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Anonymous
608 Views, 8 Replies

Can I ramp along a surface in roughing pass?

Hello! I'm new to Fusion360, but have hobbyist experience with CNC and I'm a pro at other 3d animation software.

 

I will ask my question first and then give context after that. Hope someone can help.

 

QUESTION: Is it possible to ramp along a surface to essentially get a finishing pass in the first operation?

Img_ToolPaths.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BACKGROUND:

I'm needing to carve a 1.3cm geometric design into each side of a 3cm cube (A). I want to make several of these so I want the process to be as optimized as possible. I don't want to switch out tools for multiple passes for ever single side.

AA

 

 

 

I've been successful in doing this with flat gcode generated from Inventable's Easel program (B). The blue wax and wood pieces above were created that way.

BB

 

 

 

The issue is with the overlap of the corners, it cuts into the design on the adjoining side (C)(Click to enlarge the image).

Img_cross_carve.jpg

 

 

 

 

So, I've decided that if I could get the gcode to ramp into (or out of) the material to make a bevel at the edge, I would eliminate the flat overcuts. I've created an .stl model that does just this (D) in a 3d animation program. My designs (2d and 3d) are larger than my stock so it passes fully outside of the material.

DD

 

 

 

 

 

I knew I was going to have to up my software game to do this, so I started to jump into F360. This is as close as I've gotten in trying to do this with one tool/pass (E). It's a lot of stair-stepping and jumps back and forth quite a bit. 

Img_F360_paths.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SETUP: My setup is a Gen 1 ShapeOko (don't laugh) with upgrades (spindle & new GRBL board) with a 1/16" flat 2 flute end mill. Since it's not a very sturdy machine I keep my speeds quite low. I also 3d printed a quick-change jig for the cube so I can just slide it in and out after each side is done.

Img_carving_setup.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONCLUSION: So here's my thought. The 2d carving from Easel takes about 6 min. with two depth passes of straight cuts (with my settings). Can I get Fusion 360 to create the same passes and just ramp out to create the slopes of the bevel? Seems simple in my head. Seems like it would make a smooth finish with only one process and one tool. Again, it's not a lot of carving, it's not very deep, have a lot of these to do, so I'd prefer to do one pass with no tool changeout.

 

Any tips, tricks, suggestions, and help would be greatly appreciated!

 

-Cody

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