Calculation of Z Steps for Pockets

Cycles: millyuGO pocket, Pocket, Pocket + Contour, Facing Pocket, Pocket rework, millyuGO, PAM

Z Step (Ap)

This is the Z increment between 2 passes. It corresponds to the cutting of the total depth. If the incremental depth is greater than the maximum depth of pass of the tool, there is a warning message.

If the value is set to 0, the toolpath has only one pass, which is done at the bottom of the shape (at the bottom altitude).

In this case, the other options in the area 'Calculation of Z Steps' are useless.

For example, you will set the Z Step to 0:

if you need to finish bottoms of pockets, with a pocket cycle. 2 pockets are done on the example on the right, with 2 different bottom altitudes, Z-5 and Z-8.

if you need to face several faces after a roughing, by using the Facing Pocket cycle. This is what we show you below on the example, by facing the brown faces.

Facing the top face Z0	Facing the 2nd face Z-15	Facing the 3rd face Z-8

Pass

Management of the passes according to the subpockets and the islands of the pocket. You can choose to adjust the passes to the several altitudes of the pocket or choose to respect the increment and then rework the islands and pocket bottoms. A third option enables to program a reworking pass after roughing the pocket.

Three options are available, the reworking parameter are available or not according to the option chosen.

		The pass is adjusted: the pass increment is adjusted to make possible the machining of the top of islands and the bottom of the pocket and subpockets.
		The pass is constant: the increment is respected, an island and bottom reworking pass can be programmed.
		There is Residual Material: the pocket has been roughed before, only the top of islands and bottom of pockets are machined.

a. The pass is adjusted

GO2cam optimizes the increment value to machine the top of islands and the bottom of pockets. Consequently, the pass is not constant and the pocket is machined completely.

GO2cam will never program a pass superior to the increment entered in the strategy.

b. The pass is constant

The pass increment is respected whatever the shape of the pocket. If the top of islands and bottom of pockets do not correspond to a pass value, they are not machined. See example below, the red areas are not machined.

If you choose this option, 2 parameters appear in the strategy, Island Reworking and Bottom Reworking. Choosing Yes enables to program a reworking pass especially for the bottom of subpockets and top of islands.

Special case: if the sides are tapered, you are able to program a Scallop reworking pass which will be done after the roughing of the pocket, with an upwarding movement.

No Reworking	With Island and Bottom Reworking

c. Residual Material

Choose this option if you want to program a specific pass to rework the areas.

The advantage is to be able to change the tool or any parameter for this reworking pass.

Enter the thickness of the material to be machined.

Choose if you want to rework top of island or bottom of pocket or both of them.

If you do not choose one of these options, the cycle has no material to machine and is put in wait.

Specific for millyuGO

Calculation of Z steps(Ap)

Ap create vibration on the tool, this vibration can appear because Ap is too small or too big.
To calculate correct ap we use Apa = Ap Advised

The Apa is calculated according to:

Tool Diameter
Tool helix angle
Number of teeth

You can also directly click the Apa given by the table: the value is applied in the strategy.

The table shows the value entered in strategy: 2 mm ➡️ Status is red ➡️ Bad conditions
If Z step entered in strategy is 8 ➡️ Status is orange ➡️ not so good conditions
If Z step entered in strategy is 15 ➡️ Status is green ➡️ good conditions