The future for the CAM

[erik]

Just read a post on the forum in the Design section where the author is concerned about the future of Fusion 360.

• https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-design-validate/fusion-360-development-slowing-down/td-p/7...

I as well am wondering where we Fusion is heading. The new costumizable shortcut feature is a nice addition to Fusion and is sheduled this year if I am informed correctly. But as the above post mentioned we are still missing a roadmap for 2018 where the progress for this year is sketched out.

Last year I asked for the implementation of the CAM API which was said to be on the roadmap, but I still havn't heard anything of it yet. I am starting to doubt it will be implemented in next couple of years which would hinder the evolution of Fusion 360 in my opinion.

If anyone has any information regarding roadmaps and what's going on with Fusion at the moment please share it.

- Erik

[balsmen]

Hi @erik,

Thanks for the interest in Fusion. If you look back at the post you linked to from the Design forum, you'll notice that Keqing responded with details on what's been going on lately, as well as noting that a roadmap blog post is coming soon.

As for CAM, we also haven't slowed development and have a lot of good stuff coming out in the next Fusion release.

Regarding your specific concern about a CAM API in Fusion - we have implemented some CAM API functions in Fusion: https://help.autodesk.com/view/fusion360/ENU/?guid=GUID-7F3F9D48-ED88-451A-907C-82EAE67DEA93

We are also continually adding more and more API functionality both in CAM and elsewhere to the product, and will continue to do so. If you have suggestions on specific things you would like to see from the API, the Fusion IdeaStation would be the best place to record those to get some community support behind it. We use that to make sure what we work on will help many people.

I'll see what I can do about getting a more up to date Fusion 360 CAM roadmap, but if you have any specific questions, feel free to post here and we can try to answer as well.

Hope this helps,

Noah

[erik]

Hi Noah

Thank you so much for your long and thorough answer to my questions and concerns.

I read Keqing's post and and must say i looks good. I am looking forward to the reveal of the roadmap for 2018.

I am happy to hear you guys on CAM haven't slowed down and you are adding more functionality to the API. Someone else on the forum directed me to the documents of the CAM API and the functions already implemented are nice.Last year I added an idea to the IdeaStation about implementing 'Create stock setup' in the API.

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-ideastation-request-a/create-stock-setup-through-api/idi-p...

Only 11 people voted on the idea so I don't expect it to be implemented in the near future. This just fustrates me because I am working on a larger project where we are making enhancements to Fusion to meet our client's needs. This went very well in the Model environment, but when we came to the CAM environment we hit a major roadblock. We wanted to do some automation of setting up stocks and creating tool paths (Water cutting in this project) but that is just not possible in Fusion at the moment.

So my question would be: Are you planning on implemented basic CAM functionality in the API or is going to be in a couple of years or so?

Best Regards

Erik

[balsmen]

Hey @erik,

Thanks for the input. You should get a broader idea of what's to come in Fusion (including Fusion CAM) in Keqing's blog post about the 2018 roadmap when that is ready.

As far as the API functionality in CAM, I'll say that a big focus for us right now is automating manufacturing workflows to bridge the gap between the design space and actually manufacturing a part. Naturally, this includes broadening our API capabilities, so we'll be expanding that out more and more. I can't give any specifics on what those items are at the moment.

I am interested though in what workflows you're trying to solve through the API. I know you mentioned being able to create Stock setups through the API, but I'd really love to get an idea of the overall workflows you're hoping to achieve. In understanding that, we also can think about how it may be applicable to a larger customer base, as well as focus our solutions on truly solving the problems you are having.

Hope this helps and looking forward to your feedback.

Cheers,

Noah

[erik]

Hi @balsmen

Thanks for the reply, it does help! 🙂

What you are saying sounds amazing, and I am really looking forward to seeing the roadmap and an even more specific direction the Fusion CAM is heading.

Well, the workflow is for a 2D waterjet cutter. In each project there is a lot of sheets where separate parts are put onto. When all the parts have been placed the user are then to go into the CAM environment and create a setup for the first sheet with the given attributes. This we have achieved though through the use of "document templates" where the first setup is already created along with a cutting operation. This way the user doesn't have to worry about the attributes and settings of the operations. The user can now duplicate the setup to fit each of the sheets. This is when we get to the tedious and time consuming task: The user has to pick each individual part on the sheet.

This could be solved multiple ways. One way is to implement window/crossing selection in CAM (See idea post). With this feature the user only have to make one selection per sheet. This is a known feature from other CAM programs.

The second solution is to be able to use just the Cutting feature through the API. (Like one can use the extrude feature in the Model environment). Using a custom addin the user would be able to select the parts using window select. The addins should then be able to use the selection as input in the Cutting feature. 

The final solution is to be able to access all objects and use the Cutting feature through the API. Being able to do so the user only has to click a button and the custom addin will calculate which parts are inside each sheet and then apply the cutting feature on those. This solution is the ultimate solution and would be a huge timesaver though also requiring some solid computation power.

I hope the above made sense, otherwise feel free to ask for an elaboration.

I made a Screencast to try and show the workflow, but had some trouble inserting it into the post so here is a link: https://knowledge.autodesk.com/community/screencast/446dc5da-72ec-467f-bfe8-c97820b4b35d

Regards,

Erik

[balsmen · Accepted solution]

Hey @erik,

Thanks for all of the information - that will definitely be a useful data point in helping us make sure we build out truly useful customer workflows. Another note, after seeing your workflow, is that we do plan to give some love to the template mechanism in the not far off future, which will hopefully address some of your current concerns. We want to make those templates more robust for sure.

Another thing I saw - in your Cutting parts, it looks like you are selecting each individual area that you want to cut, but I think the operation has some valuable filters that may help you speed up the selection process. You'll still have to make a selection, but hopefully just one (the part face), instead of each shape to cut. See my screencast for how that works.

That being said, I can definitely see how having access to adjust the setup selections and operation selections via the API would be quite useful, and I'll make sure we don't lose sight of this workflow as we flesh out the future workflows and improvements within the products.

Thanks!

Noah

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[erik]

Hi @balsmen

Thanks for you interest towards my concerns and I am happy to hear that you will keep it in mind in the future of CAM development.

I am very much looking forward to see the future improvements and updates to Fusion 360.

Best Regards

Erik

[cjtoombs]

Any update on how this is going or when we can expect more CAM API functionality?