Also, you could do a constant Z for the first 30-40 deg around the curve and then finish it w/ a constant step over in the same direction. I'm not sure I'd use around the cylinder, but rather along the cylinder. I just checked and w/ a 1/4" ball nose and a 0.01 step over you should have a max scallop of 0.0001" so it should look pretty darn smooth. How accurate is your machine [step resolution or steps/in in mach]? Also as was noted jump up the tolerance on the part. I'd go to something in the 1/2 thou range myself. It will generate LOTS of code but in tight finishing pass's it often dones and is required.. it shouldn't slow the job down any as in your finish pass on a X3 your not going a mile a minute anyway..
Fwiw
JerryFlyGuy
The more I know... the more I realize I don't
(Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)