Use the Gouge avoidance page to determine what happens to the toolpath when a surface prevents profiling at the lowest position.
Gouge check — Select this option so PartMaker checks the toolpath to see if any part of it gouges or deselect to turn gouge checking off.
Strategy —Select a strategy to determine how the toolpath behaves when another surface would cause gouging.
All the toolpaths are generated using:
— top pattern
— bottom pattern
— limiting surface
— intersection of the bottom pattern with the limiting surface
Lift tries to machine at the lowest position. If it can't machine at the lowest position the toolpath segments are removed.
Trace tries to machine at the lowest position. If it can't machine at the lowest position the toolpath is raised as little as possible until it reaches a position at which it can machine. It will only raise the toolpath to a position defined in the Upper limit field. If you do not specify an upper limit then an infinite upper limit is assumed.
Upper limit of None:
Upper limit of Top, and an Offset of -12:
Degouge tolerance — Enter the maximum distance, normal to the surface, that the toolpath can move to find a safe position. If gouges greater than this value are detected, then the tool is lifted axially to avoid the gouge.