A shallow pass, often a few thou or less, taken to true up a face, clean off scale or rust, check where the tool is cutting, or bring a surface just to size. Machinists also take a skim cut before measuring to get a clean, round surface to mic. It differs from a kiss in that it is a real, measured depth.
Take a skim cut on the OD so we've got something round to measure, then figure out how much is left.
Also heard as
- skim
- cleanup pass
- clean-up cut
Do not mix it up with
- Spring pass: A spring pass repeats the previous cut with no added depth to remove deflection; a skim cut is a deliberately light new cut.
Related terms
Kiss
To touch a tool or grinder to a surface as lightly as possible, removing almost nothing.
Spring pass
A repeat finishing pass at the same setting to remove the material left behind by tool spring.
Sneak up on it
Approach a final dimension with smaller and smaller cuts, measuring between each, so you never go undersize.
Witness mark
A small deliberate mark that shows how parts were aligned or where an original surface was.