Continuous 3D Countour Toolpath - only partially considering lead-in and lead-out

[hackish]

Software version:

2.0.12392

I've opted to rough this part with a flat bottom and then finish with a 3/4" ball end. I would like to start at the lowest Z of the part and work up in a parallel pattern that walks up the curve to maximize use of the outside of the cutter.

I was unable to achieve this with the parallel strategy, so I've finally settled on contour. It almost works, but it considers only half of the paths to be lead-in and lead-out and without this, it happily rapids into the cut before transitioning to the cutting feed.

You can see the behaviour I'm observing in the attached image. File is attached as well and the non-suppressed toolpaths are the ones I've been trying to use. I feel like this may be a bug. The parallel strategy could be better, but it doesn't seem to be able to consider the short X traverse as a more optimal movement as opposed to a retract and full Y traverse for each pass. 

[seth.madore]

Use a Patch surface and extend the edges. I'm uploading a ScreenCast to show you the steps to do so, will make a new post when it's ready.

[seth.madore]

Here you go 🙂

[hackish]

Thanks, your solution will work in my case.

Would you agree that the lead-in and lead-out behaviour is a bug?

[seth.madore]

I do know that I've never been in love with the lead-in/out methods (for example, sweep angle doesn't seem to have any effect on what's actually generated). I suspect "bug", and will investigate further, creating a ticket if needed.