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      <title>Plunge Milling Overview</title>
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      <div class="title_topic2" id="xps10_pagetitle">Plunge Milling Overview</div>
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               <p class="para_td">Overview</p>
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               <p class="para_td"><a class="links" href="javascript:void(0)" onclick="top.openFile('mfgmilling/plunge_list_op.html');return(false);">Options</a> 
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               <p class="para_td"><a class="links" href="javascript:void(0)" onclick="top.openFile('mfgmilling/plunge_rt_list.html');return(false);">Related Topics</a></p>
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      </table><br><p class="para_topic"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/ico_plunge_milling.gif" border="0"> Plunge Milling is a unique milling operation that is best used in deep areas that require a long tool. Successive plunge motions take advantage of the increased rigidity when a tool moves along the z-axis to efficiently rough out large volumes of blank. The reduced radial force makes it possible to use long slender tools and maintain a high rate of material removal. Plunge Milling is attractive for finishing hard-to-reach deep walls using long slender tool assemblies.
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      <p class="para_topic">Using Plunge Milling to rough contoured shapes usually leaves large scallops and steps. Use an in-process workpiece in the following operations to get a more consistent remaining stock.</p>
      <div class="title_division">Plunge Regions</div>
      <p class="para_division">Most Zlevel operations cut from the top down. Plunge Milling starts at the deepest plunge depth. Each successive region then ignores the previous region.</p>
      <p class="para_division">When a cavity has multiple regions, they are grouped and cut in order (bottom-up). The figure below shows a sample cutting order for multiple regions.</p>
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      <div class="title_figure">Multiple Plunge Regions</div>
      <div class="title_division">Cutting From the Top Down</div>
      <p class="para_division">Because Plunge Milling is a bottom-up operation, to cut from the top down you must create multiple operations, each with a range below the previous one. The first operation range would be from the top of the part  to some midway level, the next below that, etc. Within each operation, the cutting remains bottom up.</p>
      <div class="title_division">Operation Parameters</div>
      <p class="para_division">Plunge Milling operations have similar roughing options to Cavity Mill. Plunge Milling uses the <b class="uiTerm">Profile</b> cut method for  finishing, and the options are similar to Zlevel profile operations. A few additional parameters, such as <b class="uiTerm">Step Ahead</b> and <b class="uiTerm">Max Cut Width</b>, are supported.
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      <div class="title_division">Where do I find it?</div>
      <p class="para_division">To use Plunge Milling:</p>
      <p class="para_division"><b class="uiTerm">Create Operation</b>&rarr; <b class="uiTerm">Type</b> = <b class="uiTerm">mill_contour</b>&rarr;  <b class="uiTerm">Subtype</b> = <b class="uiTerm">PLUNGE_MILLING</b></p>
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