Z Altitudes on Wireframe | GO2cam Help Center

Displaying altitude details

The Details command is the eye icon in the Display bar. Click it to show or hide details, including Top Z and Bottom Z in the profile selection bubbles.

Green eye — activated: details and altitude values are displayed.
Blue eye — deactivated: details and altitude values are hidden.

Example: profile 1 has Top Z = +5 mm and Bottom Z = −9 mm; profile 2 has Top Z = +5 mm and Bottom Z = −15 mm.

With Details activated (green), the bubbles display 1 (5 mm/-9 mm) and 2 (5 mm/-15 mm).
With Details deactivated (blue), the bubbles show the profile identifiers without the altitude values.

Hiding details does not change the altitude values. The yellow bubble identifies the current profile; Details controls the information displayed.

In wireframe milling, the selected profile defines the contour in the drawing. Top Z and Bottom Z define the upper and lower machining levels for that profile.

The altitude values must correspond to the part origin and the required machining depth. A contour drawn at Z0 does not, by itself, define that depth.

Definitions

Top Z	The upper level of the material to machine for the selected profile.
Bottom Z	The lower level to reach for the selected profile.
Z0	The zero level of the part coordinate system. Its location depends on the chosen part origin; it is not necessarily the top of every pocket.
Drawing Z	The actual Z coordinate of a wireframe element. It can supply a reference value only when the element is drawn at the required machining level.

Choose the Definition Method

Drawing Situation	Method
All contours are drawn at Z0	Enter the machining altitudes manually from the part drawing and the chosen origin.
Reference geometry is drawn at the required Z	Use the altitude selection button to recover the Z value from that reference geometry, then check the result.
Only one required level exists in the drawing	Recover that value from the geometry and enter the other value manually.

Methodology

1. Drawing at Z0 — Enter the Altitudes

Select the profile

Define the required contour and check that the correct profile is current.

Identify the machining levels

Use the part drawing and the chosen origin to determine the upper and lower Z values.

Enter the values

Enter Top Z and Bottom Z. Do not keep both values at zero merely because the contour is drawn at Z0.

Check the result

Read the displayed values and confirm that they describe the intended material height before validating.

With Details enabled, the yellow bubble reads 1 (5 mm/-9 mm): profile 1 has Top Z = +5 mm and Bottom Z = -9 mm. Check these values before validating.

2. Geometry at the Required Z — Recover the Values

Select the profile

Pocket 2 is current (yellow bubble). Its Bottom Z was changed to −15 mm; pocket 1 keeps its own Bottom Z of −9 mm.

Choose the altitude

Activate the required Top Z or Bottom Z selection button.

Select the reference geometry

Select the wireframe reference at the required height. Use its actual Z coordinate, not only its position in the screen view.

Check the recovered value

Confirm that the displayed number corresponds to the intended level and part origin.

Define the other altitude

Repeat the selection for the other level if suitable reference geometry exists. Otherwise, enter that value manually.

Activate Top Z, then select the reference geometry. Before recovery, profile 1 shows Top Z = +5 mm and Bottom Z = -9 mm.

Selecting the circular reference at Z0 recovers Top Z = 0 mm. The yellow bubble updates to 1 (0 mm/-9 mm); Bottom Z remains -9 mm. Use reference geometry at the required height.

Examples

The values below illustrate the method; use the dimensions and origin of your own part.

Situation	Values and Result
Part top is Z0; pocket bottom is 10 mm below it	Top Z = 0 mm; Bottom Z = -10 mm. The height to machine is 10 mm.
Material top is Z+5; required lower level is Z0	Top Z = +5 mm; Bottom Z = 0 mm. The height to machine is 5 mm.
Contour is drawn at Z0, but its required bottom is Z-15	Enter Bottom Z = -15 mm. Selecting the contour at Z0 would recover zero, not the required pocket bottom.

Checks Before Validation

Part origin	The values are measured from the correct zero reference.
Current profile	The change applies to the intended profile. Do not assume that editing one profile changes all selected profiles.
Signs and levels	The positive or negative signs and the difference between Top Z and Bottom Z match the required geometry.
Reference geometry	An altitude recovered by selection is checked against the actual Z coordinate of the chosen element.
Several profiles	Check each profile's values. Use the white arrow to change the current profile. To transfer shared levels, see Copy Altitudes.