Estimating Pocket Clearing Time
Clearing a rectangular pocket is a straightforward multiplication once it's broken into its components: how many stepover passes it takes to cover the width at a given tool diameter and stepover, how many axial passes it takes to reach full depth, and how fast the feed rate carries the tool through all of that combined path length.
Why Stepover and Stepdown Both Matter
A tighter stepover means more passes across the width per layer, which adds path length without changing feed rate. A shallower axial depth of cut means more layers stacked on top of each other to reach full depth. Either one increases total cycle time, and pushing both too far in the name of caution can turn a quick pocket into a slow one.
Where This Estimate Falls Short
Real toolpaths from CAM software include ramped entries, smooth transitions between passes, and often adaptive or trochoidal patterns instead of a pure raster, all of which change the actual path length. Treat this as a rough first-pass estimate for quoting or planning, not a substitute for simulating the actual CAM-generated toolpath.