DXF output for laser

[Anonymous]

Hi.

Can somebody please give me a bit of advice regarding laser cutting?

I am trialing Fusion 360 for my new laser cutting business because i need the ability to create intricate 3d models which can then be sliced up and laser cut (to make 3d puzzles and toys).

I have downloaded the Slicer app and i can't seem to work out how to generate a dxf file after the slicing has been completed.

The Slicer app seems to only export items in a 3d file type such as STL and i need a flat (2d) file type such as DXF to be able to cut on my laser.

Question 1.

Can slicer export a 2d file type?

Question 2.

If not, is there another Autodesk app that can convert an STL file into a DXF.

Question 3.

Is there an Autodesk product that might be better suited to laser cutting than Fusion 360 and the Slicer app?

I am on a tight budget, so my limit is about £50 per month (which rules out Inventor and similar programs)

Thanks for reading.

Any advice will be gratefully received.

Chris.

[TrippyLighting]

You can "manually" slice things in Fusion 360 without the need for the slicer app.

If you can post a project/design we can discuss further how that can be achieved.

[innovatenate]

Video at the bottom of the blog post will help.

https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/blog/quick-tip-slicer-fusion-360/

Here's a screencast of the DXF output from slicer.

In the CAM environment, you can generate code to send to the laser directly. What machine are you using? You may want to search the post library to see if there is an off the shelf post processor that will work.

https://cam.autodesk.com/posts/

There's some video content on youtube that can help you get started in the CAM environment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YtD836Kvks

There's also an app on the Fusion 360 app store that may be worth checking out.

https://apps.autodesk.com/FUSION/en/Detail/Index?id=7634902334100976871&os=Win64&appLang=en

There's an app here that helps to convert mesh to a sketch.

https://apps.autodesk.com/FUSION/en/Detail/Index?id=5742637258089280352&appLang=en&os=Mac

There's a cool nesting script here.

https://github.com/tapnair/NESTER

If you're in the Model Environment in Fusion 360, you can right click on any sketch in the browser and select Save As DXF.

I think these things should help get you started. I hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for getting back to me so quickly.

I don't actually have anything in particular that i am working on to show you yet because i am just starting to learn 3d design.

The Slicer app seemed brilliant at setting up the layers because it can be tweaked at the push of a button to have more or less slices either vertically or horizontally.

It also gave me the option to resize an object or to change the slicing to a radial style.

I would like to use the app if possible because it will be quicker to make changes as i am refining a product. I like the fact that i can design a solid 3d shape and then manipulate it in loads of different ways without needing to redesign the original drawing every time.

The biggest problem is the exporting file type.

Are there any ways to convert an stl into a dxf or pdf

Thanks again.

Chris

[Anonymous]

I was looking at the screencast that you posted and my screen looks different.

If i click on one of the cut layout sheets it does not have the options that the screen you were showing has.

There is no file type box along the bottom of the screen.

I would show you the image but i have no idea how to do it.

[Anonymous]

Hello Again

I think i have worked out why i can not export a dxf in Slicer.

Depending on which slicing method i use the save option seems to go off the bottom of my screen.

If i choose stacked slices, i can save as a dxf because the option is visible on the left, at the very bottom of the screen.

If i choose interlocking slices, i can not see anything below the option to modify the form.

Can you please help me to find out how i can fix this?

Thank you

[innovatenate]

It seems to work for me.

 Maybe resizing the window would help? I note if the window is small, I can scroll down on the left pane using my mouse wheel.

Could you record an Autodesk Screencast of what you're seeing?

[Anonymous]

Sorry to keep going about the same thing but the dxf option disappears when I try to select interlocking slices.

We have double checked the screen resolution on the laptop and and all of the settings seem to be correct.

All help is gratefully received and any time you have to assist.

Chris