One of the steps of this unique machining method I learned from my boss was milling out the small pockets and features in the piece while still in a block.
The thing I love most about this very different technique is that it's a one-shot go. There is no first and second operation; there are no soft jaws, there are no extra complicated steps. It's a simple push of the button, watch it run for 20 minutes, stick a block of metal on it, and hit the button again. The outcome is a finished part and requires no cleaning up! It absolutely isn't the most efficient way of making these parts, but it makes the most sense for just a couple of them and takes the least amount of time.
I'm really discovering that, not just in machining, but in life as a whole, you really can't cut corners. There is no fast track. You have to take it slow and steady; that is really the fastest way. It's painful at times, but the more patience shown will help you move faster toward that desired outcome.