I have an Axiom AR8 and would like to use Fusion 360 since it is at the core of most Maker Labs across the country and allows seamless collaborative product development that the currently supported software from Axiom does not. I use it and teach it in conjunction with the Tormach 1100 at a local Maker Lab and it works flawlessly.
I might add kudos to the team at Tormach who took the bull by the horns and went very far to solve problems that they were having with various CAD software on Widows and were brilliant to take LinuxCNC and craft their own suprer-reliable clone called PathPilot. That is the kind of integrity that will drive the expanding educational and maker tsunami that our friends at Axiom have yet to commit to.
I would offer for anyone that has the time and requisite skill (i.e. programming, language interpolation algorithms, patches, and gcode knowledge) to generate sample gcode from Fusion and I will run tests, time allowing, on my AR8 machine to get a proper post processor in place as soon as possible.
Some suggestions would be to get a trial copy of one of the software products supported by Axiom (Vectric being the most popular) and create a simple test file - i.e. a simple block with 4 different radii on the corners and two pockets with climb and conventional directions, done is several depth steps and all with the same tool and then post the gcode for Axiom. Next export the vectors as DXF and import into Fusion create the same specifications of toolpaths and export the gcode for some generic default machine like MAch2/3 or GRBL and see what the differences are.
If you need any guidance from Axiom don't hold your breath. It seems they do not seem to want to get involved in anything related to software other than the products they sell and do not seem to have a grasp of basic GCode necessary to make any useful suggestions, most likely by design. Otherwise their product would run on an actual computer so we could see what file is actually being run before a random collisions or conflicts and other information that can best be seen and verified visually.
BTW - the guys at CNC Cookbooks have a GCode Editor and simulator that they are working on and they might be able to pitch in as well as they currently hold more experience with the entire knowledge chain of CNC from tools, materials, speeds and feeds to the actual gcode itself. So I'd hit them up for suggestions. They do not currently list the Axiom machines in their postprocessor list and might be excited to add them.
Anyway if I had more time I'd get involved myself but I have product to get out to global customers and shows to attend, etc. I will, however, as I mentioned, be glad to run test code and do "air cuts" before touching any material - time allowing - just to be able to provide a machine to whoever is interested. Please contact me on this forum if you are interested.
Let's get this done! Axiom machines are extremely well made, accurate and deserve a wider range of support than they are getting from those who should care.
RT
