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Toolpath preview

Use the toolpath preview in the Sketch and 3D views to check the moves PureCutCNC has generated. It is a visual aid: use it with Simulation and the operation warnings before you cut.

Open the Show control in the viewport corner to choose which overlays are visible. You can independently show Cuts, Lead-ins, Rapids, Plunges, Retractions, and Directions. The same visibility choices are shared by the Sketch and 3D views. An amber overlay calls attention to a clamp collision.

The expanded legend across the top of the viewport: the 2D renderer control, the vertical Toolpath level rail set to All, and toggles for Cuts, Lead-ins, Rapids, Plunges, Retractions, Directions, and Feed colours

Turn on Feed colours in the legend to colour cutting moves by their programmed feed percentage. The Feed percentage key explains the colour scale. It is a quick way to find feed reductions; it does not prove that a feed is safe for your material, cutter, or machine.

For 2.5D operations, use the vertical Toolpath level rail to isolate a cutting Z level. Choose All to restore every level. The same level filter is available in the 3D view, so you can inspect that one pass from another angle. This filter changes only the preview, not the generated toolpath or exported G-code.

An outside edge route with the level rail moved off All to 0.125, so the preview draws that one cutting depth instead of every pass
The rail reads from the top down; its value shows the Z it is holding.

The 2D renderer control switches between Canvas and GPU rendering. If panning or zooming a dense preview is slow, the app can offer Enable GPU. If GPU rendering cannot start, it reports GPU unavailable; using Canvas. and leaves the Canvas preview available; use Retry GPU after the underlying issue is resolved.

Read warnings in the operation properties and in the export dialog before relying on a preview. A warning identifies something to inspect; it does not necessarily prevent export. Errors are shown separately and can disable export until the underlying problem is corrected. See Warnings and messages when that reference page is available.

  • 3D view: inspect the stock, model, and toolpaths in three dimensions.
  • Simulation: replay material removal before making a part.