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3D Pocket

In one sentence: Clear a pocket whose floor is a 3-D curved surface, adapting the path to the floor shape at each Z level.

Overview

Workbench: CAM
Menu: CAM → 3D Pocket
Command: CAM_Pocket3D
Shortcut: none

Generates a pocket clearing toolpath for pockets with non-horizontal floors. At each Z level, the path adapts to the 3-D shape of the floor surface.

Intuition

Standard Pocket Shape assumes a flat floor. 3D Pocket handles curved floors — like a pocket whose base follows a dome shape or a ramp. The clearing path at each Z level follows the intersection of the floor surface with that Z plane.

When to use it

  • Pockets with curved floors (domes, ramps, contoured bases).
  • Clearing material above a 3-D surface feature.

When NOT to use it

  • For flat-floor pockets, use Pocket Shape — it is faster and produces simpler paths.

See also