Is there a way to make sure the exported .nc files are of a 2D format and not 3D format?

[johanna_berg12]

WinPC-NC says I have made a 3D CAM file, however the file I made in Fusion 360 was done using only 2D toolpaths. Is there a way to guarantee that the files exported are 2D files instead of 3D?

[seth.madore]

Can you share an example of this NC code here?

[johanna_berg12]

Here is the complete NC code. 

[seth.madore]

What sort of a machine is this? It most certainly contains motion that uses 3 axis and your Z direction is an interesting one. Is Z positive in the up or down direction?

 

[johanna_berg12]

The machine is a Stepcraft M700 CNC router. I have previously used Mastercam which worked, but want to change to using Fusion for my CNC projects. 

My Z axis sure looks intresting in the picture, it seems to be "upside down" so the green triangle/ yellow arrow should be pointing down. Could this be the cause of the problem? If so, how do I go about fixing it? 

[seth.madore]

Do you have any digital readout of your machine coordinates, or is it just a minimal box with start/stop/jog buttons? If you do have a readout, what do they show when you jog the axis?

Can you share your Fusion file that produced this code? File > Export > Save to local folder, return to thread and attach the .f3d file in your reply.

[johanna_berg12]

Yes, I think I have readouts, the Z-axis positive is down and negative is up.

Unfourtnently I can't upload the file since it's confidential, but I took some screenshots of what I potentially think could be the cause of the problem since I don't really know if I need to choose my tool orientation or not and what to put there if I need to. 

The three objects on the top are just there to make the toolpath and not a part of the real object. 

[seth.madore]

If your machine is just a 3 axis machine, don't ever rely on Model Orientation in your Setup to be correct. I'd suggest switching to "Select Z and X axis" to orient your model. Select a surface that is normal to your Z axis and then a line that runs along the X axis of the part.

You could also share the file with me privately, as we treat our customers data with the utmost discretion. Email to: seth DOT madore AT autodesk DOT com

Please link to this thread so I understand the context.

Could you share an NC program that you generated thru MasterCAM so I can compare the outputs between what Fusion is giving you and what has worked in the past?

WHICH WinPC-CNC post processor are you using, can you provide a screenshot?

[johanna_berg12]

Thanks for the reply.

I switched the setup to what you mentioned, but can't test the settings until tomorrow so I will give an update after that. 

I use Stepcraft WinPC-NC as post processor.

[seth.madore]

Looking at the MasterCAM code that you emailed me, I would recommend just using the Fanuc post processor. One thing I noticed in your Fusion file; you have vertical lead-in/out radii specified, but not with the MCAM code. I would suggest this following:

• Use the Fanuc post
• Set Lead-in/out radius to zero (in toolpaths, last tab)
• When posting, select "G53" for your Retract setting.

I've attached the code generated with the Fanuc post. Let me know if your machine accepts it!

[johanna_berg12]

After trying the new setup it still gave me the same error message saying "Can't do 3D jobs". Do you/someone else have any other ideas of what could be the cause of the problem? 

I mailed you the files and would appreciate if you took a closer look at what the cause of the problem might be. 

[seth.madore]

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@johanna_berg12 wrote:

I mailed you the files and would appreciate if you took a closer look at what the cause of the problem might be. 

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See my response above 🙂

[johanna_berg12]

My machine gave the same error message with the file you sent me.

I also changed the things you mentioned in my Fusion file, but it didn't work either with my machine. Did I understand you correctly to check out the boxes mentioning lead in/out or was it specifically one of the horisontal or vertical lead in radius that shoud be put to 0?

[johanna_berg12]

@seth.madore 

Do you have any other suggestions on what could be causing the problem?