& Construction

Integrated BIM tools, including Revit, AutoCAD, and Civil 3D
& Manufacturing

Professional CAD/CAM tools built on Inventor and AutoCAD
Integrated BIM tools, including Revit, AutoCAD, and Civil 3D
Professional CAD/CAM tools built on Inventor and AutoCAD
Reusing previously created toolpaths. Copy, Duplicate and Derived Operations.
Type:
Tutorial
Length:
5 min.
Transcript
00:03
To save time when programming multiple toolpaths in Fusion, you can reuse most of the settings of a previously created toolpath.
00:11
This can save time when you need to create several toolpaths with the same parameters,
00:17
or a different toolpath strategy using the same tool and chains.
00:21
There are few different ways to go about this, using Copy, Duplicate, or a Derived Operation.
00:29
To copy a toolpath, in the Browser, right-click the toolpath and select Copy.
00:35
Right-click again where you want to copy the toolpath, and select Paste.
00:40
Now, you can select the copy, right-click and select Edit, or double-click the operation to edit the parameters.
00:49
To save some time, you can opt to duplicate a toolpath instead.
00:55
In this case, from the Browser, right-click the toolpath and select Duplicate.
01:01
A duplicated toolpath is added automatically, saving you from having to paste.
01:08
You can also use a keyboad shortcut to duplicate:
01:12
Ctrl+D on Windows, or Command+D on a Mac.
01:16
Another method to reuse toolpaths is to use a derived toolpath.
01:22
Derived toolpaths enable you to copy the parameters of an existing operation and use them in a different type of toolpath,
01:29
or even for the same toolpath type.
01:32
It copies all the geometry selections, tool selections, and parameters.
01:38
After it creates the new operation, it opens the toolpath for editing, saving you even more time.
01:45
In this example, the next step involves creating a finish cut for the inside and open pockets.
01:52
You need to make a copy of the 2D contour toolpath, select new geometry, and change the bottom height offset amount.
02:00
In the Browser, select the 2D Contour toolpath, right-click and select Create Derived Operation.
02:09
Expand 2D Milling to see the various 2D machining strategies.
02:14
For this example, select 2D Contour.
02:19
Even though it is the same toolpath type, this method is still helpful,
02:23
as it creates a copy that contains the tool parameters and chains of the original operation, and opens the 2D Contour dialog for you to edit.
02:33
On the Tool tab, you want to use the same tool, so there is nothing to edit.
02:38
Switch to the Geometry tab.
02:42
Click to delete the original contour selection.
02:46
For this toolpath, select the edge of the closed pockets and the edge of the open pockets.
02:52
You now have four chains selected.
02:56
The red arrows indicate which side of the chain the tool will be on.
03:01
Fusion usually assigns these directions correctly, but if needed, you can force it to machine on the other side by clicking the arrow.
03:10
Doing so on this part would destroy the workpiece.
03:14
You can flip the direction back from the Geometry tab by right-clicking the chain and selecting Flip Directions.
03:22
Next, switch to the Heights tab.
03:25
Make sure that your Bottom Height is set to From Selected contour(s) with an Offset of 0,
03:31
because you do not want to cut past the bottom of the pockets.
03:36
On the Passes tab, the Compensation Type is set to Wear, as in the original toolpath.
03:42
Leave this as is.
03:45
Select Multiple Finishing Passes, then set the Number of Finishing Passes to 2 and the Stepover distance to .005 inches.
03:55
This will take two cuts across each selected chain.
03:59
Click OK to generate the new toolpath, finishing the open and closed pockets with two passes.
04:06
Save your model if you want to continue working on it.
Video transcript
00:03
To save time when programming multiple toolpaths in Fusion, you can reuse most of the settings of a previously created toolpath.
00:11
This can save time when you need to create several toolpaths with the same parameters,
00:17
or a different toolpath strategy using the same tool and chains.
00:21
There are few different ways to go about this, using Copy, Duplicate, or a Derived Operation.
00:29
To copy a toolpath, in the Browser, right-click the toolpath and select Copy.
00:35
Right-click again where you want to copy the toolpath, and select Paste.
00:40
Now, you can select the copy, right-click and select Edit, or double-click the operation to edit the parameters.
00:49
To save some time, you can opt to duplicate a toolpath instead.
00:55
In this case, from the Browser, right-click the toolpath and select Duplicate.
01:01
A duplicated toolpath is added automatically, saving you from having to paste.
01:08
You can also use a keyboad shortcut to duplicate:
01:12
Ctrl+D on Windows, or Command+D on a Mac.
01:16
Another method to reuse toolpaths is to use a derived toolpath.
01:22
Derived toolpaths enable you to copy the parameters of an existing operation and use them in a different type of toolpath,
01:29
or even for the same toolpath type.
01:32
It copies all the geometry selections, tool selections, and parameters.
01:38
After it creates the new operation, it opens the toolpath for editing, saving you even more time.
01:45
In this example, the next step involves creating a finish cut for the inside and open pockets.
01:52
You need to make a copy of the 2D contour toolpath, select new geometry, and change the bottom height offset amount.
02:00
In the Browser, select the 2D Contour toolpath, right-click and select Create Derived Operation.
02:09
Expand 2D Milling to see the various 2D machining strategies.
02:14
For this example, select 2D Contour.
02:19
Even though it is the same toolpath type, this method is still helpful,
02:23
as it creates a copy that contains the tool parameters and chains of the original operation, and opens the 2D Contour dialog for you to edit.
02:33
On the Tool tab, you want to use the same tool, so there is nothing to edit.
02:38
Switch to the Geometry tab.
02:42
Click to delete the original contour selection.
02:46
For this toolpath, select the edge of the closed pockets and the edge of the open pockets.
02:52
You now have four chains selected.
02:56
The red arrows indicate which side of the chain the tool will be on.
03:01
Fusion usually assigns these directions correctly, but if needed, you can force it to machine on the other side by clicking the arrow.
03:10
Doing so on this part would destroy the workpiece.
03:14
You can flip the direction back from the Geometry tab by right-clicking the chain and selecting Flip Directions.
03:22
Next, switch to the Heights tab.
03:25
Make sure that your Bottom Height is set to From Selected contour(s) with an Offset of 0,
03:31
because you do not want to cut past the bottom of the pockets.
03:36
On the Passes tab, the Compensation Type is set to Wear, as in the original toolpath.
03:42
Leave this as is.
03:45
Select Multiple Finishing Passes, then set the Number of Finishing Passes to 2 and the Stepover distance to .005 inches.
03:55
This will take two cuts across each selected chain.
03:59
Click OK to generate the new toolpath, finishing the open and closed pockets with two passes.
04:06
Save your model if you want to continue working on it.
Derived Toolpaths lets you copy the parameters of an existing toolpath operation and use it in a different type of Toolpath. The next thing we need to do in our part is finish mill the pockets. We could Duplicate the 2D Contour, or we can use Derive. Our 2D Contour toolpath already contains the tool information and cutting parameters. We'll use that for our Derived Toolpath and then reselect the geometry.
How to buy
Privacy | Do not sell or share my personal information | Cookie preferences | Report noncompliance | Terms of use | Legal | © 2025 Autodesk Inc. All rights reserved
Sign in for the best experience
Save your progress
Get access to courses
Receive personalized recommendations
May we collect and use your data?
Learn more about the Third Party Services we use and our Privacy Statement.May we collect and use your data to tailor your experience?
Explore the benefits of a customized experience by managing your privacy settings for this site or visit our Privacy Statement to learn more about your options.