topic Re: Rough cut and final pass tool change and tool path advice? in Fusion Manufacture Forum

Rough cut and final pass tool change and tool path advice?

nadya835EC — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 20:53:17 GMT

I am cutting into moderately soft hardwood (think soft maple). 3/4" thick. I am cutting out a few shapes. Really quite simple. But the corners are extremely delicate and I want to have the cleanest edge I can when I'm through. So what I've done is create a 2D Contour Tool Path with 1/4" down cut 2 flute bit that has an offset of .2 on the edge and .2 on the bottom. THEN I created a separate 2d Contour Tool Path for a 1/4" 2 flute compression bit to ramp down into the remaining .2 on the bottom, and to hug my profile edge to finish the cut.

My question:

If I am doing a tool change, do I need to have these two tool paths as two separate files that I send to CNC? And run the files back to back? OR can I set up a "tool change" within the single 2D Contour file?

I'm SUPER concerned about my Z axis changing during the tool change and me somehow screwing up the x/y in the process. How would you all go about this process? Amateur here.

Re: Rough cut and final pass tool change and tool path advice?

matty.fuller — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 05:34:53 GMT

Really depends on how the tool change happens for your machine...

For a machine with an ATC it's trivial to post both paths in a single program, exactly what they're meant to be doing.

If you have a machine where the tools are manually changed but each has it's own number/holder/offset that is repeatable then I expect you would be fine either way.

If you have a hobby machine where you need to undo a collet and re-touch/probe the tool, then it's likely down to the accuracy with which you can do that.

Re: Rough cut and final pass tool change and tool path advice?

seth.madore — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 10:17:59 GMT

The other question; are you on a Personal or Commercial license? If the former, posting out multiple tools in one file is not supported. What machine and control?

Re: Rough cut and final pass tool change and tool path advice?

programming2C78B — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 14:16:49 GMT

I think you'b be surprised by how clean a regular 2FL straight bit will work in maple.