Struggling with 2D and 3D adaptive clearing or Pocket operations

[maghox.fr]

Hi, I have been trying for hours to solve this but I can't find an answer that fixes it for me.
I'm trying to make a simple part on a CNC router, material is pine. But there's a part of the design that's making it impossible for me to create a successful toolpath. The part consists of a pocket, a lip and a recess (don't know how to call it) that cuts through both of them.

I can't find a way to manufacture it, if it would be a pocket and a lip, I can do that, but I'm getting errors of empty toolpath no matter what I try.

The mild successful toolpath I could make was a 3D adaptive, but I can't select specific parts (just the lip and the recess), so it goes through the whole shape. I want to be able to make the pocket with a bigger bit and the lip and recess with a smaller one.

What am I doing wrong?

[jasonmtbx]

So you're trying to only machine the big pocket and not the slot perpendicular to it?

[maghox.fr]

Hi Jason, the slot is what I called the recess (english is my second language and I have no training in design, sorry about that). I could already create a toolpath for the big pocket and the bottom slot. What I want now is to create a toolpath for the lip around that pocket and the perpendicular slot. Please let me know if I'm not being clear. Thanks!

[jasonmtbx]

So just this highlighted area?

[maghox.fr]

No, I want the perpendicular slot as well. The highlighted in blue in addition to the red one.

[jasonmtbx]

I'd do 2 separate paths in that case. 2d adaptive works great for the slot and the lip areas, but it'd need to be 2 separate adaptive paths.

[maghox.fr]

I've tried to do that, but I get empty toolpaths. I've tried selecting them in many different ways but I keep failing. Do you have any tips on that?

[jasonmtbx]

Here's an example, is this what you want? You can change the feeds/speeds or stepover as needed.

[jasonmtbx · Accepted solution]

Actually, messed that up a tad. Here, this I think is what you're going for:

[maghox.fr]

Yes! That's exactly what I needed, I will check out the settings on the operations and see what I did wrong. I wouldn't have thought of the auxiliary sketch. So you basically set a boundary around the pocket and rest machining? That's clever, thanks!

[jasonmtbx]

Yep, I often use that method, drawing up a box and using it as a boundary. And rest machining set  to "from previous operations" so it only machines what's not been touched. 

Also, might wanna accept that as a solution so the thread is closed.

Glad I could help! 🙂

[maghox.fr]

Done. Thank you very much for sharing that technique, will use it from now on. Have a great weekend!