The tab should actually be part of a continuous chain of entities which joins the part to the stock. If you close the tab off, then it is just a different part profile.
Machining the tabbed profile means that you would select partial chains, beginning at one tab and going up to (but not completely around) the next tab. Then, raise the tool, move to the other side of the next tab and select the next chain.
If your software has a shortcut for "rapid move at clearance", then you could make use of that feature. For example, in OneCNC, a certain style of dashed line will be interpreted by the CAM as a rapid movement. I do not know if this is a universal convention or not. But if it works in your software, then you can make the joining entity at the top of your tab to be a dashed line, and then you could perhaps select the entire tabbed profile, and your CAM may output moves to Z clearance at each dashed line.
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(Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management) |