How to Avoid Slotting in Fusion 360! FF92

I HATE Slotting! Let's show CAM tips and tricks to use Adaptive and other Fusion 360 CAM strategies to avoid slotting! 5 Reasons to Use a Fixture Plate on Your CNC Machine: bit.ly/3sNA4uH

[@innovativecnc3928]

Hi John, I've been using the adaptive tool path to profile my parts since you introduced Fusion 360 on your channel (you turned me on to Fusion, thanks :). You DON'T need to create an offset of the stock, just select the profile chain at the base of the model and in the box labeled "offset" just under where you select your geometry, enter the desired value of offset and it should generate the chain your looking for. Hope it helps, James-

[@AaronCook83]

I love how many people come onto a channel where someone is teaching for free, and tell him to learn something. YOU teach it!

[@dollars1234]

Dude, you just made my day. My machine isn't the most rigid of machines. So, when I'm forced to slot, I have to use .1 to .2 mm step downs. Never even considered using an offset. This will save me a TON of time. Thank you this.

[@jimlake5404]

John, Keep doing these Fusion 360 videos. You are the only guy around that digs into the CAM details of Fusion. Regarding slotting, I do prototyping, and I face this problem all the time. I am always looking for new ways to deal with it, and that's what you are presenting.

[@AlexanderGee]

Howdy! You don't have to create that extra sketch element for the offset you can just use the "Machining Boundary" in "Silhouette" mode, then specify a positive "Additional Offset" and put the "Tool Containment" on "Tool Outside Boundary". That way it's all in the CAM no touching your CAD. I consider this tip payback for you teaching me literally everything else I know about Fusion 360 :P

[@williamwill6905]

Doing those offsets can be a pain with some geometries so I'm interested in your method. I didn't see any "machining boundry", etc. in the 2D adaptive, can you go into a little more detail as to what you're doing?

[@AlexanderGee]

I was looking at 3D adaptive I'll check 2D and fire you a screenshot. EDIT: Turns out it's only available on 3D Adaptive.

[@thomashenderson3901]

Yeah, I hear you but it's not always as straightforward as that. Sketches or patches are far more reliable and easy to generate.

[@shelltech83]

Thank you so much! Perfect timing! I'm running a small cnc router and have been really stuggling slotting out parts in copper. I've tried to constrain the adaptive but the stock contour control saved me. Now I'll hopefully be able to finish out some parts before a big trade show at the end of the month!

[@CatNolara]

Nice to know, I really liked the spiral slotting in CamBam, now I know how to use it in Fusion 360 :) Also, I liked the triangular tabs more, because the tool isn't plunging directly down this way but has a slope.

[@swamihuman9395]

Thx, John. Great stuff (as always). Lovin' F360 CAM!

[@KenToonz]

Wow, you jam packed a ton of great tips into this one! AND, you finally switched from that unwatchable simulation on mirror stock to something (wall paint) that we can actually see. Kudos!!!!!

[@donzmilky5961]

One of the best tutorials yet. Thanks John.

[@dav1dh0ff]

John - lists the problems with slotting.. "It's really a pretty downward spiral." Me - "I though a helical ramp was a downward spiral... Get it?" Nice video. Keep it up!

[@bcbloc02]

In my experience the inserted end mills really shine at slotting. You could do a roughing pass then tool change to a single sided finish. The way you did it is certainly a valid alternative.

[@routercnc9517]

Great video John. I have a DIY CNC machine and slotting aluminium can be tricky. If welds up it usually snaps the cutter. Good tips there.

[@skippyman22]

Some great tips. I learned a lot!

[@kevlar_87]

I didn't know about that check box for adding holding tabs to the model. Thanks for that tip john, I always had to add them manually. Fusion is great! :)

[@MorganOliff]

Kev Lar Hey do check out the option for Triangular tabs within the tabs option, I have started using those over rectangular tabs because it allows your cutter to avoid plunging after lifting to make the tab.

[@kevlar_87]

Morgan Oliff I will definitely try that. Thanks for the tip!

[@samboles8796]

More cool toolpaths to play with, thanks Johnny!

[@Mhornfeck72205]

I can't cut slots in aluminum on my light duty cnc router but doing these trichoidal adaptive toolpaths is entirely usable, and with full depth of cut too in up to 1/2" plate! Getting much better tool usage using cam strategies like this.

[@mikepickell8792]

John, Thank You, You aid many people understand 360. I have not seen anyone saying rough profile of a band saw.

[@mikemattera6724]

You can still use the Helix entry. Just change the Min Radius to .06-.09. This is the radius to the center of the tool, not to the outside. So if you slot is larger than Dia + Stock+.09, it should work.

[@billyoz]

Tabs! You just made my day.

[@rickcperry]

When you created the sketch for the 2D path, could you have selected the bottom of the part for the sketch face? Would that have done the offset on the bottom and corrected the issue?

[@StefanGotteswinter]

Please dont poopoo slotting so much. With the right tooling and proper speed/feed it works a treat and can be way faster than adaptive. For example using a bullnose endmill, DOC>=corner radius of the tool, increased feed. Preferable you can run the whole contour in a spiral down to final depth. I ran literaly hundreds and hundreds of parts that way on different machines in all kind of materials, from soft gummy copper to toolsteel. Adaptive slotting is a terrible way to treat the machine.

[@tomhutchins1046]

I was thinking the same thing all those spirals the ball screws are reversing and reversing 1000's of times just to cut a slot. the ways are rubbing in a spiral motion. You couldn't have a better way to try to break through the oil film. Constant Ramping down has its own negs your cutting with the rear lower face of the cutter center cutting cutters tend to do better but its still hard on them. I manufacture alot of parts using a similar shape I call it cookie cutting. I either limit the ramp to a short area of the toolpath (cut horizontal 5" then ramp 1.5 for example . Or just do a slow plunge in one spot or off the part at least on a side were the tool is only partially engaged. Flood cooling with the proper coolant tends to eliminate the need for adaptive spiral programs in many cases.

[@mortcs]

When ramping into a slot with a roughing cutter, would you recommend using a roughing cutter with a slightly larger diameter than your finishing cutter to aid in chip evacuation of long chips?

[@arthurschroeder8230]

Just out of curiosity, the last example using trace, why not use contour for that? Seems like that might be easier to get working how you want it. Is there an advantage to using trace?

[@tsw199756]

Think about this. How many extra moves does your machine make to cut the part out like this vs. just slotting and leaving stock with a large end mill and going back to finish with one that is at or just under the smallest internal radii of the part. I'll bet it is several hundred percent more moves required from your machine. Multiply that by doing this over and over week after week year after year. Get the picture? Premature machine and cutting tool wear. I would rather put $$$ in my pocket than the machine tool/Cutting tool vendors pocket. Slotting this part is #1 easy to do, #2 faster, #3 more efficient utilization of your assets. Just my opinion but I don't work by the hour so the time and money I save is my own.

[@jp8479]

There is a large percentage of CNC router owners with machines such as the Shapeoko for Hobby purposes. These machines are not rigid enough to slot alum as say a Tormach but are capable of getting the job done with strategies like the one shown in the video. This video might not be of value for the experience machinist with rigid cncs but extremely helpful to hobbyist.

[@circuitdotlt]

So what's the difference in time, slot vs. adaptive, if tool load is optimal on both?

[@iulianmoga9410]

Hi ! Amazing work . At min 10:25 how You "duplicate "this operation ?(Ctrl+C , or how ? ) Thanks !

[@Hendreh1]

Thank you for the Video

[@bostondan77]

Thank you for the video. I have a hard time slotting aluminum in my small home cnc. Gives me other options to explore. Thank you

[@bluedeath996]

Surprised after your previous video you didn't do one with a drill pattern as well.

[@Garganzuul]

How long would drilling the shape out and then slotting take compared to these options?

[@skippyman22]

Is there a way to get tabs using the first technique of the hsm toolpath and 2D Adaptive?

[@TheRealFrankWizza]

You can use the additional offset feature of adaptive clearing to add the offset without doing it in cad.

[@zedex1226]

Ramp and helix by ANGLE. your tool manufacturing has the spec on that relief. 3° is a good default for EMs.

[@MrBastor87]

Why always with the adaptive tool paths? I understand that everyone wont have this option but why not just use a 2d contour with a finishing allowance and a facemill big enough to cut the excess material in one or two cuts. Or roughing process with a step over path generation.

[@philipgooch676]

Ignore the haters John, I agree with you on slotting 100%. Glad to see this video, I was trying to do this myself but really didn't know the way to go about it.

[@rflopes3]

I Think it will take hours to cut on a tormach size machine ! Or am I wrong ?

[@GENcELL2014]

Instead of using break than delete to get rid extra lines, use trim! It does both operations at the same time, doesn't work on projected lines.

[@timmallard5360]

Great video showing a bunch of potential solutions. Id love for the nay sayers to post their own instructional video. Theres alway more than one way to skin a cat

[@georgeioakimedes509]

On your last tip using the trace tool path why not go into heights and for bottom choose stock bottom. That way you don't have to remember a variable, it's been working for me.

[@tomhutchins1046]

really cool swirly stuff?

[@Audio_Simon]

I've read never to use a 4 flute end mill in aluminium, why is that? (CNCCookBook) Most of the rougher mills I see for cheap are 4 flute.

[@MrBrettStar]

I just tried this method but unfortunately it took double as long as a conservative slot, I believe it's because I only have the free fusion which does not include rapids therefore if you have free version this may not be the best method.

[@jaypierson5955]

@nyccnc John, is there a list somewhere of those parameters like stockZlow at 14:17?

[@rlockwood2]

Of course- sent on Instagram

[@captainmcderpyderp]

For everyone else: knowledge.autodesk.com/support/fusion-360/learn-explore/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/CAM-Expression-Variables-in-Fusion-360.html

[@ScottMoyse]

rob lockwood have you published a knowledge base article with that fancy pants table of yours? I think you just posted it in the forum?

[@ScottMoyse]

Jay Pierson it's a neat parameter to know. But an easier way with trace is to use the heights to force the toolpath down.

[@rlockwood2]

agreed, I was pretty confused through that last method :)

[@ryanweber2999]

Great video. I recently did a steel project with tabs. Unnoticed by me the tool path created resulted in a plunge​ cut on the backside of the tabs, this broke the tip of my bit and gave my tormach a good shake. Has anyone else had this problem? Is there a ways to prevent the plung cut on tail end of tab?

[@yadokingau]

I'd also like to know this one. The only way I've found is to actually model the tabs into the part. It would be nice to be able to choose something like a zig-zag ramp into the parts between the tabs.

[@MrDaniell1234]

triangular tabs

[@MorganOliff]

daniel lyall Yes! Triangle tabs are a real tool saver!

[@MrDaniell1234]

It's funny when machinist start doing standard Router stuff they into all sorts of trouble tabs is just one

[@andrewwaters2354]

What about all the wasted material?big shops might not care but I'd use those offcuts.everyone to their own but slotting is simpler and a lot less wear on the machine, there is nothing wrong with slotting if you're careful

[@GregsGarage]

Master level tips. Thanks again John.

[@dannyaustin84]

hmmmm, Fusion just says empty tool path in the error log..

[@sleefox]

What you really need is a water jet machine too rough out the park. More toys !!!!

[@bluedeath996]

Plasma would be fine. Waterjet is expensive to buy and expensive to run, they are only really good if you don't want to perform further processes.

[@urgamecshk]

Hyss plasma is hell on endmills. Not worth it

[@JaakkoF]

The reason why Fusion makes those straight cuts in two places is because you have less stock to remove there, so it is not slotting unnecessarily as it takes a lot of time. Fusion notices that the backside has long run of less material on the stock and air outside, so it changes to a couple of 'linear' moves. Switching to forced trochoidal isn't that wise, as it ups the machine time considerably.

[@HyzerGlen]

On a tormach there is no way this hsm style tool path is faster. Learn how to slot, it is not that hard. You make it sound like this is some impossible process.

[@jodyolivent8481]

I don't think it's about speed. I think it is more about reliability and tool life. It's all fun until you have a TTS Holder pull out while cutting.

[@zedex1226]

Jody Olivent Bingo. The tormach doesn't have the hp or rigidity to reliably slot at any significant depth. HSM isn't the end all be all. It just happens to have more pro's than cons in most situations. That, in and of itself is another advantage too. You can dial in hsm and throw it at anything and it will work. This is huge for one offs and small runs. Rather than a traditional process which has to be tuned in on a case by case basis.

[@gredangeo]

The TTS holder is such a weak concept that was only there for money. The machine would have more value if they were using the more standard BT30. Tormach doesn't use it that much. There's no power drawbar and toolchanger with it.

[@bnecnc9786]

Slotting cuts are fine if you know what your doing. God u miss lead a lot of people. Maybe talk to some people with some flat bed routers that do that type of slotting cutting all day long.

[@Mekhanic1]

NYCNC = *not a trained machinist. NYCNC's value to me is his knowledge of Fushion360

[@CatNolara]

I think I fall into this category, too, so what is your receipt for good slotting?

[@donzmilky5961]

Its easier to avoid than it is to match cutters to materials and geometries. Unless you're using a massive machine with stub end mills slotting will always lead to increased tool deflection and wear.

[@jodyolivent8481]

I checked your channel for your videos on how to slot. All I found were commercials for your business. How about sharing what works for you?

[@MrDaniell1234]

It's a standard router thing up to 26000 rpm helps a lot you need plenty of Hp as well with a 3 Hp spindle you can stick a 1/2 endmill in at 100% depth and 100 % width at 1250 mm/min on softer material like wood

[@flubba86]

First!