<< Click to Display Table of Contents >> Navigation:  MILL Module > Creating 3 Axis Operations > Parallel Finishing, 3 Axis

Parallel Finishing is a toolpath method, which can be used either as a pre-finishing operation or as a finishing operation. In this cut method, the cutter is restricted to follow the contours of a part in the Z direction while being locked to a series of parallel vertical planes.

The orientations of these vertical planes about the XY plane are constant and can be defined by an angle about the X axis. As the cutter follows these vertical planes, it can either form a Zig or ZigZag cut pattern. In the Zig cut pattern, the cutter always goes in a constant direction while in the ZigZag cut pattern, the cutting direction alternates between two successive parallel planes. This is one of the most commonly used cut methods for pre-finishing and finishing parts. The tools typically employed in this operation are ball end mills.

See also: What Tool Types are Supported by this Operation?