As I talked about, I have a series of tools from IDC that are quite aggressive, and can do more than 50% step-over.
" Featuring a staggering 3/4" depth of cut per pass, an 100ipm plunge rate, 80% step-over, (it is actually capable of feed rates as high as 800 inches per minute on floor-model machines) the “BEAST” is the undisputed champ when it comes to rapid material removal from your CNC router woodworking projects."
The current tool editor caps out at 50%. I think this limit should be removed, or capped at a higher rate to allow these more aggressive tools. ( But still not to exceed 100% of course. )
Besides foam, Basswood and soft pines can be full bore 100% with some roughing bits, heck, even with some finishing ones. I am sure I can think of a few other cases for 100% engagement. So I also don’t think this is a feature .. it is a slight bug. As one of my old bosses 50 years ago… you aren’t supposed to protect the user from doing something stupid… Warn him if you need to, but not prevent him. Generally a machinist knows the feeds and speeds as well as stepovers for his material.
The 50% step over limitation is a temporary one. It was causing some edge case issues in path generation, so it was limited to 50% to avoid them, for now, while we work on that solution.
Just to feed more fodder here, When I did metal, I also used Machine Wax for the initial models, prevented waste, etc.. and you can see your flaws. Always used 100% stepover while doing roughing in wax.
Yes, that is confirmed. There is more work to be done with Medial Axis before 100% stepover can be unleashed. The math involved with calculating the center of a given shape or path is actially very complex. I was told by dev that it is coming, just not with the initial release. So full width pocket clearing and rapid milling will come soon !!
Warn him if you need to, but not prevent him. Generally a machinist knows the feeds and speeds as well as stepovers for his material.