Having trouble converting a body to a sketch for laser cutting

[Anonymous]

Hello!

I am working on a project and I am having some trouble converting my bodies to sketch objects that I can manipulate.

I'm not at the right computer right now so I can't send a screenshot, but I've attached something that is similar.  at this point I have all of the flats in 3D and i am attempting to get just a basic outline of all of them so I can laser cut it, I've tried using the "include 3D bodies" tool and it does create an outline, but I can't select the sketch to move it (the lines are purple if that helps.) I think it is possible to do this sort of thing with slicer, but I am working on a school computer and can't download any additional programs. I'll try to update this post later today with screenshots and maybe a link, but any help would be appreciated. 

Thanks so much!

-Kiki 

[TrippyLighting · Accepted solution]

Your workflow needs improvement.

If you really are taking about bodies, not components then that already creates problem #1. Al those  individual  ply wood sheets should be individual components. That should be assembled for example using a rigid group joint.

Once you are done with the design and only maybe smaller adjustments are needed, you can create a new, empty component that will serve as a container for laying our all those individual components on a flat sheet and then projecting the outlines of this arranged bodies into a sketch that then can be exported to a Laser cutter. 

If you can share your design I can show you how to do that.

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much Peter!

here is the link to the project, with all the bodies changed to components. I'm not sure how to create that last component you talked about (to hold the other components) so your help is much appreciated

Thank you!

-Kiki

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[lichtzeichenanlage]

You might want to check the Nester add-in. Short description:

[paulvt12]

Having run Nester (which is great!) and moved the components into place on the stock component, what are the Fusion 360 commands to get the layout to a sketch that can be saved as a DXF? It is not obvious to me how to complete the workflow and I can't find the workflow described on this forum. Many thanks.

[TrippyLighting]

Sketch->Project and "save as DXF"

[paulvt12]

Hi Trippy, As I can't read a DXF file to know if the save has worked, I
need a little more detail please.

My guess through trial and error is the following workflow. It assumes that
Nester has finished and all the pieces are moved around the Stock Layout
Component into their desired positions.

Activate "Stock Layout" component
Sketch>Project/Include>Intersect
Select the face of "Stock Layout" to draw the sketch on
In the Intersect dialog box, change the Selection FIlter to bodies
Move the cursor around selecting each of the bodies to be laser cut
StopSketch
RightClick the sketch in the tree under "Stock Layout" and Save as DXF.

Is this workflow correct? WIthout access to a laser cutter at home, is
there a way to check the DXF file?

Many thanks again.

Paul

[paulvt12]

I feel like such a newbie. All solved. I found the Autodesk viewer and with a little more experimenting worked out what you meant to create the sketch for saving as a DXF. Very simple in the end.

Paul

[TrippyLighting]

Sorry for the lack of response, I had lost track of this thread.

This probably would deserve. little screencast at some point.

Im am glad you figured it out!