---
title: Mastercam OptiRough Toolpath 1
description: Learn how to use Mastercam's OptiRough Toolpaths.
image: https://blog.caminstructor.com/hubfs/custom-video-thumbnails/OptiRough%201%20-%20Thumb.jpg
---

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## [Mastercam OptiRough Toolpath 1](https://blog.caminstructor.com/mastercam-optirough-toolpath-1)

 4/19/18 12:00 AM / by [camInstructor Mike](https://blog.caminstructor.com/author/caminstructor-mike)

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 Learn how to create more efficient toolpaths using Mastercam's OptiRough Toolpath.

---

Taking a VERY in depth look at the OptiRough toolpath in Mastercam. in a nut shell, Optirough is the similar to the 2D Dynamic Mill toolpath with the added ability to cut 3D shapes. 

With the 3D cutting, we have a choice between stepping down in small increments, thus keeping to the rough cut close to the net shape, or a large step down followed but step ups to again, keep the cut close to net shape. We'll look at both strategies in this video. One reason you would pick one method over the other will result from the tool that you have available for this roughing toolpath. Typically, endmills will use the large step down with small step up, and high feed cutters will use the small step down only method. As with anything in machining, this is a suggestion and not a rule.

To have a full understanding of how to use this toolpath, I would suggest you go through the 2D Dynamic videos and course first. Some of the same settings and strategies exist in that path and will not be explain in depth in this series. A link to the first video in that series...

[2D Dynamic Milling Part 1](https://blog.caminstructor.com/mastercam-dynamic-milling-part-1)

There is a lot to cover in this toolpath, from speeds and feeds, cutting strategy, stock settings, boundaries, filtering, post selection, etc etc...so these videos are a bit lengthy. Grab a coffee, or a beer, and get comfy. You're gonna be here a while.

 

Link to video 2 in this series...  
[OptiRough Part 2](https://blog.caminstructor.com/mastercam-optirough-toolpath-2)

 

---

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 Topics: [Mastercam Dynamic Milling](https://blog.caminstructor.com/topic/mastercam-dynamic-milling)

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#### Written by [camInstructor Mike](https://blog.caminstructor.com/author/caminstructor-mike)

camInstructor Mike is Mike Wearne, an avid machinist, cnc programmer and overall connoisseur of all things machining. Mike is one of camInstructor's resident cad/cam/cnc experts and works part time at his local college teaching aspiring machinists how to program CNC Machines of all types.

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