Milling a topo map from .stl

[JennayOakHill]

So I'm working on trying to get our panel router to mill out topo maps from GIS information from USGS. I've managed to get the data into a .stl file which fusion is happy to load up, but I'm at a loss as to how to convert the mesh into a body/if I need to and what machining processes to actually cut the map.

I tried running a morphed spiral with a 0.25" end mill after scaling down the .stl to 24" wide, didn't do much for me.

Link to the .stl file:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CoHyL_JW4H2bxIIO-UkF3I6L0LoPKj-g/view?usp=sharing

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

You dont need to convert it to a body, you can machine directly from the STL using 3D operations. Use a 3D Contour or an Adaptive toolpath then finish with a Parallel or Morphed Spiral. Be sure that you have Stock To Leave in your roughing operation. 

[JennayOakHill]

Will try that in a minute.

[JennayOakHill]

Failed for reasons other than your answer. It seems that the engineer didn't finish the retrofit of the machine correctly.

Tested the process on a little cheap desktop CNC and it worked a treat, so yeah, the problem is in the machine or the software talking to the machine.

It keeps adding height every time it retracts and rapids to the start of the next cut.