Clearing the CAM Confusion - The Absolute Beginner's Guide to Fusion & HSMWorks Programming Tutorial

[@thebeardedgarage2]

Such a clear tutorial. This should be a guide for anyone who wants to get into cnc milling. Thank you for the great video.

[@adamdebowski2037]

Thanks for the great feedback, Adam! I'm really glad you enjoyed it. Are you using Fusion, by any chance? I'm wondering if those using Fusion are still finding HSMWorks videos helpful - since they're so similar. I like to think it is - but would rather hear that from a viewer!

[@TailoredChassisSolutions]

Fantastic! Keep uploading!! You are an asset to this community my dude 🤝

[@adamdebowski2037]

It’s comments like this that keep this failing KZbin channel alive!! 😂 cheers @tailoredchassissolutions!! 🍻🍻

[@TailoredChassisSolutions]

@Adam D its not failing. Youre just getting started! It can seem like an impossible hill to climb but just keep at it! Stay consistent and keep pumping the content, it will take off on quality and merit, just need to survive the growth period. 🍻🍻

[@alleybuilds5370]

amazing video, i wish someone made a video like this when i was in college. i learned more in this one hour video than a whole semester in one of my collage classes.

[@adamdebowski2037]

Thanks very much for the great feedback! Very glad you found the video useful ☺️🍻

[@joell439]

Adam, THANK YOU 👍😎👍 Believe it or not, but this is the very first HSM video I have ever attempted to watch, and it was perfect. I watch every second and had no issues following along without even needing to back up once and ask.... "what did he say?" Your presentation couldn't have been better. Again, thank you. I've subscribed and look forward to watching your other content, past and future.

[@adamdebowski2037]

Wow thanks for the great comment! That makes me me really happy :) I’m glad you found the video helpful & thank you for subscribing!

[@MisterDeets]

I've been a 3D printer guy for over a decade and I want to get into making things out of metal so I can make parts with more precision and longevity. I want to make that happen with Fusion, but I haven't found a good primer for how to approach CAM in Fusion until just now. This is a phenomenal video resource and I can't thank you enough for the detailed and yet simple explanations. You have a new subscriber.

[@adamdebowski2037]

Cheers!! Thanks very much for the kind words and I’m very glad somebody out there found it useful. All the best, happy new year, and good luck!

[@violettownmicroenterprises1528]

I wish someone would do a video on "Starting From Zero Knowledge, Machining 101" This is the closest Ive seen toward new learners, and its excellent. Thanks Adam!!

[@7alfatech860]

This is such a clear tutorial. I really like how you talk about the rationale for why to use certain tool paths and then show how to use them. Most videos I have seen just dive into using a particular tool path and fine tuning it. That approach also has some benefits but misses the big picture.

[@adamdebowski2037]

Thanks for the feedback! I'm glad you got that impression - exactly what I was going for. Cheers!

[@adamdebowski2037]

@7alfatech860 are you using Fusion or HSMWorks?

[@7alfatech860]

@@adamdebowski2037 Fusion360, but your video using HSMWorks was quite easy to follow.

[@ThemightyPooge]

This is awesome, thank you for all the clear time and effort to make this!

[@adamdebowski2037]

Cheers! I’m happy someone out there is finding it helpful. Thanks for watching 👍

[@TheWrate]

The absolute BEST CAM video out there! Thank you very much!

[@adamdebowski2037]

Wow - thanks for the high praise! It's everything I wish I would have heard when getting started. Glad you found it informative! Cheers - Adam

[@cogentdynamics]

Wow Adam, thank you for steering me to this fantastic video of yours! While I will still gain a ton from your excellent presentation and teaching I really needed this about three weeks ago! 😊. I see some things I do “differently” that I should optimize but this content makes me really happy. I have a Tormach 440 which I got up and going near the beginning of this year and have never been involved with drawing programs nor CNC machining. My lathe and knee mill have been a part of my hobby life since the 1970s. Now being semi retired I am learning these new things to help me make a living and I am actually running customer parts. The need to produce with the CNC and not have to do so manually is pressing enough that when something works, I push “Program Start” knowing I can do much better. So much to learn and so many mistakes to make. It is really fun! I’ll admit to breaking a few endmills and making some basic rookie mistakes which sometimes are quite basic elements of any machining. Thanks again!

[@adamdebowski2037]

That’s great to hear! When I retire, I hope I get to do the same thing! How do you like your 440? I checked out your channel - are you making bike parts for customers? Cheers!

[@AndreeewP]

Wonderful video editing. Wish I saw this video two years ago!

[@adamdebowski2037]

🍻 Cheers! Thanks for the kind words 👍

[@craigjohnson5189]

Awesome video mate, always interested in what you do and your machine. Cheers

[@adamdebowski2037]

Thanks, Craig! Appreciate your support and kind words. Cheers!

[@rodneyeamon9876]

Thank you👍

[@adamdebowski2037]

Welcome 👍

[@grasso7312]

Can you go over setting up the different jobs and orientations? Whenever I watch your videos I see you have a bunch of different setups all in the same assembly. Like all of your OPs are laid out in the model view. How do you go about doing that?

[@adamdebowski2037]

That's a great question - and not something I'd ever thought about. I'll definitely make a video where I clear it up soon. Are you running HSMWorks or Fusion?

[@grasso7312]

@@adamdebowski2037 I use HSMWorks! Thanks I love your videos.

[@jrsydvl7218]

The one thing about HSMWorks that always got me was that arrow. I've had to adjust my zoom and orientation just to verify the arrow because it chose the wrong side more than a few times.

[@adamdebowski2037]

Agreed! Do you use a CAM package that doesn't have that problem?

[@jrsydvl7218]

@@adamdebowski2037 Nope, I still use HSM, it just took several parts before it sunk in. I'm just now veering into 3d contours. Angled faces and domed contours are becoming my top searches

[@adamdebowski2037]

@@jrsydvl7218 Cool! What kind of machine are you running? Are you having good results?

[@jrsydvl7218]

@@adamdebowski2037 I have a converted ZX45 from Wholesale Tools. I can get better results after I weld up a proper stand. I just gathered some 4x4x.25 square tubing to replace the current wood stand. I have to go easy on the cuts but it stays true if I don't push it too hard. Have you used you mill as a lathe yet? If/when you do, make sure you determine if your profile is set to radius or diameter.

[@jerichoadler3074]

Thank you so much for this video!

[@adamdebowski2037]

Glad it was helpful!

[@420Myths]

why adaptive first pass instead of face? i tried to setup with adaptive but cant get it to do whole area. always leaves nubs and removing it like in video i guess doesnt work on 360

[@BuildItAnyway]

This was very educational, thank you!

[@adamdebowski2037]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Toddimus831]

Great job 👍 The one weird thing I didn’t understand was deselecting the contour and leaving it blank for the first “facing “ adaptive path. Why not select the model top or outer edge?

[@adamdebowski2037]

Hi todd - thats a great question. If you were to select the outer ring of the machine stock (and make sure "machine cavities" isn't selected), you would get exactly what we got in the video when we didn't select anything! When you don't select anything in the geometries tab of a 2D Adaptive operation, HSMWorks/Fusion does something sneaky in the background - it actually uses the stock contour as your selection! And the stock contour is the outer-most perimeter of the stock that you talked about selecting.

[@treyvnl]

I’m nearing the end of designing and building my own cnc and I quickly found out that I have no clue how to actually use it. Finding your channel has been pivotal in understanding CAM for me. One thing I can’t seem to figure out is how to tell the machine to pause for tool changes. It pauses for a brief moment and proceeds to the next process without any prompt. Is there something being glossed over that I am expected to know already or is this my own machine issue? I’m using Fusion360. Thanks for the vids, wouldn’t be this far without them.

[@adamdebowski2037]

I’m glad to hear it! When setting up a tool in the tool library, there’s a little check box for “manual tool change.” Make sure it’s checked and your post processor should post an “M0” (a pause) between tool changes.

[@dhuliram1404]

The part where you explained how all CAM software/tool paths share the same parameters was GOLD. I have a CAD background and have recently gotten into researching how to build custom CNCs, I’ve tried to explain the same concept to my fellow cad peers about different softwares but end up looking like a clown because the basics don’t make sense to the advanced users anymore. Would you happen to know about PLCs and automation robot arms? That’s my final goal to 5axis 3d printing.

[@adamdebowski2037]

I'm glad you found it helpful! I've programmed some robotic PLCs in the past. I think one of my very first videos on KZbin is balancing a beam with quadcopter propellors/motors. I don't know anything about 5 axis robot arm programming, but my instincts tell me there should be some reverse kinematics libraries you could take advantage of if you wanted to do it yourself, and I've definitely seen 5axis motor controllers you can buy, but that's the extent of my knowledge. Would you buy the robot arm or make it yourself? Cheers - Adam

[@dhuliram1404]

@@adamdebowski2037 I’m looking to make a smaller arm for my independent study class in CNC programming. Initially was planning to make parts for my 3d printer and call it a day. Since it’s still summer time I’m thinking of laying out all of my skills acquired over the years into one project. That goes without saying I’m still a noob when it comes to scaled up machines or even just understanding how the electronics scale up compared to diy 3d printers. Will check out your videos 100%.

[@shaunybonny688]

This is what people are talking about when they say “programming a cnc machine” or “programming a part”??

[@adamdebowski2037]

@@shaunybonny688 yup - you got it

[@normand1242]

*promo sm* 😋