VS3D Machine Mode

1.7.3 Cutting Path continued.

"Step-Over Spacing" : This value specifies the distance between each tool pass. Normally, this distance will be less than the diameter of the cutting tool. If the path type is "Radial" then this field is labelled "Step-Over Degrees". This value should always be greater than 0. The "Step-Over Spacing" value is an XY distance except when the path type is "Contour Z". In that case, "Step-Over Spacing" is the Z spacing between each contour level. The "Step-Over Spacing" setting has no effect on "Region Perimeter" cutting paths.

"Step-Over Degrees" : This value specifies the angle (in degrees) between each radial pass. If the path type is not "Radial" then this field is labelled "Step-Over Spacing". This value should always be greater than 0.

"Maximum Path Depth" : This specifies the maximum cutting depth of the tool path, measured downward from the original uncut material height. The tool will not penetrate the original material surface deeper than this value, but it may go shallower than this as it moves across the sculpted surface. The "Maximum Path Depth" value should be greater than 0. For a "Contour Z" path, the Maximum Path Depth is the maximum allowed contour depth.

The Maximum Path Depth is usually ignored if the Protocol Machine Type is "Laser". The only exception is that the Maximum Path Depth is used to control the maximum contouring depth for the "Contour Z" tool path.

The "Spindle / Path Direction" setting also specifies whether the tool path is in "Climb", "Descend", or "Alternate" mode. "Climb" mode means that the direction of the tool feed is such that the majority of the material to be cut is on the "faster" side of the tool bit. An analogy is a hurricane moving on shore. If the rotational winds are at 100mph, and the hurricane as a whole is moving at 40mph, the winds felt on the beach will be 140mph on one side of the hurricane and 60mph on the other. In "Climb" mode, for example, when cutting up against the wall of a pocket, the pocket wall will be on the "faster" side of the tool bit. "Descend" mode is the opposite of "Climb" mode. "Alternate" mode simply alternates between "Climb" and "Descend" modes. When using a Traverse tool path, all cutting traversals will be made in the same direction when "Climb" or "Descend" mode is specified, and the traversals will alternate direction when the mode is "Alternate". For a Spiral path, this setting controls whether the spiral is made in a Clockwise or Counter-Clockwise direction. If the tool path type is Radial and the mode is "Alternate", then the radials will be cut in random order.

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1.7.3 B