Walk me through my first 3D carving: which bits, what stepover and feeds, and the toolpaths in order

Pick a sane first project

A relief 8 to 12" across in pine, poplar, or basswood, 3/4 to 1" thick. Set Modeling Resolution to High at Job Setup (see the resolution entry). Skim the surface flat first if the board isn't true (see the flattening entry).

Choose bits by project size and detail

• Roughing: a 1/4" end mill or ballnose. For carves over about 18", step up to 3/8 to 1/2" if your collet allows.
• Finishing: the rule is tool tip no larger than the smallest detail you must render (see the minimum-detail entry). Large, gentle reliefs: a 1/4" ballnose. Typical detailed relief: a tapered ballnose, 1/16" tip, 1/4" shank, a common 3D workhorse with a fine tip and stiff body. Very fine zones: a 1/32" tip, but confine it to boundary vectors around just those areas (see the rest-machining entry).

The numbers (hobby machine, wood: starting points, verify on scrap)

3D Roughing: Z Level is usually more efficient on deeper parts, and 3D Raster suits shallower parts and leaves a more even skin for the finish tool (see the roughing-strategy entry). Starting points: pass depth 0.15 to 0.2" softwood and 0.1 to 0.15" hardwood · stepover 40 to 50% · about 18,000 RPM · 80 to 120 IPM feed, plunge about half that · Machining Allowance 0.02 to 0.03" (the skin the finish pass removes).

3D Finishing: stepover 8 to 12% of tool diameter (the official typical range; 0.02 to 0.03" on a 1/4" ball, and the main finish-quality control, see the ridges entry) · feed 100+ IPM (cuts are light) · plunge rate close to the feed rate on a tapered ballnose can save real hours (see the 3D-speed entry) · raster angle along the grain and the model's long dimension.

Both toolpaths: set the Machining Limit Boundary to Model Boundary, offset by one tool radius, or you'll machine empty blank for hours (see the boundary entry).

Grain

Finish along the grain for the cleanest surface. Expect light fuzz where detail crosses grain. Sharp bits and a seal-and-brush cleanup handle it (see the sanding and species entries). Orient the model so faces and focal detail run with the grain when you can.

The toolpath order

1. (Optional) surface skim
2. 3D Roughing
3. 3D Finishing (add the fine tool in the SAME toolpath for rest machining if using two; see that entry)
4. Any projected V-carve lettering ("project onto 3D model")
5. Profile cutout with tabs, last

Preview every toolpath and check the simulated depths before saving G-code, and re-zero Z at every bit change.

Pro tips

• A rough expectation is 1 to 3 hours for an 8 by 10" relief at these settings (shop experience, not an official figure). If the estimate says 8 or more, revisit stepover, boundary, and plunge rate before cutting.
• Do your first carve in foam or cheap pine end-to-end before the good board (see the practice-materials entry).