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Transcript
00:02
In this video, you’ll: Select the appropriate toolpath based on geometry.
00:08
Open the file Selecting Machining Strategy.f3d in the Manufacture workspace.
00:16
Depending on the machine being used to manufacture this part, operations can be applied in different ways.
00:25
It is possible to manufacture this part using a 3-axis machine;
00:29
however, multiple setups would be required in order to do so.
00:34
A multi-axis machine would be much more efficient, especially for features such as the pockets and holes.
00:42
A multi-axis machine also lets you use the side of the tool for better quality surface finish.
00:50
Begin by creating a setup.
00:53
From the Toolbar, Setup panel, select Setup.
00:58
This opens the Setup dialog.
01:02
Leave the Work Coordinate System at the top center of the stock.
01:07
Open the Stock tab.
01:10
Under Stock, expand the Mode drop-down and select Fixed size box.
01:18
Ensure Round Up to Nearest is set to 0.
01:24
Then, in the Width (X) field, enter 6.25.
01:30
Set the Depth (Y) to 4, and set the Height (Z) to 1.375.
01:41
Now, from the ViewCube, click Front.
01:45
Notice that the model is positioned directly in the center of the stock.
01:50
However, it is better practice to have a majority of the stock in the vise jaws,
01:56
with only a little amount of stock at the top of the part.
02:00
To fix this, in the dialog, expand Model Position and select Offset from top (+Z).
02:09
Then, in the Offset field, enter .01.
02:15
In the canvas, the model position updates.
02:19
Next, open the Post Process tab.
02:24
Under Machine WCS, in the WCS Offset, enter 1.
02:31
Click OK.
02:33
Now, you can begin adding toolpaths.
02:37
First, apply a facing toolpath for the top of the part.
02:42
From the Toolbar, expand the 2D drop-down and select Face.
02:48
In the Face dialog, under Tool, click the Tool selection prompt.
02:54
This opens the Tool Library.
02:57
From the list of tools, select tool 1 – 2" Face Mill.
03:04
Click Select.
03:07
Back in the Face dialog, open the Geometry tab.
03:12
You do not need to select any geometry.
03:16
Instead, Fusion will provide a toolpath that machines anything within the bounding box of the stock displayed in the canvas.
03:25
Next, open the Heights tab.
03:28
Currently, this is preconfigured to machine from the stock top to the model top.
03:35
Open the Passes tab.
03:38
Under Passes, in the Stock Offset field, enter .125.
03:44
This will ensure that no strips of material are left on the outside of the part.
03:50
Open the Linking tab.
03:53
Ensure Extend Before Retract is enabled.
03:58
This extends the tool off the stock before it retracts.
04:03
Click OK.
04:05
The facing toolpath displays in the canvas.
04:09
Pick in the canvas to hide the operation.
04:13
Examine one of the sloping edges at the end of the part.
04:17
When using a 3-axis machine, you would rough out the material using an adaptive toolpath.
04:24
When using multi-axis machines, however, a separate operation can be applied to machine this entire feature using the side of a tool.
04:34
You do not need a roughing adaptive operation to machine the angled features.
04:39
Now, examine the pocket.
04:42
A roughing toolpath would be ideal to clear out all the material here, as well as the exterior of the part.
04:50
From the Toolbar, expand 3D and select Adaptive Clearing.
04:56
From the Adaptive dialog, open the tool library.
05:01
In the tool library, from the list of tools within the document, select tool 2 – 1/2" Flat Endmill.
05:10
Under Cutting data, select Aluminum - Roughing.
05:16
Click Select.
05:18
Next, open the Geometry tab.
05:22
Again, you do not have to select any geometry.
05:26
Fusion will detect what needs to be machined within the stock boundary.
05:31
However, ensure Rest Machining is enabled, and then expand the Source drop-down.
05:38
Select From previous operations.
05:42
This means the toolpath will only remove the remaining stock from a previously cut part.
05:49
Open the Heights tab.
05:52
Leave Top Height set to Stock top.
05:57
Leave Bottom Height set to Model bottom.
06:01
In the Offset field, enter -.03, so when the part is flipped, there will not be any height mismatches.
06:12
Open the Passes tab.
06:15
Ensure that Machine Cavities is disabled.
06:19
Then, in the Maximum Roughing Stepdown, enter 1.
06:25
Set Fine Stepdown to .875.
06:30
Because the stepdown is larger than the angled surface, the toolpath will skip those features when it is generated.
06:38
Next, ensure Flat Area Detection is enabled.
06:43
This strategy detects all the flat areas and adjusts the stepdowns to ensure that the axial stock to leave is left on these flat areas.
06:53
Also, ensure Order By Area is enabled, which orders the toolpath by area, rather than by depth.
07:03
Under Stock to Leave, in the Radial Stock to Leave field, enter .01.
07:11
Open the Linking tab.
07:13
In the Maximum Stay-Down Distance, enter 5.
07:18
Then, expand the Stay-Down Level drop-down and select 80%.
07:24
This will prevent the tool from rapid repositioning.
07:28
In the Lift Height field, enter .01.
07:33
In the No-Engagement Feedrate field, enter the maximum cutting federate of the machine you will be using.
07:41
In this instance, enter 400.
07:44
Click OK.
07:47
The toolpath generates.
07:50
Notice that the toolpath ignores the angled surfaces.
07:54
It also does not clear out the pocket.
07:57
To clear the pocket, duplicate the toolpath.
08:01
In the Browser, right-click Adaptive1, and from the shortcut menu, select Duplicate.
08:09
Right-click the duplicated toolpath and select Edit.
08:15
In the Adaptive dialog, Geometry tab, expand the Machining Boundary drop-down and choose Selection.
08:24
Then, in the canvas, pick the edge of the pocket.
08:29
Next, open the Passes tab.
08:33
Enable Machine Cavities.
08:35
In the Fine Stepdown field, enter .03.
08:41
This will remove as much material as possible from the walls of the pocket.
08:46
Click OK.
08:49
Now, in the Browser, select Setup1.
08:54
From the Toolbar, Actions panel, select Simulate.
08:59
Then, in the Browser, select Adaptive1 (2), the toolpath that clears the pocket.
09:07
In the Simulate dialog, enable Stock.
09:12
From the Simulation player controls, click Play.
09:16
Review the toolpath.
09:20
You can see that it now clears the pocket, but it does not also machine the angled surfaces.
09:26
Close the Simulate dialog.
09:29
To machine the end features, from the Toolbar, expand the 2D drop-down and select 2D Contour.
09:38
You can use the same tool as the last operation.
09:42
Open the Geometry tab and enable Tool Orientation.
09:47
Expand the Tool Orientation drop-down and choose Select Z axis/plane & X axis.
09:56
Then, in the canvas, pick the face of the part to set the tool orientation.
10:03
Now, back in the dialog, under Geometry, click the Contour Selection prompt.
10:10
Press and hold ALT on your keyboard, and in the canvas, pick the edge of where the toolpath contour starts.
10:19
Click the edge a second time, and the context menu appears.
10:25
Leave Open contour selected.
10:28
Pick the edge where you want the toolpath to end.
10:33
Click the green plus (+) to accept the contour selection, and the contour displays.
10:42
Repeat the same contour selection process on the other side of the part.
10:47
With both selections made, open the Heights tab.
10:52
Under Top Height, expand the From drop-down and select Model top.
10:58
Under Bottom Height, in the Offset field, enter -.02.
11:04
Then, open the Passes tab.
11:10
Enable Roughing Passes.
11:11
In the Maximum Stepover field, enter .1.
11:17
Then, in the Number of Stepovers field, enter 2.
11:22
Review the Linking tab, and then click OK.
11:28
The toolpath generates, machining the end features of the part.
11:34
Now, it is time to machine the inside of the pocket to clear any material left behind by the roughing operation.
11:42
First, machine the bottom of the pocket.
11:46
From the Toolbar, expand the 3D drop-down and select Flat.
11:52
In the Flat dialog, open the Geometry tab.
11:57
Enable Avoid/Touch Surfaces.
12:01
Then, enable Touch Surfaces.
12:05
Then, in the canvas, pick the bottom of the pocket.
12:09
Open the Passes tab.
12:12
Enable Cut Interior Both Ways and Finishing Pass.
12:18
In the Finishing Stepover field, enter .01.
12:23
Click OK.
12:26
If you were using a 3-axis machine to clear the pocket,
12:30
you could apply a 3D contour toolpath using a tool such as a bullnose endmill.
12:37
After all the settings are configured, and the toolpath is generated,
12:46
notice that the toolpath does not reach the radius at the bottom of the pocket.
12:52
To clear the rest of the pocket most efficiently, a multi-axis toolpath will work best.
13:01
From the Toolbar, expand Multi-axis and select Swarf.
13:08
From the Swarf dialog, open the tool library.
13:12
From the list, choose tool 2 - 1/2" Flat Endmill with Aluminum - Finishing.
13:21
Click Select.
13:24
Open the Geometry tab.
13:27
Expand the Drive Mode drop-down and ensure Contours is selected.
13:32
Next, expand the Selection Mode drop-down and select Contour pairs.
13:39
This allows you to specify a pair of contours that will drive the toolpath.
13:44
In the canvas, pick the bottom edge of the pocket.
13:48
Then, select the top edge of the pocket.
13:53
Zoom into the model to review which side of the chain selection the arrow is cutting.
13:59
Currently, it is correct.
14:01
In the dialog, enable Machine other Side.
14:06
The arrow updates.
14:08
This is the incorrect configuration.
14:12
Disable Machine other Side.
14:15
Next, open the Heights tab.
14:19
In this case, the height settings are fine as they are.
14:23
Open the Passes tab.
14:26
Enable Repeat Finishing Pass.
14:30
Open the Linking tab.
14:33
Expand the Retraction Policy drop-down and select Minimum Retraction.
14:39
Click OK.
14:42
The swarf toolpath displays.
14:45
In the Browser, select Setup1.
14:50
If you have applied a 3D contour toolpath, delete it
14:57
now.With Setup1 selected, from the Toolbar, simulate the setup.
15:02
In the Browser, select Swarf1.
15:05
The Simulation player jumps to the swarf toolpath.
15:10
From the controls, click Play.
15:13
Notice that the side of the tool is engaged while cutting all the way to bottom of the pocket as it creates the square edge.
15:21
As you can see, using a multi-axis approach such as this 5-axis strategy,
15:28
gives you more capabilities to machine your parts, while also being much more efficient.
Video transcript
00:02
In this video, you’ll: Select the appropriate toolpath based on geometry.
00:08
Open the file Selecting Machining Strategy.f3d in the Manufacture workspace.
00:16
Depending on the machine being used to manufacture this part, operations can be applied in different ways.
00:25
It is possible to manufacture this part using a 3-axis machine;
00:29
however, multiple setups would be required in order to do so.
00:34
A multi-axis machine would be much more efficient, especially for features such as the pockets and holes.
00:42
A multi-axis machine also lets you use the side of the tool for better quality surface finish.
00:50
Begin by creating a setup.
00:53
From the Toolbar, Setup panel, select Setup.
00:58
This opens the Setup dialog.
01:02
Leave the Work Coordinate System at the top center of the stock.
01:07
Open the Stock tab.
01:10
Under Stock, expand the Mode drop-down and select Fixed size box.
01:18
Ensure Round Up to Nearest is set to 0.
01:24
Then, in the Width (X) field, enter 6.25.
01:30
Set the Depth (Y) to 4, and set the Height (Z) to 1.375.
01:41
Now, from the ViewCube, click Front.
01:45
Notice that the model is positioned directly in the center of the stock.
01:50
However, it is better practice to have a majority of the stock in the vise jaws,
01:56
with only a little amount of stock at the top of the part.
02:00
To fix this, in the dialog, expand Model Position and select Offset from top (+Z).
02:09
Then, in the Offset field, enter .01.
02:15
In the canvas, the model position updates.
02:19
Next, open the Post Process tab.
02:24
Under Machine WCS, in the WCS Offset, enter 1.
02:31
Click OK.
02:33
Now, you can begin adding toolpaths.
02:37
First, apply a facing toolpath for the top of the part.
02:42
From the Toolbar, expand the 2D drop-down and select Face.
02:48
In the Face dialog, under Tool, click the Tool selection prompt.
02:54
This opens the Tool Library.
02:57
From the list of tools, select tool 1 – 2" Face Mill.
03:04
Click Select.
03:07
Back in the Face dialog, open the Geometry tab.
03:12
You do not need to select any geometry.
03:16
Instead, Fusion will provide a toolpath that machines anything within the bounding box of the stock displayed in the canvas.
03:25
Next, open the Heights tab.
03:28
Currently, this is preconfigured to machine from the stock top to the model top.
03:35
Open the Passes tab.
03:38
Under Passes, in the Stock Offset field, enter .125.
03:44
This will ensure that no strips of material are left on the outside of the part.
03:50
Open the Linking tab.
03:53
Ensure Extend Before Retract is enabled.
03:58
This extends the tool off the stock before it retracts.
04:03
Click OK.
04:05
The facing toolpath displays in the canvas.
04:09
Pick in the canvas to hide the operation.
04:13
Examine one of the sloping edges at the end of the part.
04:17
When using a 3-axis machine, you would rough out the material using an adaptive toolpath.
04:24
When using multi-axis machines, however, a separate operation can be applied to machine this entire feature using the side of a tool.
04:34
You do not need a roughing adaptive operation to machine the angled features.
04:39
Now, examine the pocket.
04:42
A roughing toolpath would be ideal to clear out all the material here, as well as the exterior of the part.
04:50
From the Toolbar, expand 3D and select Adaptive Clearing.
04:56
From the Adaptive dialog, open the tool library.
05:01
In the tool library, from the list of tools within the document, select tool 2 – 1/2" Flat Endmill.
05:10
Under Cutting data, select Aluminum - Roughing.
05:16
Click Select.
05:18
Next, open the Geometry tab.
05:22
Again, you do not have to select any geometry.
05:26
Fusion will detect what needs to be machined within the stock boundary.
05:31
However, ensure Rest Machining is enabled, and then expand the Source drop-down.
05:38
Select From previous operations.
05:42
This means the toolpath will only remove the remaining stock from a previously cut part.
05:49
Open the Heights tab.
05:52
Leave Top Height set to Stock top.
05:57
Leave Bottom Height set to Model bottom.
06:01
In the Offset field, enter -.03, so when the part is flipped, there will not be any height mismatches.
06:12
Open the Passes tab.
06:15
Ensure that Machine Cavities is disabled.
06:19
Then, in the Maximum Roughing Stepdown, enter 1.
06:25
Set Fine Stepdown to .875.
06:30
Because the stepdown is larger than the angled surface, the toolpath will skip those features when it is generated.
06:38
Next, ensure Flat Area Detection is enabled.
06:43
This strategy detects all the flat areas and adjusts the stepdowns to ensure that the axial stock to leave is left on these flat areas.
06:53
Also, ensure Order By Area is enabled, which orders the toolpath by area, rather than by depth.
07:03
Under Stock to Leave, in the Radial Stock to Leave field, enter .01.
07:11
Open the Linking tab.
07:13
In the Maximum Stay-Down Distance, enter 5.
07:18
Then, expand the Stay-Down Level drop-down and select 80%.
07:24
This will prevent the tool from rapid repositioning.
07:28
In the Lift Height field, enter .01.
07:33
In the No-Engagement Feedrate field, enter the maximum cutting federate of the machine you will be using.
07:41
In this instance, enter 400.
07:44
Click OK.
07:47
The toolpath generates.
07:50
Notice that the toolpath ignores the angled surfaces.
07:54
It also does not clear out the pocket.
07:57
To clear the pocket, duplicate the toolpath.
08:01
In the Browser, right-click Adaptive1, and from the shortcut menu, select Duplicate.
08:09
Right-click the duplicated toolpath and select Edit.
08:15
In the Adaptive dialog, Geometry tab, expand the Machining Boundary drop-down and choose Selection.
08:24
Then, in the canvas, pick the edge of the pocket.
08:29
Next, open the Passes tab.
08:33
Enable Machine Cavities.
08:35
In the Fine Stepdown field, enter .03.
08:41
This will remove as much material as possible from the walls of the pocket.
08:46
Click OK.
08:49
Now, in the Browser, select Setup1.
08:54
From the Toolbar, Actions panel, select Simulate.
08:59
Then, in the Browser, select Adaptive1 (2), the toolpath that clears the pocket.
09:07
In the Simulate dialog, enable Stock.
09:12
From the Simulation player controls, click Play.
09:16
Review the toolpath.
09:20
You can see that it now clears the pocket, but it does not also machine the angled surfaces.
09:26
Close the Simulate dialog.
09:29
To machine the end features, from the Toolbar, expand the 2D drop-down and select 2D Contour.
09:38
You can use the same tool as the last operation.
09:42
Open the Geometry tab and enable Tool Orientation.
09:47
Expand the Tool Orientation drop-down and choose Select Z axis/plane & X axis.
09:56
Then, in the canvas, pick the face of the part to set the tool orientation.
10:03
Now, back in the dialog, under Geometry, click the Contour Selection prompt.
10:10
Press and hold ALT on your keyboard, and in the canvas, pick the edge of where the toolpath contour starts.
10:19
Click the edge a second time, and the context menu appears.
10:25
Leave Open contour selected.
10:28
Pick the edge where you want the toolpath to end.
10:33
Click the green plus (+) to accept the contour selection, and the contour displays.
10:42
Repeat the same contour selection process on the other side of the part.
10:47
With both selections made, open the Heights tab.
10:52
Under Top Height, expand the From drop-down and select Model top.
10:58
Under Bottom Height, in the Offset field, enter -.02.
11:04
Then, open the Passes tab.
11:10
Enable Roughing Passes.
11:11
In the Maximum Stepover field, enter .1.
11:17
Then, in the Number of Stepovers field, enter 2.
11:22
Review the Linking tab, and then click OK.
11:28
The toolpath generates, machining the end features of the part.
11:34
Now, it is time to machine the inside of the pocket to clear any material left behind by the roughing operation.
11:42
First, machine the bottom of the pocket.
11:46
From the Toolbar, expand the 3D drop-down and select Flat.
11:52
In the Flat dialog, open the Geometry tab.
11:57
Enable Avoid/Touch Surfaces.
12:01
Then, enable Touch Surfaces.
12:05
Then, in the canvas, pick the bottom of the pocket.
12:09
Open the Passes tab.
12:12
Enable Cut Interior Both Ways and Finishing Pass.
12:18
In the Finishing Stepover field, enter .01.
12:23
Click OK.
12:26
If you were using a 3-axis machine to clear the pocket,
12:30
you could apply a 3D contour toolpath using a tool such as a bullnose endmill.
12:37
After all the settings are configured, and the toolpath is generated,
12:46
notice that the toolpath does not reach the radius at the bottom of the pocket.
12:52
To clear the rest of the pocket most efficiently, a multi-axis toolpath will work best.
13:01
From the Toolbar, expand Multi-axis and select Swarf.
13:08
From the Swarf dialog, open the tool library.
13:12
From the list, choose tool 2 - 1/2" Flat Endmill with Aluminum - Finishing.
13:21
Click Select.
13:24
Open the Geometry tab.
13:27
Expand the Drive Mode drop-down and ensure Contours is selected.
13:32
Next, expand the Selection Mode drop-down and select Contour pairs.
13:39
This allows you to specify a pair of contours that will drive the toolpath.
13:44
In the canvas, pick the bottom edge of the pocket.
13:48
Then, select the top edge of the pocket.
13:53
Zoom into the model to review which side of the chain selection the arrow is cutting.
13:59
Currently, it is correct.
14:01
In the dialog, enable Machine other Side.
14:06
The arrow updates.
14:08
This is the incorrect configuration.
14:12
Disable Machine other Side.
14:15
Next, open the Heights tab.
14:19
In this case, the height settings are fine as they are.
14:23
Open the Passes tab.
14:26
Enable Repeat Finishing Pass.
14:30
Open the Linking tab.
14:33
Expand the Retraction Policy drop-down and select Minimum Retraction.
14:39
Click OK.
14:42
The swarf toolpath displays.
14:45
In the Browser, select Setup1.
14:50
If you have applied a 3D contour toolpath, delete it
14:57
now.With Setup1 selected, from the Toolbar, simulate the setup.
15:02
In the Browser, select Swarf1.
15:05
The Simulation player jumps to the swarf toolpath.
15:10
From the controls, click Play.
15:13
Notice that the side of the tool is engaged while cutting all the way to bottom of the pocket as it creates the square edge.
15:21
As you can see, using a multi-axis approach such as this 5-axis strategy,
15:28
gives you more capabilities to machine your parts, while also being much more efficient.
Step-by-steps
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