

Use the parameters within this group box to define the Rapid Plane Z depth. To define any of the above planes locally for an operation, ensure that the Use Setup definition checkbox option within the Plane is group box is unchecked. The Use Setup Definition checkbox option allows you to choose whether to use the global Mill Part Setup definition or to use the local definition for this operation. The definition of Planes can be done locally for each operation in the NC tab or globally from the Mill Part Setup level. Rapid plane (G98) / Clearance plane (G99)įor single point operations, these options allow you to specify whether the tool retracts to the rapid plane or the clearance plane. When Use skim plane is selected, this parameter defines the minimum distance above the feature perimeter, islands or avoid areas to rapid from the end of one feature to the start of the next.

When ‘Use skim plane’ option is checked, the tool rapids vertically to the minimum Z height needed to clear the feature perimeter, islands and avoid areas, moves in XY to the start of the toolpath for the next feature, then feeds down vertically to the first cut depth.

When the ‘Use skim plane’ option is checked: When the ‘Use skim plane’ option is not checked, the tool retracts to the Rapid plane between features. When the ‘Use skim plane’ option is not checked: The Z retract position is based on the perimeter and island geometry for the features being machined by the current operation as well as any avoid areas. When machining multiple features with a Rough Mill or Contour Mill operation, this option allows you to specify a retract location between features. Specifies that the rapid Z plane will be at an incremental Distance above the top of the feature. Following are the options available: Top of Feature The Rapid Plane location can be set relative to four different depths. The amount that you specify here should take into consideration any clamps on the part. The Rapid Plane is also the height the Z axis returns to when the operation is complete. The Rapid Plane is the absolute Z location at which all XY rapid moves are executed from. This value is the incremental distance above the specified location that defines the Z value of the Clearance plane.įor the Skim option, this value defines an amount to clear above the highest Z of the feature or avoid area between the retract of one level and the plunge of the next. For 2.5 Axis VoluMill toolpaths, SOLIDWORKS CAM will limit the Clearance level above the feature top (in Z axis direction) by the Floor Clearance value defined in the VoluMill Settings dialog box.
