Finally got it:
Here’s the tool settings I’m using:
Makita router speed setting 1 - roughly 10k RPM according to the manual
Still doing a 0.6mm finishing pass, and using the peel setting for the pocket
This is getting me legitimate chips of MDF instead of awful dust - I think the dust may have had something to do with my issues before, interfering with the tool in the cut. I also hadn’t cleaned out the shop vac in a while and was not getting proper dust evacuation from the cut.
Also the oversized tool settings before were not getting me a full finish pass - now I know if the tool dimension in CAM is too large the finishing pass will not be in the right place and potentially leave some of the inconsistencies of the roughing pass
@vicious1 thank you so much for sticking with me on this - I really really appreciate your help. I can’t believe how accurate of a machine this thing can be for $1k
To be honest this process has been very educational, and I’ll be a lot more prepared in the future when I’m dealing with new tool + material combinations