co2 car for students. question about fixture and importing student models

[chriscook77]

Hi,

Using the autodesk academy materials here https://academy.autodesk.com/curriculum/fusion-360-integrated-cadcam-how-create-co2-car

I can model the car no problem,  I can create toolpaths no problem( I've made solid body, semi hollow body guitars, necks and fretboards on fusion).

I cannot for the life of me figure out how the instructor left a portion of the car attached to the block after designing the car so that the car stays attached to jig while machining.

I am also puzzled how to the fusion to add a design to the jig lined up properly.

[jodom4 · Accepted solution]

Hey

If I'm understanding your dilemma correctly, the feature you're looking for is Tabs. These are automatically generated features you can place and set dimensions for manually that keep a part connected to the stock it's being cut from that are later manually cut. 

As far as your second question, I'd recommend going to the Manufacturing forum and asking there. There are a lot of different ways to index your stock in relation to the table and work holding to ensure proper cuts with multiple setups. 

Good luck!

[rsteiner714]

I don't think you addressed his concern as I am in the same boat. The course walks the student into making a CO2 car in fusion in Chapter 1. It does a great job there. The next chapter is about setting up the milling. To do so, the student needs to put the Co2 car they made into the fixture. First, the instructor doesn't show how to do this.  Second, the fusion file for the fixture contains the instructor's car they created in the course already in the fixture. Maybe there is a way to remove it and place the student models in it but it is not explained. So you get walked through how to make your own car, but then only shown how to mil the teacher's car.

The posters 2nd issue is how to set up his fixture for his particular mill. That question is moot unless question on is solved. Unless you want to just make the instructors car and not a students.

https://academy.autodesk.com/curriculum/fusion-360-integrated-cadcam-how-create-co2-car#asset-sectio...

[rsteiner714]

Did you try the alternative milling section that cuts the side of the cars and doesn't use the fixture file ?

[chriscook77]

Hi,

Yup I have fiddled with both.  I have managed to remove the instructors car (just hide it) and then added my own in.  I lined it up as best I could with the fixture, though there must be a way to align them perfectly.

I have yet to cut a car using the fixture because I had to upgrade the cnc to get enough z travel but that is done and I may get to cut tomorrow.

The idea of using tabs works when there is a 2d contour cut, but the cars do not tend to have that as an option as the bottom edges are filleted.  (have fillets?). I use them when cutting guitars but can't see a good way here.

[rsteiner714]

Did you create the fixture or do already have one of the Richard Chong ones already made from years ago ? It was very popular and sold from the techno (DaVinci) company. I think the reinvented techno company still sells them. The curriculum part was in Mastercam only though. As far as the fixture in the fusion part itself, I am not sure why it would need to be there to mill it. I have made these in Mastercam using a DaVinci mill many times. Never in Fusion yet. I will start the attempts as soon as I clear my higher priority stuff. I will update you along the way. Were you able to attempt it last week ?