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Available · version 1.1

Contour Depth and Passes

Configure and verify cut depth, stepdown, spoilboard overcut, and calculated Z passes in Cadivari.

Updated August 20263 min readCAM & machines
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Recommended test

Use an 18 mm stock and one stored rectangle contour.

  1. Set stock thickness to 18.000 mm, create an outside rectangle contour, and find its Depth plan under Operations.
  2. The new contour should start with Cut 18.000, Step 2.000, Over 0.000 mm, 9 passes, and final Z −18.000 mm.
  3. Change Step to 3.000 mm. Confirm six passes: −3, −6, −9, −12, −15, and −18 mm.
  4. Confirm Depth passes is one closed row with a pass count and caret. Open it and verify that all six exact Z levels appear.
  5. Change Cut to 12.000 mm. The plan remains calculable but turns amber and reports that 6 mm of stock remains.
  6. Restore Cut to 18 mm and set Over to 0.200 mm. The plan should show seven passes, final Z −18.200 mm, and an explicit spoilboard warning.
  7. Set Over to 2.100 mm. The operation should turn red and explain the current 2 mm preview limit.
  8. Set Over to zero and Cut to 18.200 mm. Cadivari should reject the hidden stock overrun and tell you to use Over instead.
  9. Restore Cut 18, Step 3, Over 0.2, then test undo and redo for each field.

01 · INPUTS

Three separate millimetre values

CutDepth into the material from stock-top Z0
StepMaximum depth added by each pass
OverExplicit distance below the stock into the spoilboard
ZCalculated final machine coordinate

Cut and Step are entered as positive downward distances because that is easier to read. The preview converts them to negative Z coordinates because job zero is on the stock top.

Preview values are not cutting recommendations

Safe stepdown depends on the actual cutter, stick-out, material, spindle, workholding, and machine. Cadivari calculates the requested passes but does not certify the chosen values.

02 · CALCULATION

Exact final pass

Each pass advances by no more than Step. When the total depth is not evenly divisible, the final pass is shortened so it lands exactly on the requested final Z.

Stock top:       Z  0.000
Cut:             18.000 mm
Over:             0.200 mm
Stepdown:         3.000 mm

Passes:  -3, -6, -9, -12, -15, -18, -18.2 mm
Final Z:        -18.200 mm

The 2D cutter-centre path is shared by every pass. The canvas label reports the pass count and final Z. In the operation inspector, Depth passes keeps the individual Z levels hidden behind a default-closed disclosure row; its count remains visible, and the caret opens the complete list when exact inspection is needed.

03 · VALIDATION

Validation colours

GreenFull stock depth, valid stepdown, no spoilboard overcut
Amber · ShallowValid partial-depth contour that intentionally leaves material
Amber · OvercutValid plan that explicitly extends below the stock
RedInvalid depth, excessive overcut, excessive pass count, or XY path outside stock

Changing stock thickness can change a plan’s state. Cadivari preserves the operation values and asks you to review them rather than silently rewriting a requested depth.

CURRENT SCOPE

Exported without automatic recommendations

  • No material-specific cutting recommendations or chip-load calculation
  • No automatic router-state or spindle-on command
  • Path-ramp entry is available; no separate lead-in or lead-out
  • Motion Plan v3 expands these passes and lifts only those deeper than tab-top Z
  • No time estimate, material simulation, or collision checking
  • Local NC Export preserves these inspected pass targets exactly

Inspect the pass stack in 2D and 3D, animate it, then compare each saved pass comment and entry with the G-code preview.