Using F360 for CNC Woodworking

[baldcaldwell]

I am purchasing an Avid Pro CNC (48x96) machine for my shop.  This will be my first experience using a CNC machine. 

My question is...  Avid talks about using Fusion 360, VCarve & Mach 4.  I understand that Mach 4 runs the machine.  However, I am confused about F360 and VCarve.  I just started using F360 and have already designed a 10' x 20' pavilion that I intend to build for our new home.  (picture of F360 model attached).  So now that the model in F360 is completed, should I be taking it to VCarve, or the CAM portion of F360?  Do I even need VCarve?

For the pavilion, I will be cutting mortises, tenons and holes into tradition lumber on the CNC.  As well as shaping some components such as the rafter ends and gussets.  Most of the how to (YouTube) videos I see demonstrate how to take a single component into CAM.  In my case, I have over 100 components to individually cut.  Just wondering where I can find training for moving and managing that many components into CAM.

Thanks so much!

10' x 20' Pavilion

[g-andresen · Accepted solution]

Hi,

---

@baldcaldwell  schrieb:

  Do I even need VCarve?

---

For things like the carport, you are better off with Fusion.
However, if you want to do more frequent engraving (especially multi-layer) and custom patterns, V-Carve is easier to use.
Why not check out examples on Vectric's website or on YT.

günther

[ToddHarris7556 · Accepted solution]

One of the real strengths of F360 (IMHO) is that it combines a capable solid modeling environment with a strong CAM package. 

What this means in practical terms is that toolpathing is dynamically linked to your model. i.e. change your model, and the toolpath will update. (Within reason - if you create or delete features, then the CAM operations will obviously get confused and need a little direction)

If you've modeled this up in F360, and have a nice robust parametric model, then I'd strongly suggest CAM within Fusion. No exports.

VCarve is a great program, but there's no good reason to use it in this workflow. 

[baldcaldwell]

Unfortunately I did not model using parametrics. I haven't figured out how to do that yet...

Still also trying to understand how to take 100+ components into CAM. I'll keep Googling until I find the answer.

Thank you!

[jeff_strater · Accepted solution]

I am not a CAM expert, but I would recommend not trying to do setups/toolpaths for all 100+ components in one design.  I would use Derive Component to derive them, a few at a time, into separate designs, and do the CAM work there.  Otherwise, your main design file will become awfully large and hard to work with all those setups.

[ToddHarris7556 · Accepted solution]

Working with parameters will change your world - but no worries. You've gotten this far, and you will learn to appreciate parametric design down the road, I expect. 

Re: 'bringing 100 components into CAM'..... I highly doubt you need to, as most of the components are duplicates (instances) of a small number of components.

I'm guessing that each one of the rafters is the same. Likewise with the tall posts, the short posts, the braces, etc.

I would think that you pull one rafter in to Manufacturing Workspace (CAM) and create a Setup. Toolpath that. You might even have to run one setup for each end, if it exceeds the length of your machine.

Then you're going to fixture a rafter on the machine, and run that program. Take the rafter out of the fixture and repeat for the other 18 rafters. 

Theoretically, your rafters don't appear to have any drilling in the faces, so maybe you could gang all your parts on the table and run them in one go..... but that sounds like a bad idea for several reasons. 

Some of your parts will need more than one setup - the tall posts, for example, will need at least one program to drill the holes and cut mortises on one face (front), and then roll the post and run a separate program for the side features.

(Note that for timber framing, you'll want to consider your layout strategy.... mill rule vs square rule, etc.)   

Without looking at your model more closely, I'll bet you probably have ~10 parts to toolpath. Some may require multiple setups, and some won't. It feels like ~30 programs to me. 

[baldcaldwell]

Todd, this is so very helpful!  I cannot thank you enough for your thoughts and details on this project.  In my head, I imagined that the process would probably go something similar as you described.  This will really help me going into CAM and understanding my end game.