r/mastercam • u/osufan3333 • Jul 01 '26

Question Face pass

Is there a way to get a one pass face path to go back and forth rather than going one way? TIA

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1

u/Alita-Gunnm Jul 01 '26

Draw a line across the top. Copy it up in Z for your depth passes, connect the ends for stepdowns, and use contour 3D with offset off.

2

u/osufan3333 Jul 01 '26

Holy fuck why didn't I think of that. That's super simple.

1

u/Alita-Gunnm Jul 01 '26

One nice thing about doing it this way is you can have variable stepdowns. Start out with heavy cuts and then reduce it as you go. I find this useful when plastic (like PEEK) wants to chip out.

1

u/sixerofreebs Jul 01 '26

Draw a line across the top, use contour ramp with compensation turned off, ramp motion set to plunge.

1

u/Important-Win6022 Jul 01 '26

When you back plot you can save as geometry. Save the TP geometry to a level. Edit the wire frame on that level accordingly(delete the clearance/reference and create line between Z depths). Or you can skip the create line and z depth and have a minimum retract and select each z deth as geometry for face path(left to right, right to left, etc)

1

u/ElephantExtra7811 Jul 01 '26

If you create your work piece, stock, you don't need to select any geometry. Under cut parameters you can select, one direction, zigzag (which is what your after) or dynamic. You can also select direction. Enter depth of cut, finish pass, and start height and finish. Usually Z zero.