I am tasked with creating step by step prints for manufacturing / machining operation, from a piece of raw stock to finished part. 

My preferred method would be to create a "operations model", import geometry of the finished part that would be reference only wtih external links (construction geometry), extrude a solid over the reference geometry in the shape of the raw material, and then take extruded cuts by converting entities of the reference model,  until I get back to the design part. (defining a configuration for each step of the machining process)  In this way, my operations model maintains a link to the design model so that and any changes can flow down.

I have a feeling there is an easy way to do this, but I have not been able to find it ( I am admittedly a SW newbie)