Fusion 360

[drsportster]

There is a software called Fusion 360 that allows you to draw a part exactly as made . The beauty of this program is at the end it writes a G-code program to machine the part and even tells which tools go into each toolholder. If you can master the drawing part you have it made for machining. I have not mastered it There are online tutors you can pay or try YouTube vids to learn Fusion. I have gone to skool for CNC machinist { as a retired electrician ] The college is having an advanced course for machining but it was kind of expensive If I could learn Fusion there is little need for more education in machining. Got to learn this Fusion Anybody on here use Fusion I'm sure somebody does .

 

[Eric in IL]

There is a software called Fusion 360 that allows you to draw a part exactly as made . The beauty of this program is at the end it writes a G-code program to machine the part and even tells which tools go into each toolholder. If you can master the drawing part you have it made for machining. I have not mastered it There are online tutors you can pay or try YouTube vids to learn Fusion. I have gone to skool for CNC machinist { as a retired electrician ] The college is having an advanced course for machining but it was kind of expensive If I could learn Fusion there is little need for more education in machining. Got to learn this Fusion Anybody on here use Fusion I'm sure somebody does .

Is your goal generating 3-D tool paths for profiling a part with a ball-nose end mill ?

 

[Janicholson]

There is a software called Fusion 360 that allows you to draw a part exactly as made . The beauty of this program is at the end it writes a G-code program to machine the part and even tells which tools go into each toolholder. If you can master the drawing part you have it made for machining. I have not mastered it There are online tutors you can pay or try YouTube vids to learn Fusion. I have gone to skool for CNC machinist { as a retired electrician ] The college is having an advanced course for machining but it was kind of expensive If I could learn Fusion there is little need for more education in machining. Got to learn this Fusion Anybody on here use Fusion I'm sure somebody does .

The program is a version of Inventor. I taught it for 13 years and 4 updates. Fusion is complex, but not as complex as Inventor. The menu structure and solid modeling aspects are two issues that take time to digest. Only thing I can say it it is a fine and dandy way to make parts. Jim

 

[drsportster]

Janicholson I have to master the Fusion for sure Eric It will tell me the tooling and if it says ball mill that is what I woold put in. I will post some picture of some parts I made in school on Haas CNC

 

[Jim PA]

I don't know anything about Fusion. I spent my life working as a machine shop owner and used Mastercam. It sounds like Fusion tries to do take the part from a solid model and creates what it thinks is ideal toolpaths for you. Anyone that has done any real-world machining would tell you that that is just a starting place and speeds and feeds as well as depths of cuts need to be optimized. I would prefer to build the model and add toolpaths myself based on experience. Just curious what is the cost of Fusion, and does it allow the programmer to build toolpaths independent of the software? Not trying to be judgmental in my reply more saying that the Advanced Machining course and real gaining real experience in the toolpath selections will give you better results and experience in the future.

 

[Janicholson]

Janicholson I have to master the Fusion for sure Eric It will tell me the tooling and if it says ball mill that is what I woold put in. I will post some picture of some parts I made in school on Haas CNC

I recommend the book by Sham Tikoo . or others by this author. I have had instructional success with it for several 3D programs from, including 360. Jim

 

[drsportster]

For non corporate use it is free

 

[Janicholson]

I don't know anything about Fusion. I spent my life working as a machine shop owner and used Mastercam. It sounds like Fusion tries to do take the part from a solid model and creates what it thinks is ideal toolpaths for you. Anyone that has done any real-world machining would tell you that that is just a starting place and speeds and feeds as well as depths of cuts need to be optimized. I would prefer to build the model and add toolpaths myself based on experience. Just curious what is the cost of Fusion, and does it allow the programmer to build toolpaths independent of the software? Not trying to be judgmental in my reply more saying that the Advanced Machining course and real gaining real experience in the toolpath selections will give you better results and experience in the future.

The tool paths and entry/exit locations are not self programming. the choice of climb or conventional milling, spindle speed, max depth of cut, wear factors on tool sharpening are all adjustable in the menu system. Jim

 

[Jim PA]

Wow that's a pretty good price

 

[farmersamm]

Wow that's a pretty good price

Yeah..........it's free if you're a student. Otherwise get out your wallet for a subscription.

I imagine it's good for complex parts, or relatively long runs. For most one-offs, I question its value. At least in my small world.

On a related subject,,,,,,,,,I see guys on the internet that use CAD for some pretty simple stuff that you should be able to do in your head. Dunno....I guess there's two ways to think about it. I'll be going along on something, and change horses midstream.........better way to do it, on the fly redesign, running into unforeseen problems.........etc. If nothing's written in stone, you can adapt as you go. Sometimes working to a drawing, which might be flawed, blinds you to other solutions.

 

[farmersamm]

I suppose the ultimate goal is NOT making scrap.

This thing shows up at the front gate, you're keenly aware of how easy it is to ruin it. It keeps you honest, and generates quite a bit of anxiety that continues until the parts are done. You can generate the fanciest drawing on the planet.........but if your numbers are wrong......it's all for naught. I dunno........if your mind is actively involved through the entire process, it seems, to me at least.....it's harder to make a mistake. Every action is deliberate, with plenty of noodling it over before you touch anything with a tool. If you're just working from a drawing,, it's plug 'n chug. Easy to mess something up if the drawing was bad.

 

[farmersamm]

I derive the most value from stress analysis software. Most crap I make is load bearing, so stress analysis is paramount. That being said..........not being bucks up, I rely on a very simple bit of software. BeamBoy v2.2. Just about everything you make can be distilled to beams, and moments. Get that right, and you're safe. Hell.....it's a rough game with few second chances. More stress

 

[Farmerwright97]

I use fusion almost daily, it's a decent program but there's a lot more to machining then just knowing the software

 

[gears]

I have heard that it is/was free for “Makers”. I believe we qualify for that! I was using Sketchup for modeling ideas and getting measurements, then it got sold and Trimble’s free education version is only web based and I don’t have internet in the barn.