Nope, not the Start twins, just a question about depths…
If the start depth (S) of a pocket is 3mm below the top of the stock, should the maximum depth of cut (D) be measured from the top of the stock?
For example, I want to cut a 3mm deep pocket for a small spanner (wrench) into a 3mm deep pocket for a larger spanner. If the start depth is 3mm below the stock top, would the maximum depth of cut be 6mm or 3mm, please?
Actually I had to double-check to refresh my memory, but CC conveniently has a little diagram showing where “max depth” is referenced against (stock surface):
So in your case, yes you would do a first pocket at start depth 0, max depth 3mm, and an inner pocket at start depth 3mm, max depth 6mm
Below is my example to illustrate with two pockets in a 10mm thick stock: first toolpath is S=0, D=5mm, second toolpath is S=5mm, D=9mm
No problem at all. Actually, I had a doubt for a moment, because I also use Vectric VCarve, which uses a different definition, it takes start depth and pocket depth from that start depth:
so I need to remember that whenever I’m switching from CC to VCarve.
Absolutely. It took me a year or so to outgrow CC, and using it was the absolute best way to learn CAM for someone like me with zero CNC experience at the time. These days I will use CC or VCarve or Fusion360 depending on the job at hand, and they complement each other wonderfully.