• Fusion

CAM for 3-Axis Milling Professional Certification Prep

Prepare for the Autodesk Certified Professional CAM for 3-axis milling exam using Fusion.


Course overview

Open new doors of opportunity with a growing skillset. This course focuses on 3-axis milling to help you prepare for the Autodesk Certified Professional in CAM for 3 Axis Milling exam. Refresh your skills needed to properly perform setup and mill for 3-axis fixturing using Fusion.

After completing this course, you'll be able to:

  • Analyze drawings and select appropriate manufacturing processes.
  • Create a process plan for 3-axis milling.
  • Create a CAM setup for CNC milling.
  • Create 3-axis toolpaths for roughing and finishing.
  • Create manual NC code and an NC program to output specific toolpaths.

Course downloads

These downloadable resources will be used to complete modules in this course:

Course outline

10 min.

Getting started

Getting started

Discover what you'll learn in this course and download the software and resources you need. 


20 min.

See where you stand

See where you stand

Before you begin this course, test your skills by taking the following assessment to see where you stand.


1 hr. 10 min.

Plan and set up work

Planning and setting up drawings and applying procedural concepts is essential for a successful operation. Planning and setting up includes analyzing supplied drawings, determining order of operations, and optimizing those operations.

Planning and setting up drawings and applying procedural concepts is essential for a successful operation. Planning and setting up includes analyzing supplied drawings, determining order of operations, and optimizing those operations.

After completing this section, you will be able to:

  • Analyze drawings and select an appropriate manufacturing process.
  • Perform stock selection.
  • Design a fixturing method, ensure collision avoidance, and evaluate cutting forces.
  • Perform CAM setup.


1 hr. 10 min.

Machine setup

Machine setup is integral to ensure agreement between the physical tool and the digital representation. When setting up a machine, you must plan and assemble digital workholding and determine appropriate workholding based on specifications.

Machine setup is integral to ensure agreement between the physical tool and the digital representation. When setting up a machine, you must plan and assemble digital workholding and determine appropriate workholding based on specifications.

After completing this section, you will be able to:

  • Plan tools needed for each operation 
  • Plan tool holders required for each tool 
  • Assemble (physically and digitally) tooling required for all operations 


1 hr. 20 min.

Programming toolpaths

Selecting appropriate machining strategies and defining tool orientation is critical for the success of machining. Toolpath containment can be defined using a selection of edges, sketches, or surfaces, and tool orientation includes determining tool tilt angles and optimizing tool contact. 

Selecting appropriate machining strategies and defining tool orientation is critical for the success of machining. Toolpath containment can be defined using a selection of edges, sketches, or surfaces, and tool orientation includes determining tool tilt angles and optimizing tool contact. 

After completing this section, you'll be able to:

  • Determine toolpath inputs.
  • Determine how to optimize toolpaths.
  • Apply toolpaths.


1 hr. 10 min.

Verifying and simulating

Performing toolpath and machine simulations confirms stock removal procedures and ensures collision avoidance. Simulation review determines the required toolpath adjustments.

Performing toolpath and machine simulations confirms stock removal procedures and ensures collision avoidance. Simulation review determines the required toolpath adjustments.

After completing this section, you will be able to:

  • Validate stock removal strategies and verify removal of material as intended.
  • Evaluate lessons learned from verifications to toolpaths.
  • Review collisions for toolpath adjustments.


1 hr.

Outputting code

Outputting code permits troubleshooting for output errors.

Outputting code permits troubleshooting for output errors.

After completing this section, you will be able to:

  • Apply procedural concepts to select program settings, post configurations, and properties.
  • Identify critical components of a setup sheet.


1 hr.

Inspecting parts

When undergoing parts inspection, validating feature location and size is essential in updating machine parameters. Using program prove out in a 3-axis machine ensures a successful project.

When undergoing parts inspection, validating feature location and size is essential in updating machine parameters. Using program prove out in a 3-axis machine ensures a successful project.

After completing this section, you'll be able to:

  • Use probing to set the WCS location.
  • Use precision inspection tools to validate first article.
  • Evaluate program prove out.


1 hr. 30 min.

Course challenge exercise

Course challenge exercise

Now that you've completed the learning material in this course, you can take the challenge exercise to measure your skills on the topics covered in this course.


45 min.

Practice test

Practice test

Ready to test your knowledge? Pass this required test with a score of 75% or more to complete the course.