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Looking at the Linking Parameters page, learn to utilize Mastercam's Feed Plane 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 third video will look at the Feed Plane settings. 

From the Mastercam help files we can read the definition of Feed Plane. Feed Plane sets the height that the tool rapids to before changing to the plunge rate to enter the part. This height will also be used if you do not specify both a Clearance and a Retract height.

Care should be used in choosing between Absolute, Incremental, and Associative. Both Absolute and Associative will lock this Feed Plane at a static position. In other words, it will remain the same no matter where the tool needs to position to for a cut. If an Incremental value is used, this Feed Plane can shift relative to the next cut. This is typically a preferred method of use.

To help keep some of these parameters straight with the Feed Plane settings in Mastercam, have a look at this Cheat Sheet...

Feed Plane Cheat Sheet

Link to the next video in the Linking Parameters series, Top of Stock and Depth...

Linking Parameters 4 - Top of Stock and Depth

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