CAM Origin Selection

[Jon_Bancroft]

I would like to be able to select faces or other model features to reference the WCS origin inside the CAM work-space.

In my previous CAM software (Gibbs) I was able to set a model face or vertex as the origin for a given axis.

This would be handy to have in Fusion, the closest implementation I see is to add a point to your CAD model then select that point in the WCS menu. This method works okay for simple cases but in my view it seems more like a brute force work-around than a proper solution.

The reason I would like to be able to pick a model face/feature is to make using work stops in milling more convenient. Currently if I have a work stop in a milling vise for my X axis reference point, that work stop might not always be placed against a feature represented by the generic points offered by Fusion's WCS Model/Stock box points.

Attached is an example part that would benefit from this. When milling the top face I want to have the work stop on the left bottom face. Unless I am mistaken, the only way to select that face as my X axis origin would be to add a point in CAD then use that point in CAM as the origin. This works fine, but I'd prefer to reference a feature directly on the model.

[cj.abraham]

This would be a good feature. I'll run it by our developers.

[kb9ydn]

@cj.abraham

If you guys are going to be looking at the WCS definition, I think it would be worth considering a simplification of how orientation is defined.

Right now as methods for orientation definition you have:

Model orientation

Z axis/plane & X axis

Z axis/plane & Y axis

X axis & Y axis

Coordinate system

Model orientation and coordinate system are fine but the other 3 could be combined into one "select X/Y/Z" option.  Then you have 3 available selections, one for each X, Y, and Z, with flip settings for each.  Of course having a selection for all 3 would be redundant so to reduce confusion you could gray out (disable) the 3rd once the other two selections are made.  Deselecting one would re-enable the third if you change your mind.

As for the origin, being able to select separate X/Y/Z zeros would be really nice in some situations.

C|

[cj.abraham]

Created ticket CAM-8146

[cj.abraham]

@Jon_Bancroft have you tried using the construction point tools in the model workspace? You can define a point through various methods (3 faces, edge intersection, etc.) and then use "selected point" and set the origin to be the construction point. What do you think?

[Jon_Bancroft]

@cj.abrahamActually since I posted this idea back in August I have began to do more in the Model workspace, I just primarily spend my time in CAM. I have been using projected points and I do think I might have used the construction points a couple of times.

I hadn't really looked too hard at the Construction tab to be honest, and I cannot think of a scenario where one of those point tools wouldn't work. Maybe that's the solution.

Thank You,

Jon