How to chamfer this part with flat endmill and then smooth with ball

[ausfox24327]

I have the following complex chamfers that I would like to machine, they are an aesthetic choice so I would prefer to keep the geometry as it is. However I am not getting any of the 3d toolpaths to work. I have tried "touch/do not touch" command on the surfaces, I have tried using "model" to define the chamfer surfaces, I have tried both highlighting the top and bottom profiles of the chamfer independently and together. Each time, that 3d toolpath only seems to either face the top of the part and not the 3d geometry or do something else crazy like machine the entire block of material away. Basically I would like to rough the form in with a 3mm endmill to make rough "stairs" and then come back through with a ball endmill to clean it up. Here are some images of the part and my attempts with scallop:

[ryan.bales]

Are you able to share the model, even privately? It will be difficult to suggest much without seeing the model.

But given what i can see, I would suggest your boundary is far too complex, i would pick the bottom contour and make the boundary simpler, then use model or heights to narrow down the area machined to the chamfer.

[seth.madore]

3D Contour is the toolpath you seek for the roughing portion. A simple Touch/Avoid should be all that is needed, I would think...

[ausfox24327]

https://a360.co/3jF4ifw

here is the share link for the file. I have the item modeled as two flipped sets so I can machine both sides.

[seth.madore · Accepted solution]

You will never get a 3D Toolpath to work with that file, based on your Setup selections. In your "Model", you have selected the entire root folder, which includes your Stock. As such, there is no toolpath that (without some intentional effort) will violate those settings. When making a selection, you want to include ONLY the bodies that you will be machining:

 Result:

 

[ausfox24327]

Still getting n empty tool path, I slect the bottom ridge of the chamfer as the profile, and then all of the chamfer faces as "touch" then 0.1mm stock to leave with 0.5mm stepdown for roughing operation. 

[ausfox24327]

This fixed it thank you!  never realized that would be an issue.

[seth.madore]

"That", being the Stock included in the Setup? Yup. 3D Toolpaths consider all models that are included in the Setup and calculate toolpaths accordingly.