CNC Making Discussion

[Don Noon]

2 hours ago, Michael K. said:

Amazing. Could it work for Cello too?

You'd have to check the size of the part you want against the capacity of the machine.  And it could take days to print.  And a lot of material.

[BarryD]

I am afraid that I'm forced to go to "roughing" with a CNC. I have resisted for several years but I am giving in. Arthritis has claimed my right hand and wrist. I want to use technology to "hog" off everything but the last MM or two and then I can add the finishing touches, tune my plates etc.

I have a Onefinity CNC machine but have yet to decide on the best software. Fusion 360 is very powerful and can probably be used to to design and manufacture a Formula 1 car but it has a steep learning curve.

Is anyone here using Fusion 360???? If not what are some good choices?

[Don Noon]

7 hours ago, BarryD said:

Is anyone here using Fusion 360???? 

Yes, I am, and know that at least one other maker here uses it as well.  Yes, it does have a steep learning curve. 

I have used several different solid modelling programs over the years, but most of that was decades ago and things are different now.  Well, maybe not so different, as any new program had a steep learning curve, but back when it was for my work, there was professional training that went with it.  With Fusion360, this was the first time I tried to learn on my own with online tutorials and trial-and-lotsa-errors.  Slow, painful going.  I have no idea how it compares to other current programs, as this is the only one I have tried to use.

[Michael_Molnar]

20 hours ago, BarryD said:

I am afraid that I'm forced to go to "roughing" with a CNC. I have resisted for several years but I am giving in. Arthritis has claimed my right hand and wrist. I want to use technology to "hog" off everything but the last MM or two and then I can add the finishing touches, tune my plates etc.

I have a Onefinity CNC machine but have yet to decide on the best software. Fusion 360 is very powerful and can probably be used to to design and manufacture a Formula 1 car but it has a steep learning curve.

Is anyone here using Fusion 360???? If not what are some good choices?

Barry,

Google around for CNC and CAD discussion groups like I do. There are many CADCAM programs with less complexity than Fusion360. You must research this before investing time and money.

Good luck.

[HoGo]

Isn't Fusion360 free for casual users?

I work with Rhino and it seems to have a bit more tools for working with odd surfaces but it lacks in another places... I think violin plate is doable in most CAD softwares.

For someone who is not good at geometry and computer graphics and just needs the CNC machine rough parts it would be simpler and cheaper (time=money) just to hire someone really good to create the models and programs for given CNC. You just learn to use the apprentiC'N'C cutting few test plates for you (out of hard foam or such to save tools)...

[Jerry Lynn]

7 hours ago, HoGo said:

Isn't Fusion360 free for casual users?

Fusion offers a personal/hobbiest license for noncommercial use.  Its constrained to 10 editable designs open at a time.  In CAM rapids constrained to the feed rate,  ATCs aren’t supported, neither are multi axis tool paths.  There are work arounds if you are ambitious. 
 

[Michael_Molnar]

There is nothing “casual” about using Fusion360. It is formidable.

[BarryD]

I agree it is formidable! but it has both cad and cam. I have found someone in the city of Atlanta that wil do a 3D laser scan of my plate and give me an STL flie.

[JohnHE]

I use AutoDesk Inventor for modeling my instrument components for CNC and 3D printing, and have been extremely impressed with it.  They offer free educational accounts, and many high schools and universities offer rudimentary classes.  Like most other types of software, learning is as easy (or as difficult) as the number of good tutorials on YouTube, and the support community for Inventor is vast.  
 

I believe fusion 360 is similar, but perhaps more cloud-based and less education-oriented??

Both are extremely powerful, and well worth the effort to learn!

JohnHE

Cornell Department of Music

SaddleRider.com

[Urban Luthier]

On 5/28/2021 at 11:53 AM, BarryD said:

Is anyone here using Fusion 360???? If not what are some good choices?

I'm one of the other members who uses Fusion regularly. As @Don Noon notes above, it isn't the easiest programme to learn and things have become far more complex of the past few years (and demanding) as it inches closer to Inventor (Don refers to it as (con)Fusion. The real advantage of Fusion is the CAM integration. Fusion has become a bit of a resource hog over the past year so I'd recommend a workstation with a good i7 processor with a high clock speed. the other thing to note is that while fusion is FREE to us as an enthusiast, you can't print anything with out purchasing a subscription. 

Yes a bit of a learning curve but easier than most other CAD apps. Rhino is an alternative. But i expect the CAM connection in Fusion is more robust. Both have very good community support. 

If you are not familiar with Solid modelling workflows, it would be a good idea to learn the basics as these skills are transportable from app to app. 

I worked at Autodesk and Alias for most of my adult life. It has been an interesting journey to watch the development of some of these programmes. 

these days i use Fusion for the design of forms and fixtures, I posted a bass bar clamp here awhile back. Also use it for drawing outlines for 2D. Faster for me than ACAD.