Re: New to Fusion

Anonymous · ‎04-24-2017

Hello! I'm new to Fusion 360 and relatively new to the CNC world (about 5 months in), but wanted to get started on the community forums and jump in!

I'm using a Laguna IQ router currently just on MDF, but heading next to Aluminum.

My setup was Rhinoceros + VCarve Pro, but it now seems that VCarve is not getting a precise enough cut for me and I'm switching to Fusion 360 just for CAM.

Does anyone else have this setup? Are there any known issues? I'm happy to learn any helpful hints.

Thanks!

Chelsea

daniel_lyall · ‎04-24-2017

I would not jump to Vcarve being a problem just yet.

Have you run some test to confirm, it's the cam that is out not the machine there are problems that some people have had with that company's machines.

To test run some V carved letters from Vcarve pro, and see if it goes back to where it started from, and do the same with fusion. this will say if it's the machine or software.

Anonymous · ‎04-24-2017

Thanks for the comparison idea. It's a good one. My VCarve problem is primarily with a recessed bowl-type cut where the "bowl" cut about a millimeter lower than it should be. I've run possibly 10-15 test cuts with various settings and it has lead me to believe that I might need a more precise software. My CNC machine is traveling to the correct locations so far.

Do you prefer VCarve over Fusion for CAM?

daniel_lyall · ‎04-24-2017

Fusion everyday, It just does the cutting better

Adaptive clearing may take a minute or 2 longer to cut something than what Vcarve can do with it's way of doing it but the constraint cutter load makes cutters last longer, and you can go way deeper with no problem in fusion (pucker factor 100%).

The cutter compensations in fusion onces you know your max speed for corner rounding when doing 3D toolpaths on the machine you can set it so it goes around the corner at the speed where it's not going to lose position, and you have all the fancy toolpaths in fusion as well.

The only thing I use Vcarve for is the Vcarve/engrave toolpath if I can't forces fusion to do what is needed most times I can. Text Vcarve has this over fusion only by what fusion does not have for the text, I usually just do the text in Vcarve then bring it into fusion, Fusion does not have many problems with the dxf from Vcarve what is good.

Fusion and Vcarve work well together, Vcarve has what's missing in fusion for woodworkers, what is slowly reducing as they add stuff to fusion what is text, nesting (will be added soon) and tracing a pick.

If your machine is going back to work zero every time, it is the software.

Anonymous · ‎04-24-2017

Thanks Daniel. Yes, I do believe it is the software as well. I'm going to do some comparison cuts to make sure.

The product I'm making needs to be exact down to the millimeter, so I'm trying to be picky with numbers. I won't be doing any woodwork or text, but that's good to know that Vcarve and Fusion work well together as that may be helpful in the future.

As far as Rhino goes, I've really enjoyed using that software and it has been very powerful for making precise shapes. Great software!

daniel_lyall · ‎04-24-2017

I have never use Rhino, If you use a Vcarve/engrave op that will test the machine's control software out as well.

The Engrave in fusion and Vcarve/engrave in Vcarve, do the samething cut 3 axis at the same time.

The questions that you need to answer to help you find the problem

Does it goes back to work Zero at the end of the cut every time on all axis

then does X get to the correct spot

does Y get to the correct spot

does Z get to the correct spot

If the answer to all 4 is yes then

if one is a no that is the problem in the axis itself or the controller. This is what you don't wont

Anonymous · ‎04-27-2017

Thanks Daniel. Yes, my CNC is going back to the correct locations for those axis points. That's a good way to check between hardware vs software.

daniel_lyall · ‎04-27-2017

Yep The big machine I have took me 4 years to find what was wrong with it, I tested everything under the sun it turned out to be the active state of the controller, and a bad RF and EMF leak.

If you are going back to your Zero, that's good.

If you have a chances run a 3, 4, 5 squire, (it's quick and easy to do this if you have a big cabinet makers squire) this is a quick way to check if the machine is squire, since where it starts is where it finishes, if you have a big squire you just run the 3 and 4 it take a couple of mins to do. you just put a pencil in the collet to do it.

Anonymous · ‎07-22-2017

One question, is it OK to mix Inch and Millimeter measurements in CAM so long as you specifically specify 12 in, etc (my default is in millimeters)? Or will this cause issues?

It it just best practice to convert measurements no matter what?

daniel_lyall · ‎07-22-2017

You just put the mm, cm, m, in, ft after the number and it should just work, doing 1/4 should work as well, I work in both mm and inch all the time and it's one thing I have never had a problem with.

Anonymous · ‎07-22-2017

Thank you ... that's a relief to know that I don't have to troubleshoot that problem. I didn't know that about 1/4 either, very useful!

daniel_lyall · ‎07-22-2017

It makes it easier when you set up a new tool if all the data for it is in 1/4 and decimal, same as if you had a model to do and the drawing was the same.

Anonymous · ‎07-23-2017

Another thing to check is that your screws or belts match the calibration in your stepper motor control. I built my won CNC Router and I found the calculated settings were off just a tiny bit. I ran some large test cuts both straight lines and circles and masuren them. I ended up with a small correction that was slightly different on each axis. In my caseI was of by slightly over 1%.

Anonymous · ‎07-23-2017

When you're off, would you adjust through the software, or do you need to go in and tighten up machine parts?

Also, does anyone have a good link to a solid place to find out feeds and speeds? It's a bit of a mystery to me and so far I'm just running through trial and error to see what small changes in settings will do. However, Once I start on aluminum I'd like to be more accurate. Any favorite links or websites?

Anonymous · ‎07-23-2017

I had to change it it software. I changed an 8 to a 8.015 or something that small. Feeds an speeds in wood are really forgiving until you cut a wood that urns like maple. For metal speeds and feeds I found an old Machinery Handbook for $1 30 years ago ad it has never failed me. This one is exactly what I use. You should be able to find one cheaper than this.

https://www.amazon.com/Machinerys-Handbook-13TH-Edition/dp/B0046MAUPI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1500842...

Anonymous · ‎07-23-2017

Thanks for the link and idea of the book! I'll look around and see if I can get it at a better price. Great idea!

I'll do some test runs and see if there are measurement discrepancies and adjust accordingly. Thank you for the tips.