Mastercam Linking Parameters - Top of Stock and Depth

Looking at the Linking Parameters page, learn to utilize Mastercam's Top of Stock and Depth settings.

Linking Parameters are used in many of the toolpaths in Mastercam such as Contour, Pocket, Drill, Dynamic Mill, etc. This is how cutting depths and repositioning move heights are set. There are many settings within these which will have a large effect on the final toolpaths motion. Understanding how all these settings intertwine is imperative to constructing an efficient toolpath.

This fourth video will look at the Top of Stock and Depth settings.

From the Mastercam help files we can read the definition of both Top of Stock and Depth. Top of Stock sets the initial height of material in the Z axis and Depth sets the final machining height in Z. When using Incremental values for Top of Stock or Depth, these positions will be relative to the Z position of the chained geometry. Also, keep in mind that Clearance, Retract and Feed plane can all be affected by the setting for Top of Stock.

To help keep some of these parameters straight with the Top of Stock and Depth settings in Mastercam, have a look at these Cheat Sheets...

Top of Stock Cheat Sheet

Depth Cheat Sheet

Link to the first video in the Linking Parameters series, Clearance...

Linking Parameters 1 - Clearance

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