PRIME MOTION2D strategies
2D operations cut at levels: the tool moves in X and Y and steps down in Z, following edges and loops you pick. They are for flat-bottomed work — cut-outs, pockets, holes, lettering. Long-press 2D in the rail to choose one. The shared pages — tool, heights, passes, feeds — are in Operation settings; below is what each one adds.
Choosing one
| To… | Use |
|---|---|
| Flatten the top of the stock | Face |
| Cut out a part, or cut along its edge | 2D Contour |
| Clear a recess with a flat floor | 2D Pocket, or 2D Adaptive for hard material and deep pockets |
| Cut a slot the width of the cutter | Slot |
| Follow a line at a fixed depth | Trace |
| Cut lettering or a groove with a V-bit | Engrave |
| Bevel a top edge | 2D Chamfer |
| Open a round hole larger than the cutter | Bore or Circular |
| Carve lettering or artwork with sharp detail | V-Carve |
The operations
| Operation | Pick (Drive body) | Its own settings |
|---|---|---|
| Face | A top face or a closed loop; loops inside it are islands | Direction, Face the stock with a Stock offset, Maximum stepover, Overrun, Pass angle |
| 2D Contour | Profile edges or sketch lines; Side Inside, Outside or On | Direction, Corner (Roll, Sharp, Sharp+Loop), Finishing passes, leads, ramp, holding Tabs |
| 2D Pocket | A closed loop or face; loops inside it are islands | Maximum stepover, Wall finishing, ramp entry (helix by default) |
| 2D Adaptive | As Pocket | Optimal load, Climb milling, Rest machining with a Prior tool Ø |
| Slot | An open path, or a slot-shaped loop (its centre line is used) | Ramp or Plunge, Ramp angle |
| Trace | An open curve or a closed profile; Follow Center or Edge | Ramp or Plunge, Pass extension |
| Engrave | As Trace | V-bit Point angle; Depth by Depth (Groove depth) or Width (Groove width) |
| 2D Chamfer | Top-facing edges; Side Inside, Outside or On | V-bit V angle; chamfer Width, Tip offset, Lead in/out |
| Bore | A cylindrical hole face or a circle sketch | Plunge angle, Finishing pass, Multiple passes with Stepover |
| Circular | A cylindrical or conical face — a hole, a pocket or a boss | Climb, Multiple passes, Multiple depths (on by default, 1 mm steps), leads |
| V-Carve | Closed loops; loops inside are islands | Max stepover for flat areas; Pre-pocket with its own Area pocket tool |
Holding tabs
On 2D Contour, Tabs › Holding tabs leaves small bridges so a cut-out part stays attached to the sheet. Choose the Shape (Rectangular or Triangular), the Width and Height, and space them By distance or By count. Tabs are placed automatically; there is no way to place one by hand.
V-Carve
V-Carve drives a V-bit deeper where a shape is wider, so sharp corners stay sharp. The width of the widest part and the bit's angle set the depth; the Bottom height (Top height − 3 mm by default) caps it. Where a shape is wider than the bit can reach at that depth, the floor is left flat. Pre-pocket clears that flat floor first with a flat end mill: turn it on and pick an Area pocket tool (Pick a pocket tool…).
A region narrower than the bit can enter is refused: Region too small for the V-bit — v-carve not created.
Refusals
| Message | Fix |
|---|---|
| Can't chamfer a bottom edge — a 2D chamfer reaches the edge from the top (+Z). Pick a top-facing edge. | Pick an edge on top |
| Text can't be slotted — use Trace, Engrave or V-Carve for text | Use one of those |
| Construction geometry can't be machined — pick solid (non-construction) geometry | Pick ordinary geometry |
| That curve isn't part of a closed profile — close the loop to machine it as a region | Close the sketch loop |
| Nothing to face — pick a boundary, or set a stock size for the Tool Run | Pick a face, or size the stock |
| Edge follow needs closed profiles — Center mode follows open curves | Use Center |
| Engrave depth is zero — set a groove depth / width (Passes tab) | Set the depth or width |