Custom Setup/Operation Variables

[Anonymous]

Since a couple of weeks I'm trying to seriously getting into Fusion 360 in order to replace the CAM I've been using so far. What I'm missing the most within Fusion 360 is the possibility to extend operations with custom variables that can be interpreted and used from within the post processor.

In the CAM I've been using so far I can add custom input fields under a dedicated tab in order to collect additional information which can be interpreted by my machine's controller but which are unknown to the CAM. I'm also able to define a default value for them on the level of the whole job that is being used as long as I do not overwrite the value(s) from within a dedicated operation.

Here's an example: The controller at my machine which is an Eding-CNC one knows a parameter which is being called LookAheadFeed. What this does is it instructs the controller about the maximum angle between two lines until which the machine can be operated without slowing down the feed speed in order to transition between the two lines. Depending on the type of cut/toolpath you're defining it sometimes makes sence to set this up to e.g. 30 degrees whereas most of the times - depending on the machine itself - it is better to keep it at e.g. 4 or 6 or 8 or whatever degrees. Being able to put an additional input field into a "custom variables" tab and read and use the value from within the post processor in order to get the settings added to the g-code posted accordingly helps extremely.

I know that it would be possible to achieve this using the Manual NC functionality but this is somehow very cumbersome. Furthermore you have to remember the G-Code instructions every time instead of just implementing it once in the post processor.

So, it would be cool to:

• Add a "Custom Variables" tab to the top level Setup element for default values
• Make it possible to have the Setup Custom Variables pre populated with default settings from e.g. the post processor
• Add a "Custom Variables" tab to all the different types of operations to override the defaults
• Allow to place different input controles to this tab(s) like Labels, Input Fields, DropDowns and make the type aware, e.g. Strings, Integers, Doubles, ...
• Make these custom variables accessible from within the post processor

That would absolutely make my day... 😉

Greez,

Dirk

[al.whatmough]

You can Add a "Manual NC" opperation that has your custom varriable before of after the opperation.

You can even use Pass through.

Also, keep in mind, many instance of this can be done programitcally. 

For example, we can adjust the machine tollerance based on the opperation tollerance and stock to leave.

If this doesn't fit what you are after feel free to say so and I will re-open this Idea.