Rapid Z height and tool lift between passes?

[Nick.Lumb]

Having just increased Z1 (Safe Z) to clear clamps; my tool is also lifting to safe Z between passes.

I'm guessing lifting the tool out of the work between passes is an aid to clearing swarf and maybe let the spindle speed recover when drilling or pocketing holes - is there any other reason for this?

Is there a way to have the tool lift out say 5mm between passes and just use Z1 as it is described for Rapid Z moves between toolpaths?

Or am I missing something?

Many thanks, Nick

[Adrian]

It will always retract to Z1. With simple shapes it may seem needless but there are many instances where it has to otherwise moving to the next pass would destroy material plus it has no idea where your clamps are.

If your post processor is set up for the rapid plunge feature then you can set Z2 to be just above the surface and then the plunge to that depth will be at rapid speed rather than the tool plunge speed.

For larger production jobs I edit out the retracts in the code.