[bobcad guy]

I am wondering if anyone can tell me if you can set the top of stock zero in a different place than the drawing top of part. I am using MC 2018, I have a pocket cut .250 deep. I want to set my linking parameters "top of stock" setting to -.250, so the drill will start drilling from -.250 and not drill air. But it ignores my setting and starts to drill from the drawing top of part. Anybody know anything about this? Oh, by the way, i am drawing just a simple 2d drawing, not a solid model.

[Superman]

Mastercam Drill cycles start their feed from the retract plane, you need to set this lower.... "Top of stock" is not really used except for specialised posts

... BUT....
be careful on your other settings, set the tool to return to the Clearance level (top field value AND also uncheck the "keep tool down" box) otherwise, the tool will go to the next hole with the tooltip below the top of material causing a CRASH

[bobcad guy]

That is what i did. But I thought I could do it using top of stock. I like keeping the the clearance plane set at 2 inches that mastercam defaults too. Ive gotten used to it, and it gives a nice crash buffer for operators. So I end up having the G98 set at 2 inches, and my R plane set at a minus, which works, but I wanted to know if I could shrink the retract area without changing either. I was thinking i could use top of stock kinda like the feed plane button in some of the milling toolpaths.. Sometimes i set the R plane at a couple hundred for extra clearance, then set the feed plane at .1, or .05, and that causes a rapid move to the feed plane. Not a major issue, just looks a little "messy" to me. Thanks for the response.