simulate machining into fixtures

[safiredesignengineers]

Hi Group

I would like to simulate the cutter where it actually machines into soft fixtures as  a separate bit of stock from the stock model, is this possible?

I.e if i add them as the stock model it actually adds to the machining area and i don't want this but i do want to see where the cutter cuts into the clamps / jigs so i can make sure there is enough meat to still hold the part.

A

[engineguy]

@safiredesignengineers 

I don`t trhink it is currently possible to have multiple pieces of Stock that are not joined together but you can get a reasonable view if using Fixtures IMHO.

Here is a similar project where 4 Vises were required to do 4 operations to create a part, each WCS has a solid model of the previous WCS operations as a Solid Stock, to get it to simulate the models were joind together by a small "bar".

One of the Vise jaws was also linked in to show the cut into the Jaw as well as the collision and it does show what is going on quite well, I dropped the height of a Contour in the first Setup to show the cutting of the Jaw as an example 🙂

If was done as an exercise by two young female trainees I had at the shop from the local College, they were 18 and 19 years old with about 3 months experience of Fusion 360, done during much giggling and digs at the "old guy" trying to be serious, to be fair, they were fast, efficient learners, they are definitely the future when all us "Dinasours" are gone 🙂 🙂 🙂

Hopefully this is something that the Developers can produce as it is pretty handy, not sure if it can be done using the new Machine Simulation as I haven`t delved into that yet 🙂

Screencast link

https://autode.sk/2Udu15D

[safiredesignengineers]

Hi engine guy
Thanks I’ll take a look. What’s the new machine simulation?

[engineguy]

@safiredesignengineers 

You get to have a full machine simulated, not just the Models and Stock, as I said, I haven`t had time to delve into it yet but here is what you can have in Fusion now, the HURCO is just an example, there are plenty more Machines to try out 🙂 🙂 🙂

[engineguy]

@safiredesignengineers 

Just tried a small test run, screencast here :-

https://autode.sk/3knXGDK

[safiredesignengineers]

Cool, I wonder if it can simulate my mill turn lathe 🤔

[daniel_lyall]

Do you want to see basically what is in the pick where you can see if it is going to hit anything else other than the model?

[safiredesignengineers]

Hi Daniel

Thankyou for your reply, no i don’t want to just see the cutting lines / movements I want to see the actual clamps / fixtures being machined away where the cutter goes into them
A

[seth.madore · Accepted solution]

Include them in the model selection of your Setup, that should do the trick:

 

[safiredesignengineers]

Hi Seth
thankyou for your reply, unless I am missing something that doesn't work. for it to show the clamp being machined away it would need to be part of the stock but if you include them as stock it then messes with the tool paths..

[seth.madore]

That's the closest solution we have to offer you, sorry. Anything beyond that is not quite feasible

[engineguy · Accepted solution]

@safiredesignengineers 

Seth @seth.madore is correct, you can use the Stock Solid facility to have the cutter cutting into a Fixture/Vise Jaw/Clamp so that it can be seen without have any of the toolpaths messed up.

OK, from the first image to the second image

To the second image which is what I am thinking that you want and what Seth is saying you will get

So in this image you can clearly see how/where the tool has cut the Vise Jaw.

How I did this is in the Screencast here :- https://autode.sk/3kr62e6

Are we somewhere near now ??? 🙂 🙂 🙂

I can upload the file if you need it but I reckon you are better off trying the procedure on one of your own files for now 🙂

[safiredesignengineers]

thankyou engine guy, that really helped 🙂

the issue with the tool paths was down to 2d adaptive and the pocket selections. on my part i had a line selected on the part as the pocket selection which worked great until i added the jigs as stock too, then the machining expanded to machine the jaws as well as total stock o/d size...
but i have now found the pocket constraint  to a profile which works so problem solved i can now machine into my jigs and fixtures 🙂  although only when i really need too....

thaks for your help.