Using End Mills / Router Bits for mill turning

[ruga666]

I am new to using the turning CNC features in Fusion 360.  I plan on pulling the trigger on a woodturning CNC soon - but as I mentioned in an earlier post most of these are gantry mills with spindles that are using end mills and router bits to mill turn.  I'd like to continue using Fusion 360 and not have to learn a new program - but it seems that for 'Turning' I can't select end mills or router bits to machine with?  Can someone throw me a bone here and explain how I can use end mills on a spindle and turn and route with the lathe attachment on the machine? It will be set-up similarly to picture below

Thank You

[Spencer.AC]

First couple of thing to do, in the setup window be sure to select 'turning or mill/turn', then make sure there is a post processor that will work for the CNC you plan to use.  Once you are in the CAM window, at the top left of the tabs is one labeled 'Milling'.  Click that tab then select the toolpath you want to use.  The turn/mill features on Fusion360 can be a little tricky to get working properly depending on the kinds of features.  One of the key parameters to get correct is the tool orientation which you can edit in the 'Geometry' tab of the toolpath sub-window.  If you have features you are going to track around the part look at the 'wrap toolpath' submenu that is an available for the contour toolpaths among others.  Last tip, if you want to sidemill a feature and are having trouble defining the toolpath off of the model try projecting the profile of that feature to give you a 2D line you can select as your chain. Hope this helps! (Pictures attached)

[ruga666]

That makes sense,  but can you elaborate on that please.  What if for instance, I had a spindle for a railing that I was trying to machine and I needed to use end mills to machine it?  How does the set-up work for that - I understand that the XYZ coordinates are kind of 'flipped' for the set-up of lathe machining as Z runs horizontally with the part.  But how does it work with using the milling features for the spindle to cut the part

[ruga666]

I've attached my trial file.  Basically I modeled and set-up the turning set-up for the part.  Then I went and chose a trace toolpath and changed the XYZ coordinates to correctly so the mill is working from the top.  But as you can see when you simulate - the part is not rotating.  So how do you tell it to rotate the lathe in conjunction with the mill toolpath.  Thank you for your help by the way

[ruga666]

and the other thing is - when I try using 2D Contour or 2d Pocket to try a different toolpath and use your advice clicking 'wrap toolpath' I get an error message that says 'wrap radius must be larger than zero for axis substitution' Not sure what that means

[engineguy]

@ruga666 

Looked at your file, to run along the length of the part with the part turning constantly you will need to purchase the "Machining Extension" in order to obtain the "Rotary" toolpath, quite expensive, last I checked it was around $1500 US per year, or, you can have a 7 days free trial so you can see if it is what you want/need., just go to the "Multi Axis" tab and click on it you will be taken to where you can select the Free trial or a purchase.

The Wrap toolpaths do not do full 360 degree operations and would not Turn your spindle as in your file.

Apologies if this not what you wanted to hear, yes Fusion will do what I think you are asking for but at a price !!

[Spencer.AC]

Looking at the part it would definitely be easier to turn. Can you lock the spindle head and load a neutral turn tool?

[Spencer.AC]

I'm unfamiliar with the machine you are using. Could you, using the projection feature, create your 2D contour, use multiple stepovers and add in manually the M3 S100 to rotate the part? I imagine you would have to back off on the feedrate for the endmill slightly to accommodate the additional material moving into the tool. It would require some trial and error but may be worth a try. Hope these suggestions point you in a positive direction. 

[Spencer.AC]

I attached a toolpath that may work. You will have to add a spindle code to rotate the work piece and likely increase the number of step overs or dramatically reduce the feedrate.  Hope this works for your situation.

[Spencer.AC]

Did you ever figure out a solution to this?