Side and direction

Side (profiles)

A profile cuts outside the line (the part is what’s inside), inside it (a hole: the waste is inside), or on the line (the tool’s centre follows it, like a slot).

When you add a profile, Chipload picks outside for outlines and inside for holes. For a selection with both, or with nothing to go by, it asks: the side is marked until you choose one. It never guesses which side is waste.

Direction

Climb or conventional, per operation:

• Climb: the cutter’s edge enters the material at full chip thickness. This gives a better finish and less rubbing on rigid machines, and is the usual choice on CNC routers.
• Conventional: the edge enters at zero chip thickness. It is gentler on machines with backlash.

What it means for the path. With the spindle turning clockwise (M3, Job settings > Machine > Spindle):

• climb goes clockwise round an outside profile and an island;
• climb goes counter-clockwise round an inside profile and a pocket’s walls.

Conventional, or a counter-clockwise spindle, turns each way round. The arrows on the canvas show the direction.