With your WCS looking like the above image and your stock dimensions set, you can select ok and move on to creating toolpaths. In this case, we already know the Z height (.72” on Z Axis) from our measurements earlier, and now you can measure your stock’s length (4” on Y Axis) and width (7” on X Axis). Under the Mode selection, I suggest using “Fixed Size Box” to fully define your stock materials.
Once your project looks like the above you can go to the Stock tab and modify the dimensions of the stock material. For ease of use, many people select the bottom left corner like the above, and you want to make sure that the blue Z arrow is pointing upwards, and that X & Y are hugging your work piece. For the most part just think of this as where the bit will be placed before you tell your machine to start cutting. The most important part of the setup process is figuring out where your Work Coordinate System (WCS) will start from. You will see a translucent box show up around your model, this represents the stock material that you will be placing in your Machine. The First focuses on making 3D models, while the second is meant to help turn a digital model into a real physical product.ĭirectly to the right of the Manufacturing tab is the Setup button, start by clicking it and the above menu should pop up. It is wise to think of each of those tabs as separate programs, with Design being for CAD (Computer Aided Design) purposes while the Manufacturing tab is CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing). The first step in this process is (with your model visible) to go from the “ Design ” to “Manufacturing” tab in the top-left corner of the program.Īs you do so, you will see the interface change. Just like you have to set the table before you have dinner, so do you need to set up a workspace in Fusion 360 in order for your machine to know what you want it to do.
So I want to welcome you and thank you for joining my class.Fusion 360 Quick-Start Guide for 3018 Pro & PROver CNC’s This class covers everything from importing parts to exporting a g-code with everything in between, including 2D and 3D toolpaths, calculating feeds and speeds, running tests, double sided machining and much more.
And with Fusion 360 offering a great and free CAM solution, the timing has never been this good for us to dive into this wonderful subject together! With hobbyist CNCs becoming more affordable and accessible (which is great!) I believe that it’s important to educate people as much as possible to the world of CAM.
So for this reason, I wanted to not only show people how to use Fusion, but more importantly provide you with the knowledge you’ll need to make smart decisions and learn to program your CNC safely and efficiently. We’re not dealing with a small 3D printer here, we have a spinning tool moving at a rapid pace that is very dangerous if not tamed properly. With a few clicks you’ll have a set of instructions for your CNC and as much as this is great, it’s also terrifying. My main motivation with building this class was this : Fusion has made it too easy to create toolpaths for a CNC. In other words, we’ll be doing the prep work and the CNC will be doing the heavy and precise lifting for us. CAM stands for Computer-aided manufacturing so in this class we’ll be creating toolpaths that a CNC can follow to machine different kinds of material and shapes. I’ve made this class for anyone who wants to learn CAM through Fusion 360.
If you see yourself in any of these statements then this class is for you. This is what's called CAM (Computer-aided manufacturing).ĭo you have a CNC and don’t know how to use it?ĭo you feel like you know how to use it but are really just guessing?ĭoes your local maker space has a CNC and you’re intimidated by it?ĭo you already know CAM but want to improve your understanding of it?ĭo you want a machine to do all the hard work and make money for you? (Of course you do!) In this class you'll learn to create toolpaths for a CNC in Fusion 360.