2D vs 2.5D

[LouF]

I was wondering what is the difference between 2D & 2.5D software I have been looking over so many Cam software programs some are 2D some say 2.5D they are starting to all look basically the same?

Lou

[awerby]

But a 2D operation would all occur on a single plane. 2.5D operations can happen on multiple planes. But a 3D program can make objects with contoured surfaces, rather than just cutting flat planes into various shapes.
3D CAM programs usually encompass 2D and 2.5D, but offer the possibility of producing parts that have sloping or curvy surfaces as well as planar ones.

Andrew Werby
ComputerSculpture.com — Home Page for Discount Hardware & Software

[BlueChip]

My humble explanation :

2D - Simple X / Y programming with no Z axis automatic movement ... example would be a manual spindle / Z axis. X and Y position ... then stop to allow for the manual movement of the Z axis / spindle.

2.5D - Simple X / Y programming with automatic Z axis movement ... X / Y axis perform movement at the same time but pause while the Z axis moves. Example ... milling a pocket where the Z axis feeds down ... then X and Y do their thing as they "hollow" out the pocket ... then stop while the Z axis feeds down again ... repeat.

3D - Programming where X / Y and Z will all move at the same time ... like machining a mold cavity that has sloping surfaces.

Hope this helps ....

Celebrating 25 Years of creating REAL WORLD machine shop software at
Kentech Inc. - Real World Machine Shop and CNC Software

[ger21]

I was wondering what is the difference between 2D & 2.5D software

In reality, my guess is that all the software you're looking at is the same, 2.5D. I'm not aware of any purely 2D CAM software.

[LouF]

So is Cut2D, 2.5 software?

[ger21]

Yes.

[LouF]

Gerry thanks..