sketch split and trim

[donaldo3]

Hello all,

I hope to find a quick solution to this as it takes me too much time. I want to laser cut a huge amount of different small parts out of MDF 3 mm. 

If there is no small bridge between the MDF sheet and the part after being cut, let's say 1 mm, then the part falls out of the sheet within the machine.

Therefore I would like to have a feature which brakes any line open by applying two points and trim off the line in between by one click.

Is there a way to simplify this process?

Thank you in advance - Don

Besides I dream of a direct connection to control the Chinese laser cutter with Fusion 360 😉

[donaldo3]

Hello all,

I hope to find a quick solution to this as it takes me too much time. I want to laser cut a huge amount of different small parts out of MDF 3 mm. 

If there is no small bridge between the MDF sheet and the part after being cut, let's say 1 mm, then the part falls out of the sheet within the machine.

Therefore I would like to have a feature which brakes any line open by applying two points and trim off the line in between by one click.

Is there a way to simplify this process?

Thank you in advance - Don

Besides I dream of a direct connection to control the Chinese laser cutter with Fusion 360 😉

[TMC.Engineering]

look at adding tabs, in the CAM workspace.  you will need to have the waterjet/laser/ plasma preview turned on.

then use the AutoCAD dxf post to export the vectors.

I have never used the tabs on a laser part but the option is there.

[TMC.Engineering]

So I tried using the tabs and unfortunately there is a bug so it will not work.

[paul.clauss]

Hi @donaldo3

Welcome to the Fusion 360 online community! Thanks for posting. It looks like you would like to have a method with which to leave tabs on a laser cut part in Fusion 360. 

Firstly, if you are exporting your DXF files from Fusion 360 sketches, the easiest way to create these tabs may be to use the trim tool while sketching to break the continuity of the contour in the sketch. If you would like to see a sketch tool to do this in one click, I would suggest posting to the Fusion 360 Ideastation, where users can suggest and vote on future product enhancements

I agree with @TMC.Engineering in that exporting the vectors using the AutoCAD DXF post from our post library will be the best way to post process this operation, until more post processors specific to waterjet/ laser/ plasma cutting machines are created. To request a post processor you can try the Post Processor Forum, make a formal request on the HSM Ideastation, or contact a reseller who offers post customization. 

Timm is also correct in mentioning there is currently a bug (CAM-5730) preventing tabs from being used with waterjet toolpaths in Fusion 360. One workaround for this is model a tab into your Fusion 360 design and then select an open contour for machining. You could then export with the AutoCAD DXF post processor.  I have illustrated this in the screencast below:

Hopefully this helps answer your question! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns - I'm happy to help.

Kind Regards,

[davebYYPCU]

I am thinking you may have to post the question, in the API and scripts section of the Forum, 

in in my previous Cad program I did your style breaks with a macro, but I have no need for your breaks with my work so that is all in the distant past.

I haven't looked if a similar script exists, but is the way to go in my opinion. 

I reviewed Paul's video, and could not see that process being a solution to 4 breaks per part, with many parts in one file, that Lasers can do.

In my work for Laser cutting with Fusion, is to use sketches saved as dxf and run that in the machine, without Fusion CAM.

So I am with you, we need a script writer - 

select curve, 

the script then provides a 1 mm gap in that curve, 

my macro selected midpoint, draw 1mm dia circle, trim line inside circle, delete circle, next.

might help,

[paul.clauss]

Hi @donaldo3

@davebYYPCU is correct - you could write a script to provide a 1mm gap inside a selected curve. For help with that please post in the API and Scripts Thread.

If you'd like to use Fusion 360s CAM workspace, remember that you can create the tab at whatever size you want (1mm) and then pattern the machining toolpath to include multiple instances of the same cutting path. In this way you could cut many of the same part out of a large sheet of stock material, and then use the AutoCAD DXF post processor to write the pattern to the machine.

Please let me me if you have any other questions - I'm happy to help!

[TMC.Engineering]

@donaldo3

Another idea would be to put some kind of basket below the cutting table to catch the parts when they fall.  something like screen door material? 

[donaldo3]

Dear all

Thank  you very much for advising. I was very ill and could not respond to your messages in time - thank you