well if works if i keep it in 2d...kind of. but i'm not quite sure how to do that in 2d. i don't see why i can't be in 3d and select the entities to pocket. if i don't touch the WCS and reimport the file, then i don't get the error message, but it drives the tool all the way through the part to get to the pocket (the pocket is on the bottom, which is where i set the wcs). am i just stupid and not setting my WCS correctly? if it shows up on the top where it should be when i click the green top view button, am i not in the right view? thanks for the quick reply.

MCx. i am pocketing a radius and ramp into a solid hunk. i set my cplane to top and the top view button brings me to the right place. when i go contour or pocket, i get the message Warning the boundry does not lie in the construction plane. but drilling works just fine, and verifying with the tool graphics looks right.. please help. ...........