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Available · version 2

Holding Tabs

Configure and inspect holding tabs on a Cadivari rectangle cutout contour.

Updated August 20264 min readCAM & machines
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Recommended test

Use a 100 × 60 mm rectangle, 20 mm stock, a 6 mm cutter, and a full 20 mm cut depth.

  1. Open the contour's Holding tabs · final passes section and switch tabs On.
  2. Confirm the starter values are Count 4, Width 8.000 mm, Height 2.000 mm, and calculated tab-top Z −18.000 mm.
  3. In 2D, confirm four gold markers appear—one centered on each straight rectangle edge—and the contour label reports 4 tabs.
  4. Open 3D. Confirm four solid gold bridges remain at the stock bottom and pass lines deeper than Z −18 stop on either side of each bridge.
  5. Click the Count value, type 2, and press Enter. The tabs should move to the centers of the two opposite long edges in both views.
  6. Restore Count 4, then change Width and Height. Marker length, bridge size, and tab-top Z should update immediately.
  7. In 2D Select mode, hover a gold tab, drag it along an edge, and release. The panel should change from Auto to Manual, and 3D should use the same position.
  8. Drag one tab toward another. The moving tab and canvas message should turn red when the required clear path is lost; releasing there must not save the invalid position.
  9. Complete one valid drag, test undo and redo, then choose Reset automatic placement and confirm the balanced layout returns.
  10. Try Count 8 with Width 80 mm. The operation should turn red and explain that the tabs do not fit.
  11. Restore valid values, then set Cut to 12 mm. Tabs should turn the operation red because a partial-depth contour does not need holding bridges.
  12. Restore Cut 20 mm and test undo and redo for On/Off, Count, Width, and Height.

01 · EXPLICIT INPUTS

Tab count and dimensions

OnEnable tabs for this contour only
CountRequested whole number of bridges
WidthLength along the cutter-centre path
HeightMaterial retained above the stock bottom

Click an editable value to select it, type the replacement, and press Enter. Clicking elsewhere also commits a valid value. Tab Count accepts whole numbers; Width and Height accept decimal millimetre values.

Tab-top Z is calculated from stock thickness and retained height. With 20 mm stock and a 2 mm retained height, the tab top is Z −18 mm.

Starter values are not workholding recommendations

Suitable tab size and count depend on material, part weight, tool forces, stock support, and the intended method of removing the tabs after machining.

02 · DETERMINISTIC LAYOUT

Straight edges with corner clearance

Cadivari allocates tabs to the four straight portions of the compensated rectangle path. It balances placements across the longest available edges first, keeps each bridge away from the rounded cutter-radius corners, and requires at least one tool diameter between neighboring tabs.

4 tabs → one on South, East, North, and West
2 tabs → one on each opposite long edge

Every placement stores exact start and end distances
along the canonical contour path.

If the requested count and width cannot fit, the operation remains visible but turns red. Cadivari does not silently reduce or resize the tabs.

03 · DIRECT MANIPULATION

Slide gold tabs in the 2D view

Use Select mode and drag any gold tab marker. The pointer is projected onto the nearest eligible straight edge, so the tab can travel around the rectangle without entering the rounded cutter-radius corners. The active tab highlights while dragging.

Valid positionGold highlight; release saves one undoable change
Insufficient spacingRed highlight; release cancels the move
ManualPositions persist in the CAM operation and 3D preview
Reset automatic placementReturns to the balanced generated layout

Changing Count deliberately returns the operation to automatic placement because the old manual-position list no longer describes the requested number of tabs.

04 · FINAL-PASS BEHAVIOR

Only passes below the tab top lift

Passes above or exactly at the tab-top level remain continuous. On every deeper pass, the motion planner lifts vertically at the exact tab start, crosses the bridge at tab-top Z and cutting feed, then lowers at the exact tab end. Direction reversal swaps those boundaries correctly.

2D gold barExact tab interval along the contour path
3D gold bridgeRetained stock material and tab-top crossing
Continuous upper passCutter remains at or above tab-top Z
Deep passAmber lift, bridge crossing, then purple lower

CURRENT SCOPE

Ramped entry with vertical tab transitions

  • Outside rectangle contours and freeform closed contours
  • Rectangle tabs use stable edges; curved tabs use normalized distance around the complete loop
  • Path-ramp entry must finish before the first tab
  • Tab lift and lower transitions remain vertical at the stored plunge rate
  • CAM Animation shows every entry, lift, crossing, and lower
  • Local NC Export saves the matching named tab blocks

Compare each animated tab transition with its line-numbered and exported G1 lift and lower.

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