rest machining doesn't seem to work correctly

[sprior913]

I've been using Fusion 360 for 3D printing, but just got an X-Carve and want to design for CAM as well, but I'm just getting started in CAM.  Attached is a project archive of a pen gift box.  I'm planning to mill the box out of 3/4" thick wood, so I start with a face operation followed by 4 contour operations.  The entire box is intended to be milled with just a 1/4" flat end spiral upcut end mill.  When I don't turn on rest machining for the contour operations it seems to carve out the full shape, but wastes a lot of time because it's cutting air.  When I turn on rest machining (which seems like it would be on most of the time) and run a simulation only small areas and not the full recessed areas are cut which makes no sense to me.

Can someone clue me in and maybe suggest anything else I'm doing wrong to carve this on an X-Carve out of wood?  I haven't changed and feed rates yet.

[Steinwerks · Accepted solution]

Instead of walk through and post images, I have done a little reprogramming of your part (I'm faster at that than the alternative).

The 2D toolpaths don't take the model or stock into account, whereas the 3D toolpaths are much mroe powerful. For facing, one need not select a boundary unless the intent is to constrain the tool to that area. Most of your issues with air cutting have to do with your heights selection (or lack thereof). Take a look at Setup2 and see if that works better for this project.

[sprior913]

Thanks for the VERY rapid response, I will study the file you provided.

[sprior913]

With your help I was able to do my first couple of carves based on a Fusion 360 model.  Looking forward to doing a lot more.  Thanks!