Slicer for fusion

[nikoDJ4GQ]

Hello from france.

Just wondering... I'm trying to use slicer for fusion. Looks great when you use it.. Then comes the export part.. It offers 3 options. DXF / EPS / PDF.

The software is called : "slicer for fusion" ok ..

Well fusion does not read EPS, it does not read PDF... and it does read DXF ! But if you open only one sheet (i have 35) it takes like 15 minutes to open it, then you realize the lines are not closed, it is totally not working ... What is the point to make a pluggin for fusion if it generates files that fusion cannot read ? And the only file it generates that fusion can read, is so not perfect and so heavy that you cannot work with it ...

Any idea or options or solutions ? Thanks

[jodom4]

Hey nikoDJ4GQ,

You raise it good point. It would be great to have seamless integration between Fusion and Slicer both-ways. As the product is currently designed, it's intended to serve as a layout tool for fabrication- basically the end of the pipeline. 

Currently there are no plans to add the functionality you're talking about. 

What are you trying to accomplish exactly? Are you trying to make a flat nested layout, then bring it into Fusion for CAM?

[nikoDJ4GQ]

Hello Jodom, and thanks for reply..

I'll try to explain myself as best as i can with my english.

The idea is : We're in 2018... Things develop fast, 3D printers etc.. So millions of .STL models and OBJ models are online free.. So i thought, why not using the slicer and try to make a big head. I found the Enstein head in stl. Since my cnc miller is about 2meters on 1meters, i parametered it to do it. The idea was to stock layers on top of each other until i get a full head of albert.. 

But then, i thought (when i saw the plans that the slicer gave me) : hmm too bad coz some pieces with a correct offset, could fit into another piece, and so does others, in fact if the software was able to let us do it and parameter it, i think on a full wood panel of 2M on 1M we could have like maybe 15 or more pieces not next to each other, but INSIDE of each other (image with an small offset, piece 33 could fit into piece 38 etc etc etc...) Thinking the way the slicer does is ok i guess for paper, but with wood, metal or whatever, you do not want it plain, you want the contour with an offset of let's say 10cm, and glue the parts together... Do not know if it's clear.

So that's when i thought, ok let's make the job if the software cannot make it, let's export DXF, open it in fusion, then offset every contour, and let's put the biggest piece around with smallest and smallest pieces into it...

But then, that's when i saw it is just impossible coz too slow, and contour is not closed so no offset possible.. 

But it's really disapointed, coz this would be really really really usefull technic... Imagine making that huge head. Keep it like it is or start sanding it and curving it with hand tools... And then with the offset thing, the volume would be empty and so not soooo heavy... I'd just love to do that.. Hope it's quite clear (i'm not sure for my frenchy english 😉

[jodom4]

Hey nikoDJ4GQ,

I think I see what you mean. The end goal is to make the slices hollow so that you can fit smaller pieces inside, thus saving on waste. Here's my proposal on how you might go about that.

1. Convert your triangular mesh to a quad mesh. You can use Recap for that: https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/blog/quick-tip-mesh-tspline/ or you can use MeshLab, which is open source and free: https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/38773/how-to-convert-triangulated-obj-to-standart-quads-thru...
2. Convert your quad mesh to a Solid (might need to be repaired): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z0IiVKt5Hg
3. Sculpt an inner shape, then Modify>Combine>Cut the inner shape out of the bust.
4. Send the hollow bust to Slicer.

Please see the screencast below for a full demo:

[nikoDJ4GQ]

Ok, sorry, been away for a while... Seems like a heavy solution here. It is a solution, but it's crazy that a software called slicer that allows you to make slices to cam does not give you this option straight away... It's the point of informatic.

Thanks anyway for your help.