Keeping the tool down

[scottsss]

Was playing with the demo and noticed that their was no "Keep tool down option" I was doing one of the tutorias and using I beliee clean circle. Noticed the tool kept coming up before it did the next depth.

[69owb]

I noticed that too, Plus I tried some profiling, or pocketing with an island and it would leave spots were it wouldn't machine the part tried different tool size, changed the step over , changed the out side boundary nothing worked also noticed that the tool jumped all over the part looked like I was cutting more air then metal. Other wise I liked the cam side of the software I like how you can change or rearrange your tool paths with out deleting everything and starting over.

[scottsss]

I noticed it left a little bit of material but then when I refreshed the missed bit of material was gone. I figured it was a video card issiu or simulation issue.

[HuFlungDung]

Some pocket clearing operations will require a stepover as small as 50%. It does depend somewhat on the geometry, I suppose. Generally one tries to avoid having any needles left sticking up.

As for tool down, you are correct, the tool does retract between passes. This is for safety during rapid movements, to avoid collisions, to avoid dragging the tool across the bottom, and to avoid ramming and trapping chips between the wall of the pocket and a deeply set tool.

[scottsss]

Hmmmm, then it is possible to minimize this, by either pre drilling the hole poket etc and takinga greater cut.