OBROUND KEYWAY MILLING CYCLE
PARAMETRIC OBROUND KEYWAY MILLING CYCLE
Professional Parametric Obround Slot & Keyway Milling With Automatic Helical Entry From Simple Editable Parameters
Turn repetitive obround slot and keyway machining into a compact, reusable parametric CNC cycle.
The Parametric Obround Keyway Milling Cycle provides a flexible solution for machining straight elongated slots with fully rounded ends using automatic helical entry, calculated cutter-center geometry, progressive width machining and automatic multiple-depth control.
Define the slot length. Define the slot width. Define the cutter. Define the depth. Define the stepover. Run the cycle. Reuse it.
⚙️ CYCLE CAPABILITIES
✅ 3-axis CNC milling
✅ X / Y / Z-axis slot milling
✅ Parametric obround keyway milling
✅ Parametric elongated slot milling
✅ Automatic helical cutter entry
✅ Adjustable slot center X
✅ Adjustable slot center Y
✅ Adjustable overall slot length
✅ Adjustable overall slot width
✅ Adjustable cutter diameter
✅ Adjustable top Z
✅ Adjustable final Z
✅ Adjustable depth per pass
✅ Adjustable width stepover
✅ Adjustable helix radius
✅ Adjustable helix depth per revolution
✅ Adjustable helical entry feed
✅ Adjustable cutting feed
✅ Adjustable spindle speed
✅ Adjustable safe Z position
✅ Automatic straight-section calculation
✅ Automatic rounded-end center calculation
✅ Automatic cutter-center offset calculation
✅ Automatic slot-width compensation
✅ Automatic left-hand slot-end calculation
✅ Automatic right-hand slot-end calculation
✅ Automatic multiple Z-depth machining
✅ Automatic width roughing progression
✅ Automatic final-width contour
✅ Automatic obround geometry generation
✅ Automatic rounded slot-end interpolation
✅ Repeated helical entry at each machining depth
✅ Continuous calculated helical Z progression
✅ Automatic final slot-width positioning
✅ Automatic adaptation for different slot lengths
✅ Automatic adaptation for different slot widths
✅ Automatic adaptation for different cutter diameters
✅ Automatic adaptation for different machining depths
✅ Automatic adaptation for different width stepovers
✅ Automatic adaptation for different helical-entry settings
✅ Reduced repetitive CNC programming
✅ Reduced manual coordinate calculation
✅ Reduced CAM-generated program size
✅ Reusable across multiple keyway sizes
✅ Reusable across different slot dimensions
✅ Reusable across different cutter diameters
✅ Suitable for shafts, plates, housings, machine components, fixtures and production parts
✅ Compact reusable custom canned-cycle structure
✅ Controller-specific versions supplied
🚀 CUSTOM CANNED CYCLE
The complete obround keyway machining operation is contained inside the reusable custom cycle.
The operator or programmer simply enters the required slot position, overall length, overall width, cutter diameter, depth settings, width stepover and machining feeds.
The cycle handles the complete obround milling operation automatically.
No manually calculating the two rounded slot ends.
No manually calculating the cutter-center offset.
No manually programming repeated semicircular movements.
No manually programming every slot-width roughing pass.
No manually programming every Z-depth level.
No manually rebuilding the helical entry for every depth.
No rebuilding the complete slot program when the dimensions change.
Different slot length? Change the value.
Different slot width? Change the value.
Different cutter? Change the cutter diameter.
Different depth? Change the Z values.
The complete machining strategy automatically recalculates.
🌀 AUTOMATIC HELICAL ENTRY
Each machining depth begins using a controlled circular helical entry at the rounded end of the slot.
The cutter performs synchronized X/Y circular interpolation while progressively moving downward in Z.
The programmed helix radius determines the circular entry size.
The programmed helix depth per revolution determines how aggressively the cutter progresses downward.
This allows the cutter to enter the material progressively rather than feeding directly down into the slot.
No straight plunge into the full machining depth.
No manually programming repeated helical circles.
No manually calculating every Z position around the helix.
Define the helix. The cycle handles the complete entry movement.
⬇️ AUTOMATIC MULTIPLE-DEPTH MACHINING
Define the top Z.
Define the final Z.
Define the depth per pass.
The cycle automatically progresses through the required machining depths until the programmed final depth is reached.
For example:
Top Z = 0
Final Z = -15
Depth per pass = 5
The machining progression becomes:
Z-5
Z-10
Z-15
At every new depth the cycle performs the helical entry and completes the programmed obround machining strategy.
Different final depth? Enter the new value.
Different depth per pass? Enter the new value.
The complete Z machining sequence automatically adapts.
↔️ AUTOMATIC SLOT-WIDTH MACHINING
The cycle does not require the full slot width to be machined in one movement.
The programmed width stepover controls the progressive cutter movement from the slot center toward the finished slot wall.
The tool progressively expands the machined width until reaching the calculated final cutter-center position.
This creates controlled material removal across wider keyways and slots.
No manually calculating every width offset.
No manually programming separate roughing contours.
No manually editing the Y positions when the slot width changes.
The cycle automatically calculates the width machining progression from the entered slot width, cutter diameter and stepover.
🎯 AUTOMATIC FINAL SLOT WIDTH
The finished cutter-center offset is automatically calculated from:
✅ Overall slot width
✅ Cutter diameter
The cycle automatically determines the correct final cutter-center path required to produce the programmed slot width.
For example:
Slot width = 23 mm
Cutter diameter = 12 mm
The final cutter-center offset is automatically calculated as:
5.5 mm
The programmer does not need to calculate this value manually.
Change the slot width and the final path changes automatically.
Change the cutter diameter and the final path changes automatically.
📐 AUTOMATIC OBROUND GEOMETRY
The programmer does not need to manually calculate the complete obround geometry.
The cycle automatically determines the required machining positions from the entered:
✅ Slot center X
✅ Slot center Y
✅ Overall slot length
✅ Overall slot width
✅ Cutter diameter
The straight section and both rounded ends are generated automatically.
The cycle determines the left-hand and right-hand end centers and creates the required straight and circular movements around the complete profile.
Different slot length? Enter the new value.
Different slot width? Enter the new value.
Different position? Enter the new X and Y center.
The complete obround geometry automatically recalculates.
🔵 AUTOMATIC ROUNDED SLOT ENDS
Both ends of the slot are generated using calculated circular interpolation.
The cutter travels along the first straight side of the slot.
At the end of the straight section the cycle generates the rounded end.
The cutter then travels along the opposite side.
The second rounded end automatically returns the cutter into the next straight movement.
This creates the complete continuous obround profile automatically.
No manually programming individual arc coordinates.
No manually calculating the slot-end centers.
No rebuilding the rounded ends when the slot width changes.
📏 AUTOMATIC STRAIGHT-LENGTH CALCULATION
The overall slot length includes the two rounded ends.
The cycle automatically determines the required straight machining distance from the entered overall slot length and width.
This means the programmer works with the actual finished component dimensions instead of manually converting them into cutter-center coordinates.
Enter the required finished slot dimensions.
The cycle handles the machining geometry.
🔄 COMPLETE MACHINING SEQUENCE
The cycle automatically performs the complete machining strategy in sequence.
Helical entry.
Machine the first calculated width.
Machine the complete obround profile.
Increase the width offset.
Machine the next obround profile.
Continue until the roughing width is complete.
Machine the final calculated slot width.
Move to the next Z depth.
Repeat the process.
Continue automatically until the programmed final depth is reached.
One compact reusable cycle controls the complete operation.
🛠️ CUTTER-DIAMETER COMPENSATION
The cutter diameter is entered directly into the cycle.
The macro uses the cutter diameter when calculating the final slot machining path.
A different cutter therefore does not require the complete program to be rebuilt.
Different cutter diameter?
Enter the new value.
The cutter-center geometry automatically adjusts.
This makes the cycle reusable across different tools while maintaining the programmed finished slot dimensions.
🟢 12 MM CUTTER DEFAULT
The supplied standard setup uses a 12 mm cutter as the default example configuration.
The cutter diameter remains editable.
The same cycle can therefore be configured for another suitable cutter diameter by changing the cutter input and proving the new setup before production machining.
📍 ADJUSTABLE SLOT POSITION
The complete slot can be positioned using the programmed X and Y center coordinates.
Define the slot center X.
Define the slot center Y.
The complete machining strategy is generated around that position.
No shifting every individual coordinate manually.
No editing both rounded ends separately.
Move the slot location by changing the center coordinates.
⚙️ PARAMETRIC MACHINING CONTROL
The cycle allows the main machining conditions to be changed directly from the editable parameters.
Adjust:
✅ Helical entry feed
✅ Cutting feed
✅ Spindle speed
✅ Safe Z
✅ Depth per pass
✅ Width stepover
✅ Helix radius
✅ Helix depth per revolution
This allows the same geometric cycle to be adapted for different materials, cutters and machining conditions.
📦 COMPLETE DOWNLOAD PACKAGE
✅ Parametric Obround Keyway Milling Cycle
✅ Fanuc version
✅ Siemens version
✅ Heidenhain version
✅ Okuma version
✅ Mitsubishi version
✅ Haas version
✅ Fagor version
✅ Mazak version
✅ GSK version
✅ Controller-specific CNC programs
✅ Controller-specific parameter formats
✅ Controller-specific editable programs
✅ Individual controller download packages
✅ Full Fanuc user guide
✅ Full Siemens user guide
✅ Full Heidenhain user guide
✅ Full Okuma user guide
✅ Full Mitsubishi user guide
✅ Full Haas user guide
✅ Full Fagor user guide
✅ Full Mazak user guide
✅ Full GSK user guide
✅ Parameter explanation
✅ Geometry explanation
✅ Helical-entry explanation
✅ Slot-width setup guidance
✅ Cutter setup information
✅ Z-depth setup guidance
✅ Work-zero setup guidance
✅ Machine setup information
✅ First-run and prove-out guidance
✅ Quick-reference information
✅ Editable CNC programming files
✅ Complete all-controller download package
🎛️ SIMPLE EDITABLE INPUTS
✅ Slot center X
✅ Slot center Y
✅ Overall slot length
✅ Overall slot width
✅ Cutter diameter
✅ Top Z
✅ Final Z
✅ Depth per pass
✅ Width stepover
✅ Helix radius
✅ Helix depth per revolution
✅ Helical entry feed
✅ Cutting feed
✅ Spindle speed
✅ Safe Z
The cycle automatically calculates the remaining slot geometry and machining sequence.
Different length? Enter the new length.
Different width? Enter the new width.
Different position? Enter the new X/Y center.
Different cutter? Enter the new cutter diameter.
Different depth? Enter the new Z value.
Different stepover? Enter the new stepover.
Different helix? Enter the new helix settings.
The complete obround keyway machining strategy automatically adapts to the new job.
💡 WHY USE THIS CYCLE?
Obround keyways and elongated slots normally require the same combination of straight moves, rounded ends, depth passes and width passes to be programmed repeatedly.
Different slot length changes the straight machining distance.
Different slot width changes the rounded-end geometry.
Different cutter diameter changes the cutter-center path.
Different machining depth changes the required Z passes.
Different width stepover changes the roughing sequence.
Different helix settings change the complete entry movement.
The Parametric Obround Keyway Milling Cycle handles these calculations automatically.
No manually calculating both slot-end centers.
No manually calculating cutter-center offsets.
No repeatedly programming semicircular ends.
No manually programming every width pass.
No manually programming every depth level.
No manually rebuilding the helical entry.
No rebuilding long repetitive slot-milling programs.
Less repetitive programming. Faster setup. Consistent slot machining. Reusable CNC automation.
🏭 SUITABLE APPLICATIONS
✅ Shaft keyways
✅ Obround slots
✅ Elongated slots
✅ Machine shafts
✅ Drive components
✅ Coupling components
✅ Adjustment slots
✅ Clamping slots
✅ Machine components
✅ Fixture components
✅ Tooling plates
✅ Mounting plates
✅ Housings
✅ Production components
✅ General CNC slot machining
✅ Repetitive obround machining applications
🎮 SUPPORTED CONTROLLERS
✅ Fanuc
✅ Siemens
✅ Heidenhain
✅ Okuma
✅ Mitsubishi
✅ Haas
✅ Fagor
✅ Mazak
✅ GSK
Each controller package includes its own CNC program and dedicated user guide.
🛒 AVAILABLE STANDALONE OR INSIDE CNC AUTOMATION PRO
Purchase the Parametric Obround Keyway Milling Cycle as a standalone downloadable module, or access it through CNC Automation Pro together with 100s of custom canned cycles, CNC macros, programming modules, software and training resources.
PARAMETRIC OBROUND KEYWAY MILLING CYCLE
Define the slot. Define the cutter. Define the depth. Define the stepover. Run the cycle. Reuse it.
MacroMill CNC