just getting started and having trouble generating toolpaths

[Anonymous]

Hello all,

My name is Jon and I'm new to fusion but have used sketchup for many years and have worked alongside a friend with a shopbot. I recently purchased a cncrouterparts.com 48x48 pro and am trying to cut a series of circles into a 13"x29" piece of 1/2"birch plywood with a 1/4"straight flat bottom bit plunging 1/4" down. This design serves no purpose other than to get started but now that I'm having trouble generating paths I'm all the more attached to understanding why. I have managed to eek out a few models while skimming tutorials and web info, and am now experimenting with the cam software but having trouble generating toolpaths for a slot cutting operation. I'm open to any feedback, thanks!

[LibertyMachine · Accepted solution]

Two things:

1) This is not a proper combination of part feature and toolpath selection. The simplest operation choice to get you somewhat close would be 3D Pocket Clearing, and tweak it from the defaults after you have established that it's doing close to what you want. With a lot of 3D toolpaths, it's often easiest to simply select a tool and click "OK" and see what it does (do note; this does not work well in large parts, as processing time can be a bear)

2) The distance between circles is only .125". You have selected a .250" tool. The software is advanced enough to know that it ain't gonna fit. Choose a tool sub-.125"

[hooksh420 · Accepted solution]

Like Seth said, the 3D tool paths are often best to select a tool, any boundaries you'd like to stick inside (or outside) of, and see what kind of tool path it comes up with. The alternative is to try a few different strategies, and see which one looks like it will work best for you. Will take some time to get an idea of what is going to be the best one to go with right out of the gate, but you will pick it up quickly. Hope this file gives you a few ideas of how you can start to attack some of these tool path strategies. Be sure to check out the machining time estimate under Simulation as well. Some tool paths are overly elaborate, and therefore will take significantly longer without knowing what settings and parameters to use.

[Mike.Grau · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous,

Thank you for sharing your design with us.

I have changed a couple things in your design and constrained the sketch´s.

Please, feel free to check out the example with the link here: http://a360.co/2vFdHJV

Yes, there are multiple ways to achieve the goal you´re looking for.

You may have to test a couple things to find out what works best in your case.

I hope this helps.

Thanks,

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone you guys totally got me turned around. I was also not zero the program correctly in mach 3 once I tried to run the program but have since sorted that out as well. This community is so rad thanks again to everybody that responded.