Print Directly To Laser Cutters

[acrease]

Currently, the way to laser cut parts on Fusion 360 is by exporting sketches to a .dxf file, and then bringing them into another program to set up for laser cutting, and then finally, sending that to the laser cutters. Why do we need the extra step in another program? Laser cutters run on normal print drivers. So, it would be really nice if you could select a sketch, and just hit "print" or "laser cut", so that you could send it right to the laser cutter, instead of having that extra step in a different program.

Additionally, this could possibly allow you to easily do some 3D rastering based on the geometry of the file.

[threadbuilt]

I also would love to see this built in as an option! Even if it were the same workflow as the 3d print option which loads it into the third party software directly, at least this is a better workflow as it negates the need to save out a suitable file type and work on that. If possible I think you could make use of the drawing space (sans the title block of course) to organise a complex model and export it for printing with the correct line weights and so forth. Being able to select custom drawing sizes other than standard paper sizes would also be required.

[threadbuilt]

Glad to see this got bumped up to Future Consideration. Hopefully this is realised in the near future as I just got my first taste of laser cutting materials and I liked it!!!!

Further to my previous comments I think the following abilities would also be required as a minimum functionality:

• to define vector vs raster cuts
• individually assign or group cut depths/types
• choose output material i.e. what material you are cutting and the depth
• export in a standard format(s)
• flatten complex shapes and show areas under stress that require kerfing
• some basic kerfing types or abilitiy to create own type (to accomodate single curve, double curve, etc.)

Also and this is just me thinking out loud now but the same process could be used for Water Jet cutting (at least similar) if I am not mistaken which would add a lot of functionality to Fusion in a single go.

[Anonymous]

This feature would be fantastic!!

[MattWynn]

See http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/ideastation-request-a-feature-or/fusion-360-output-to-laser-cutters/id...

[Anonymous]

I have seen some videos about laser cutting and it doesn't make sense the way people do it.

They sketch the pieces and then lay down the pieces in a plane and then project the pieces to a new sketch and then export as dxf.

It should be as simple as sketching once, tell Fusion what size your laser machine is, lay down the pieces on a "plane" with the same dimensions of your laser machine and hit a button and Fusion would give you the Gcode.

Im sure this is feasible and Im sure the fine people at Autodesk will make this process better.

[michael55SE4]

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@acrease wrote:

Currently, the way to laser cut parts on Fusion 360 is by exporting sketches to a .dxf file, and then bringing them into another program to set up for laser cutting, and then finally, sending that to the laser cutters. Why do we need the extra step in another program? Laser cutters run on normal print drivers. So, it would be really nice if you could select a sketch, and just hit "print" or "laser cut", so that you could send it right to the laser cutter, instead of having that extra step in a different program.

Additionally, this could possibly allow you to easily do some 3D rastering based on the geometry of the file.

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Exactly.  I've been saying this for the past year and only get the response to go through some ridiculous overcomplicated workflow obviously not designed for laser work.