Beveling with Plasma Cutter

[t.adkins]

I have heard that there is a way to trick milling tool to think it is a plasma cutting tool.    Is that a possibility or is there a setting I'm missing to bevel with a plasma Cutting tool?  I am using both Fusion 360 and Inventor CAM.

Thank you

[bob.schultz · Accepted solution]

Hello @t.adkins, I am guessing that you are wanting to use a multi-axis tool path to cut the bevel.  As you know multi-axis tool paths are not supported with a plasma cutter.

You can use a milling cutter in this case, but you will need to make modifications to the post processor in order to support a milling cutter and then control when the plasma is turned on and off, since milling operations have no concept of a power setting and onPower is never called to change the power state.  The determination of when to turn the power on is usually made at the start of a MOVEMENT_CUTTING move and then turned off at the start of a MOVEMENT_LEAD_OUT move.

You can see an example of controlling the power (or in this case additive) in the Kuka Robotics post.  Refer to the onMovement and setAdditiveProcess--- functions.  We do not have a post processor that allows milling tools to be used as plasma/waterjet/laser cutters.

[t.adkins]

Thank you. I had a feeling the this would be the case.   I will take a look at the the stuff you suggested and hopefully I wont need to much help modifying the post processor.

[bob.schultz]

If you find you need some assistance, you can post your questions here along with the post you have started to modify and I can give you some help in making the modifications.