How to quickly delete section or part of path(s)

[FreeseDesign]

I have a file destined for a laser cutter. It was imported from dxf format so it consists entirely of individual paths that are end to end.

If I run the file in the laser cutter as it is, as the laser cuts a lot of small pieces will fall out and get lost. I want to create small tabs to hold these tiny pieces in place.

I've been trying to find a (hopefully) quick and easy way to delete sections of some of the paths (so the laser doesn't cut there and the piece stays in place) without deleting whole paths. I'd also like the sections I delete to all be the same length so I tried creating a circle and using Pathfinder > Minus Front, but that gives me the error "The filter produced no results. Please select two intersecting paths."

I tried to show what I want in the image below. Is there a (hopefully) fast and easy way to do this? Thank you!

[Kurt Gold]

Doesn't direct selecting the segment with the Direct Selection tool and then hitting the Delete key do it?

[FreeseDesign]

By doing that the whole path is deleted. I just want to delete a small section or segment out of the path.

Some of the paths are quite long.

[Kurt Gold]

No, that should not happen if you select only the path segment with the Direct selection tool.

Deselect the path, take the Direct Selection tool, hover over the segment that is going to be deleted, click on it and then hit the Delete key.

[FreeseDesign]

Every time I try that though the whole path is being deleted.

I should mention again that this document was imported from a dxf file so none of the paths are joined together. Every part of the image is a separate straight-line path. That's why I'm looking for ways to delete sections out of one straight line path.

When I click on a path with "Direct Selection Tool" I get this:

Then I press delete and get this:

When all I wanted was a small section deleted out of that path.

[Kurt Gold]

Sounds as if you then want to explore how to use the Scissors tool.

[Myra Ferguson · Accepted solution]

The Scissors tool (C) would work. Click on the path where you want the gap to start and again where you want it to stop. Then use the Direct Selection tool (A) to select the segment, and Delete to remove it.

You could also use the Shape Builder Tool. First draw a shape like a circle over the path overlapping the segment you'd like removed. Select the circle and the path then the Shape Builder Tool (Shift + M). While holding down the Alt key, drag over the circle and the segment to remove it. The benefit of this method is it can be a little easier to see what part you want to remove.