Using Fusion 360 as a cam package for nested layered DXFs - Advice before purchasing

[Anonymous]

Hello,

Looking for some advice to see if Fusion 360 can do what we want it to do before purchasing, we are a bespoke cabinetry shop and are looking at getting a new CAM package as an upgrade from Vectric V-Carve.

We design nearly all of our projects in Polyboard (a specific cabinetry CAD package) , export and nest them in Optinest. From here we export each sheet of nested parts as a layered DXF. Each of the layers needs a separate operation doing to them (profile cuts, pockets, drills etc) and is named accordingly. We currently design other projects in Solidworks.

Almost all (I can think of 2 projects in 4 years that arnt) of our projects use 2.5 axis cutting on sheet wood materials, usually 8x4 sheet size. Although our machine is capable of cutting 10x5 sheets.

A typical sheet will look something like the image below...

Would it be possible to import these nested DXFs into fusion 360 and just use the CAM features? We want to find a way to semi automate the process as a typical project may use 15-30 sheets so want the process to be as smooth as possible.

Can anyone advise? Happy to send over a sample nested DXF file if it will help.

[daniel_lyall]

You can import .dxf's with different layers into fusion, fusion converts them into sketches then you use them the same as you do in V carve turn sketch on do the toolpath turn it off do the next toolpath so on you just can not color them (coloring each sketch has been asked for many times), you just have to do the setup first and define the stock size then in the toolpath you set the bottom depth for each cut. 

[Anonymous]

Thanks. Is there anyway to semi automate the process? Can fusion 360 look
at the layer names then apply a cirtain operation to them for example?

[MattWynn]

@Anonymous can polyboard export any other formats besides dxf?

Our goal with Fusion, with design, nesting, and cam integrated in one solution, is to give you a solution that does not need to use dxf to communicate with vendors or machine tools!

[daniel_lyall]

q

[MattWynn]

The sketch team tells me we can currently export multilayer dxf and import one.  To save one layer per sketch user will need to File Menu-> Export... and select dxf output.  Layer names are model name, space, version, underscore, sketch name.  I don't have much experience with this so you will have to try it out.

On dxf import you can choose to import different layers to different sketches, or all layers to one sketch.  I've used this a bit and it will name the different sketches according to the layer name.

[friesendrywall]

Since you have solidworks, you could use HSMworks with a subscription to fusion.

I don't think the process is going to be real easy though, fusion doesn't deal with dxf as well as vcarve in my opinion.  The layer thing is different, you would have to use different sketches instead.

[daniel_lyall]

@Anonymous You have this addon you can use inside fusion for free  https://apps.autodesk.com/FUSION/en/Detail/Index?id=6875959433916861257&appLang=en&os=Win64

This is another nesting option https://apps.autodesk.com/FUSION/en/Detail/Index?id=3941129300784530623&appLang=en&os=Win64

There is no auto-gen toolpath in fusion selecting the sketch in the tree for a toolpath does not always work on the correct side of the sketch and I do not know how to get it on the correct side for the toolpath.

[Anonymous]

Thanks all for your information.

It doesnt sound like Fusion is the right product for what we need to fit
into our workflow. We already have a nesting solution that we are happy
with and works very well with Polyboard ( they are the same developer).

It is the semi-automation of toolpath creation from a nested layered DXF we
are looking for. We looked and Alphacam and were initially impressed but
know two companies who have used it for years and are now switching to
others. One of them being fusion although they have a 5 Axis machine and
would be importing solid models into fusion.

Thanks again