Profile¶

In one sentence: Generate a contour-following toolpath along the edges or perimeter of selected faces, cutting on the inside or outside of the profile.

Overview¶

Workbench: CAM
Menu: CAM → Profile
Command: CAM_Profile
Shortcut: none

Generates a 2.5D contour path following the outer or inner edge of a selected face, set of edges, or the entire model boundary.

Intuition¶

Profile is the most common 2D CAM operation — it follows a closed outline at a specified Z depth, either outside the boundary (for external features) or inside (for internal features like pockets with a finish pass). The tool moves laterally at constant Z levels, stepping down by Step Down each pass.

When to use it¶

Cutting the outer profile of a part to size.
Finish-passing the walls of a pocket after Pocket Shape.
Following a specific face edge for trimming or profiling.

Geometry selection¶

Selection	Resulting path
One or more faces	Profile of each face's perimeter
One or more edges	Follow the edges directly
No selection	Profile of the entire model's outer boundary

Key parameters¶

Parameter	Description
Side	Which side of the edge to cut: Outside, Inside, Left, Right
Direction	CW or CCW cutting direction
Offset Extra	Additional radial offset from the geometry (positive = further away)
Use Compensation	Apply tool radius compensation (G41/G42)
Handle Multiple Features	Combine features into one pass or use separate passes

See Common Parameters for depth and height parameters.

Common mistakes and pitfalls¶

Profile cuts on the wrong side

If the path is on the wrong side of the profile, change the Side parameter between Outside and Inside. For edge selections, try switching between Left and Right.