topic Re: how to make dados and rabbits in Fusion Manufacture Forum

how to make dados and rabbits

isa47 — Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:32:30 GMT

Hello

I'm new to fusion and trying to figure out how to set up toolpaths for dados and rabbits in wood

parts. How can I make the tool go past the edge of the part to clear the radius of the bit.

and give me a clean straight dado with out the radius, or please let me know of the best

way you have found to make these types of cuts and any shortcuts to look into to make

that process faster when designing

Re: how to make dados and rabbits

seth.madore — Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:54:13 GMT

If you are using 2D Contour or 2D Pocket (with open contours), you can adjust the Start/End extension, or turn on Stock Contours. Either method will scoot the tool out beyond the material.

Re: how to make dados and rabbits

Steven.ayars — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 12:23:01 GMT

Thank you Seth, yes most of my work will be done in 2d, to use with a CNC router

what if I'm putting parts on a full sheet of plywood? Will this still work? I will try to use it later today and see what happens.

Re: how to make dados and rabbits

seth.madore — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 14:48:21 GMT

In the case of using full sheets of plywood, I would avoid using Stock Contours for anything other than those elements that are bordering the Stock, and even then it's going to be questionable. I would just you Start/End Extension, or Tangential Fragment Extension:

(view in My Videos)

Re: how to make dados and rabbits

Steven.ayars — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 15:13:57 GMT

Seth

thank you for the information. I'll have to play with this and see what works best. Do you have any ideas for best practices (pocket or contour) if I have multiple

dados and rabbits that run into each other, like the bottom of a cabinet for uprights? also, you don't happen to know how to set up a multi drill head (8 drills line bore) or would that be part of the post-processor

thank you again for the information

Re: how to make dados and rabbits

seth.madore — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 17:44:55 GMT

Multi-drill heads are most certainly a post processor edit and nothing that can be handled on Fusion side of things. All you can do in Fusion is program a single drill and let the post take it from there. I'd suggest connecting with one of our resellers to help sort you out, you can find a list of them here: https://www.autodesk.com/support/partners?search=Post%20Processor&solutions=Fusion%20360

Regarding the overlapping contours:

Fusion works best with solid models, not DXF files. Looking at your shared DXF, it's not clear to me what's a dado/rabbet or uncut surface in some of the profiles.

In some cases, you can use Stock Contours to assist, but it's very situational.

Re: how to make dados and rabbits

Steven.ayars — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 18:28:00 GMT

Seth

thank you for all the information, I just sent the .dxf as a reference. I import the dxf from AutoCAD right now and then use it to turn it into bodies to program

But I am trying to use Fusion as a one-all program for CNC routers (primary) and then also for waterjet, but I am new to Fusion coming from Alphacam so i

am trying to get it to work the easiest, unfortunately, SCM group doesn't have a post processor for the Morbidelli 600k2 so Im trying to see if the one that is in fusion will work with this machine. But first, I have to learn to program in fusion.

again, thank you for all the help. I do appreciate it most of the information I am finding is more for milling metal and not so much for 2d routers

on another note, is there a way to tell the toolpath what order you want to cut

Re: how to make dados and rabbits

seth.madore — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 18:40:23 GMT

@Steven.ayars wrote:

..on another note, is there a way to tell the toolpath what order you want to cut

On the Passes tab, select "Order by Selection"

Re: how to make dados and rabbits

Steven.ayars — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 19:09:32 GMT

I don't seem to have that unless I'm missing it. I do have a preserve order

Re: how to make dados and rabbits

seth.madore — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 21:40:36 GMT

Eh, same thing. I was responding quickly without Fusion open to confirm the actual wording. My apologies 🙃

Re: how to make dados and rabbits

Steven.ayars — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 21:46:37 GMT

thank you sir

Re: how to make dados and rabbits

Steven.ayars — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 23:02:34 GMT

ok another one for you. how to do 2 dados at the same depth but 2 different size widths, and they run across each other. using 2 different tools (1/4" cutter and a 1/2" cutter for the wider dado

if I design a part that has a dado that 1/4" wide that runs into another dado that's 3/4" and at the same depth once I extrude them down to 1/4" depth I cant pick

the face because then both areas are picked and the 1/2" cutter will want to follow the 1/4" area.

Re: how to make dados and rabbits

seth.madore — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 10:53:10 GMT

Could you share a file that shows this sort of feature? 2D Pocket won't send a 1/2" tool into a 1/4" opening, so I wouldn't recommend using 2D Contour in this case. However, you COULD use 2D Contour if you are using the ALT key and selecting edges (not faces) of the model.

Re: how to make dados and rabbits

Steven.ayars — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 12:45:32 GMT

Good morning sir

ive attached a upper cabinet side and I think I figured it out. just a lot of steps, I used the ALT. key and that helped, I am using a 1/2" cutter for the main

dado and a 1/4" cutter for the backs. and you take a look and let me know if there is an easier way to get the dados that might be less time consuming.

again I'm new to the program and read about setting up tool styles to help with common tooling, so that is on my list to learn.

thank you again

Re: how to make dados and rabbits

seth.madore — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 13:19:10 GMT

Because you're using a .250" tool and the opening is also .25", there's not a very good reason to select both sides of the slot. You can just select the one side and call it good if you prefer (considering you're working with wood)

Re: how to make dados and rabbits

Steven.ayars — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 13:36:24 GMT

my thinking for the 2 sides @ the 1/4" is so I can adjust the width for +/_ depending of the thickness of the material. that is why I wasn't sure if

pocketing a rectangle would work but haven't figured that out just yet. In alphacam you would make a rectangle for the dado area and then pocket

it out so you could adjust for material thickness. fusion is so powerful with parametric that once I can get it dialed in everything will hopefully adjust as

needed.

Re: how to make dados and rabbits

seth.madore — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 13:49:49 GMT

Yeah, that sounds sensible. You can't use the Pocket toolpath when tool=pocket width, it will most often error out unless you have negative stock to leave.

Re: how to make dados and rabbits

Steven.ayars — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 14:05:24 GMT

you dont happen to know anything about post processors do you. I got a name from scm group but the guy is in Eroupe and wants 1500 USD for the

one he wrote back in 1999. for a morbidelli 600k2 cnc work center

Re: how to make dados and rabbits

seth.madore — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 14:39:30 GMT

I've got a basic understanding of post edits, what are you looking to do?

If you're US based, there are many resellers in the states who are quire proficient; DSI, NexGen and several others.

Basic edits; we should be able to help you here. Complex items (multi drill heads, head/head configuration etc) tend to be more "bespoke"

If you do seek assistance here, please start a new thread. This current thread is mainly for discussion of 2D Contour/Pocket along with rabbetts and dados

Re: how to make dados and rabbits

Steven.ayars — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 15:13:05 GMT

I will work on that tonight and start a new thread. thank you again