tool tip orientation number (1 through 9) in your offset page. If you've ever turned a perfect-looking program and watched the angle or the ball-radius come out wrong, this is the missing setting. Plain English, no fluff. 00:00 The hook: straight cuts fine, tapers cut oversize 00:25 Why the imaginary tool tip lies to the control 01:05 G41 vs G42 — which side of the cut 01:50 The 1–9 tool tip orientation chart 02:40 Lead-in and lead-out moves you cannot skip 03:30 The common mistake: comp on, orientation zero 04:10 The takeaway + subscribe If this was useful, the next Shop Talk video covers G41 vs G42 on a mill — why the same letter codes behave completely differently when the tool is a spinning endmill instead of a stationary insert. Subscribe for plain-English explainers for the trades. — — — 🔧 Tool & machine buyer's guides for machinists, written by operators: https://print3dflow.com/guides/ • Best gifts for a CNC machinist under $100 • Best CNC machine for a small shop • Best CNC lathe for the home shop • Best CNC mill for precision + production work • Best fiber laser for metal engraving Real pros/cons, real price tiers, no fluff.