Help flattening a model for CNC machining

[franck102]

Hi all,

I am completely new to Fusion and to CAD in general. I managed to create a small model thanks to the many great tutorials & posts in those forums, but I can't figure out a good workflow to move on to preparing the parts for CNC printing.

Following advice found in a video I created a "CNC stock" component with a grounded plane to represent my stock, then I started copying and pasting each component from the model to the CNC component. I used planar joints thinking I'd be able to move the parts around to arrange them for printing.

Since I (intentionally) used Paste, not Paste new, moving anything in the CNC component also moves the original part in the model, so that's a no go.

I understand editing the joint between the part and its CNC stock parent is better, the issue I am running into is that if I go edit the first joint created none of the future parts are visible since they didn't exist when the joint was created... not too useful to arrange things.

Any good tip to nicely arrange things on the stock, ideally spacing them evenly in the process?

The model is attached... thanks!

Franck

[jhackney1972]

If you have a Subscription License to Fusion, then I would use the Arrange command.  Model is attached.  You have a "very" colorful timeline!

[franck102]

J'ai la version gratuite, pas d'option Arrange.

Mais je cherche surtout à comprendre les interactions timeline / move / joints, je peux organiser à la main sauf que je ne trouve pas la bonne séquence pour garder le lien avec les pièces d'origine.

En particulier il n'y a pas moyen d'éditer une "feature" ancienne en gardant l'affichage des dernières modifs (ou une sorte d'outline?)?

La timeline court depuis la première fois que j'ai ouvert l'appli, forcément c'est pas très académique 🙂 Je vais tout refaire quand je saurai un peu mieux ce que je fais 🙂 

Franck

[Warmingup1953 · Accepted solution]

Correct. Arrange is not available for Hobbyists but there is a very good modestly priced add-in that you may want to consider:

https://youtu.be/BmuxxvIU2XA?si=bxaE6KoTSPHplQIv

[franck102]

MapBoards looks perfect, I'll give it a try - thanks!

[laughingcreek]

before the arrange feature was available, I would derive the parts into a separate model and lay the parts out flat with a planer joint to avoid the troubles your describing with the timeline.  also keeps the originating model file cleaner.  

[franck102]

So MapBoards works great, however I am getting stuck at the CAM stage. I watched a few videos but I think I am not getting the "model" selection right in the setup step.

MapBoards generates a map component, with a Board subcomponent that holds the model components *and*  a "board" body.

I tried selecting the map or the Board component in the setup step but when I do this I have the feeling that the "silhouette" bounding box is taking the board body into account to calculate the silhouette:

I tried selecting each of my 8 components inside the Board component, but when doing that only the first part gets machined... any idea where I am going wrong? I have attached the model...

Thanks!

Franck

[Edit]: Here is my attempt at selecting each of my 8 bodies: