Boring bars messed up after last update

[peterson1979]

  I was setting up a new program after the latest update when I realized all my boring bars are messed up. They now look like a piece of round bar with a insert placed all wierd on top of it. 

  I had my boring bars all dialed in. Now what?

Jason

[paul.clauss]

Hi @peterson1979

Thanks for posting! Boring bars did undergo some changes in the most recent update to Fusion 360 - these changes are described at this link. The change was made because, while most boring bars are round as opposed to rectangular as they were shown.

I've reached out to the team to see what the expected behavior for existing boring bars should have been through this change - we appreciate you reaching out. I would assume that the bars will now be round but all insert positioning dimensions should be identical to before the update - do you happen to have any before and after screenshots you can share to illustrate the changes you've seen?

[jas.okon]

I'm confirming bug in boring bar behaviour.

It all looks ok in tool library but when you use it in cam it show with insert with different angle, like it was mirrored or something. Check those pictures:

As you can se boring bar in library is pointing outside the shank and in fusion is pointing inisde the shank of boring bar. 

IIt looks like this is simulation only problem as toolpaths looks ok to me, but it looks horrible.

[HughesTooling]

This is what I'm seeing. From what I remember in the past the cut width was from the centre of the boring bar to the tip tangent. So for the tool 13 plus half the bar diameter, now I have to enter 23mm for the cut width to get the same as before. Editing the tools is not an option as editing the library is only a few minutes but editing all the files I've created would be hours or days.

Mark

[HughesTooling]

Found this from a long time ago it shows a 20mm diameter boring bar, 12mm cutting width so 22mm overall.

Mark

[peterson1979]

  Sorry but I have no screenshots. I did see the change in the what's new section but I missed it the first time. When I change the lead angle under the holder tab it does nothing to my boring bar end, it just rotates the insert.

  I'm trying to get rid of the 90 degree end and make it look like a boring bar. 

  I'll try to make it work but this is what a boring bar should look like. 

  Thanks for the assist.

[paul.clauss]

Hi @HughesTooling, @peterson1979, @jas.okon

Thanks for the input. I spoke with the development team about this and they do have a task (internal reference CAM-12345) to address the display issues with the round bars. This fix will be released as soon as possible and I am happy to provide updates here.

Are you using rectangular boring bars at the machine? Or were these created as a workaround because you previously could not create round bars? 

[peterson1979]

  I use round boring bars exactly like the one in my previous post. Most boring bars are relieved on the backside and bottom for more clearance. Obviously so the bar doesn't rub on the bottom inside the bore. Every indexable bar I can think of has this feature, so it would be nice to incorporate this into fusion for better simulation.

  Jason

[paul.clauss]

Thanks for the response @peterson1979. This is good feedback and I will pass it along to the team. I wasn't able to get a tool like your screenshot working, but its hard to say how much of this is not supported by the new feature and how much is the known visual error at this point.

We appreciate your input - please feel free to reach out with any suggestions on making boring bars better in Fusion.

[peterson1979 · Accepted solution]

  I think it would be nice if a cad model could be uploaded into fusion for new tools. Some manufacturers like sandvik for instance have 3D models that can be downloaded. 

  I'm not trying to pick Fusion apart though. I still love Fusion 360 so keep up the good work.

  Jason

[paul.clauss]

Hi @peterson1979

Agreed, the ability to download 3D models from a manufacturer would be the ideal solution. I'm not sure about future plans for this, but have asked the team and will circle back with any information I can share.

Thank you for your thoughts on how to improve Fusion and I'm glad to hear you're enjoying the software.

[jas.okon]

I agree with Jason.

All of mine boring bars are round and they usually have chamfers  for more clerance just as Jason said.

It would be very helpfull to add it into tool library to improve simulations.  

[peterson1979]

  Thanks for all your help @paul.clauss.

  Jason

[HughesTooling]

Just an update. Although the bars look wrong in the library they are still displayed and work correctly when selected in an op so old designs still work. It will be a bit difficult setting new tools up at the moment but at least there's no need to edit existing ones.

Mark

[peterson1979]

  Thanks @HughesTooling, 

  I had already messed with my favorite boring bar before simulating a toolpath. I used a different boring bar I left original and it looks decent in simulation.

  Jason

[paul.clauss]

Hi All,

Thanks for all of the input! The team has also created a task to improve the relief angles for the round boring bars - I appreciate you bringing this up.

For more information - were any of you actually using square boring bars? It seems there may be a request to give the option to create them as well as rounds and I'd like to gauge interest.

[peterson1979]

  I can only speak for myself and how I do things. That being said I became a CNC machinist and programmer after quite a few years of manual machining. The only time I use square boring bars is on the large manual lathes with a square or round bar that holds HSS or brazed carbide tool bits. Not really desirable for every day CNC lathe work. I have a bar around somewhere that is rectangular shaped and holds indexable inserts. Never use it.

  My .002 cents

  Jason

[Anonymous]

I am having the same issue.  Its cutting on the wrong side of the insert and the tool model does not translate the same as it looks in the tool library.   I see that this is "resolved" but its been a nagging issue for me from the beginning since I have a gang tool lathe running a Fanuc control. I always have to mirror the tool path for parting and some of my LH tools. This already makes it a stressful situation to modify the setup (since the mirrored tools paths do not show as tool path lines in the presim display.)  I guess at least they are round now?

[paul.clauss]

Hi @Anonymous 

Thanks for reaching out! I believe the team rolled back some of the problems caused by the previous updates and round tools will appear like this until it is fixed in a future hotfix update. I've reached out to the team to see if there are any updates they can provide on this problem behavior.

EDIT: Boring bars will return to their previous behavior (from before the January update) in the next hotfix so these problems can be addressed before round bars are implemented.

[peterson1979]

  I'm sure you've already thought of this but I would make sure everything is still correct under the setup tab. 

  Jason