3-D contour

[ngkim]

can anyone knows how to adjust the correct depth for 3d contour although i put it in incremental depth to zero,it always goes deeper than actual depth.

[Simtech]

Check to make sure that you are compensating to tip and not to center of a ball nose tool.

[gstephens]

Remember that a 3-D contour DOES NOT compensate for the diameter of the tool in Z. The depth that it cuts is at the center of the tip (or centerline intersected with center of nose radius). The ONLY way to compensate in Z for the diameter and nose radius of a tool is to use a surface project toolpath.

If you need to picture this, go to the front view, draw a line at an angle, then go to the top view and run a 3D contour down the line with a flat E/M. Backplot the toolpath and watch it from the front view and tou'll see what I mean.