Is the Fusion Machining Extension worth the money for this part?

[boyd.sofield]

Or at all really I don't know because I have not used it. I want to make this part file attached. Its not a small part to hang out the front of my 4th axis which I have only had for a wee while. Long time operator novice 4th axis dude.

Because this part sticks out so far from the vice my operations are very mild, small passes. And my aim was to machine the most extended areas, leaving the bulk closest to the vice for rigidity machined last. The ops I have on this part are still in need of fine tuning. Lots to do.

But the crux of my post is to see if the manufacturing extension is going to make a better job of this part? All I was able to see in the extension at first look was a deburring op that looks cool if it works well? Otherwise would anyone have any input to my part, and what they would see as worthy of the extension to make this better. 

And lets face it, its NZ$2k for the extension. Thats a lot if I just debur my part nicely. Am I missing something? Tell you what, I get one good reason, I will try it out. 

[seth.madore]

It depends. How many of these do you have to make?

The one thing that sells me on the Extension is the Toolpath Trimming. You've got some Parallel toolpaths that are machining more than they ideally should, I would want to trim those back and tidy them up only to the bare minimum.

If you have just a couple parts to make and don't mind the inefficiency, then no, the Extension is not at all required for this part to be created.

[seth.madore]

Sure, Deburr and Geodesic are also quite valuable in knocking out some superb toolpaths, it just depends on how many of these you have to make..

[TimMartin.]

For this part you wouldn't gain anything. 

[DarthBane55]

For parallel, I usually make a surface the exact size I want to machine/overlap.  So trimming is not needed.  This forces making a surface and that may be a bit slower than trimming though, but on the plus side, if you change something, you don't have to trim again after regen.

[boyd.sofield]

I was never the child who could leave a present unwrapped.  And I feel like I am missing out now that I have this awesome 4th Axis that is the bomb. This particular part is a very small run of three. My scope of business is normally only small runs I make medical equipment. Not the stuff the surgeon screws onto bones, but the outside equipment that might hold a hand in place whilst being worked on. Or custom brackets to hold cameras or surgical lights etc.

But, they often will be a 3-4 flip op if I use a vice. The 4th Axis is to save time and cost. I do have the trial option I can try, and have been itching to try it. Perhaps I will be the little boy who waits....

Thanks for the words guys. I might be qualified, but not in machining and I have a respect for other trades. It has always been installed in me, a non trained person might get the same result. But, if something goes wrong, its the trained technician who will still get the job out on time where people like me will not.

That parallel toolpath is awesome? But also it takes me time to get it right, stop it from dropping down the sides. I don't do a lot of them. I don't use the Fusion CAD section much and always forget how to extend a surface for a parallel op to follow.

Mr DarthBane. If you have a minute would you mind expanding on what you mean? I think I am following you. A bit hard its winter in New Zealand, my brain slows down in the cold.