Using Fusion 360 to Create Tool Paths for CNC Plasma Cutter

Just like the title says! Using Fusion 360 to create tool paths for a CNC Plasma Cutter, like the Langmuire Crossfire pro, or similar.

[@jonkwilloughby]

This is extremely helpful! I just used this to cut out my first Fusion part with a ArcDroid and an PrimeWeld cut 60. It worked perfectly the first time! :)

[@ScienceMonkey00]

Awesome! If you need any other videos let me know.

[@MDogg1960]

Awesome, just started learning, and this was extremely helpful. Thank you for sharing.

[@joshuacaylor881]

Thank you my dude! You are helping a lot of people, myself included

[@ScienceMonkey00]

No problem! Thanks for watching!

[@terrywalker8634]

Thank you !!!!! I’ve been watching videos for days on fushion 360 and that made it so simple can’t wait to start making parts !!!!!

[@ScienceMonkey00]

Awesome! Thanks for watching

[@BIGDADDY012341]

Perfect !!! Thank you very much ! I soooo needed this video !!

[@ScienceMonkey00]

Glad it was helpful!

[@4legdfishman]

New subscriber! Great tutorial. I just loaded Fusion 360 into my new PC. Looking forward to seeing more. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@ScienceMonkey00]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@K1Racer.]

Looking forward to the post process part of your videos... You explain it better than anybody.. It would be appreciated for us Crossfire cnc plasma people !!!

[@ScienceMonkey00]

Send me a quick email to Mikesdesignandfabrication.com, what part of the post process are you looking for?

[@K1Racer.]

@@ScienceMonkey00 I decided to just use sheetcam for my G code processor alot easier than Fusion Cam .. Thanks anyway !!

[@Blou55]

Awsome vid, really helpfull, thanks!

[@northcountyre]

Thank you so much!!!! Great video, super helpful!

[@ScienceMonkey00]

Glad it helped!

[@JimHensel]

Really great tutorial

[@bernardobojorquez4232]

awesome and very helpful video just used it to start cutting on langmuir xr pro with primeweld cut 60. and worked great thanks.

[@ScienceMonkey00]

Great!

[@maximusmurua4437]

Really appreciate 🙏 the tutorial

[@ScienceMonkey00]

No problem 👍

[@germantorres5907]

Great video! Thanks!

[@ScienceMonkey00]

Thanks for watching!

[@hashanwickramasinghe1067]

Very helpful❤❤

[@juancarlosruiz1985]

That’s nice

[@hermanmoons1858]

Was exactly what I needed! Thanks. Question: how did you make that magnifying pointer? //Herman

[@ScienceMonkey00]

Great! The pointer is in my video editing software. Though I do believe there’s a magnified pointer in windows.

[@jaminbrazil547]

brilliant!

[@donaldwillison6462]

You have helped me out alot with your videos. I have just got the langmuir pro and still learning. was wondering id you have used the Easy scriber and if so could you do a video on it. Thanks a lot Keep the Content coming

[@ScienceMonkey00]

I’ve actually never used it, but just ordered one and will definitely make a video on it. I have a few ideas. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@vanminhtrip]

That great

[@NextEraCustoms]

nice video i did this exact same flange butt when i simulate it cuts all over the place it starts from one corner small hole to the center and just goes around everything to cut another hole. i have a langmuir crossfire with no THC

[@ScienceMonkey00]

That seems weird, send me a pic of the tool path to [e-mail], maybe we can fix it.

[@jamescole3152]

What if I want to change the tool path? It seems to me you wouldn't want to go over the top of any cut out piece that could tip up and the torch run into it.

[@texlougatorbait342]

great video thank you. I like your mouse how did you do the magnification?

[@ScienceMonkey00]

Thanks! in my video editor it will do it, but I also think you can do it through windows.

[@170cuda]

Part nesting?

[@810Metalworks]

Great video! One question, when I’m creating my tool path and I select the contours, there’s no arrows showing up. Is there a setting for that that I missed?

[@ScienceMonkey00]

It’s there, zoom in and look around, fusion has this amazing ability of hiding those lil arrows

[@810Metalworks]

@@ScienceMonkey00 right on, thanks man!

[@jonathansimmons5887]

when I try and make the four smaller holes and extrude them it only lets me manipulate the first original small hole. like the others don't get that second circle around them to be able to extrude

[@ScienceMonkey00]

Is everything on one sketch? Sometimes ppl accidentally create another sketch without realizing it.

[@UzunKamis]

Thank you for the tutorial. Is there a tool like vinyl cutter? Or I should use laser/plasma and make edits on the gcode? Bests.

[@ScienceMonkey00]

I don’t believe there’s a vinyl cutter tool, I guess using the laser would work, or even plasma set with no kerf, and tool centered on line

[@UzunKamis]

@@ScienceMonkey00 Thank you for the very fast reply. I asked this question because the blade angle of the cinyl cutter makes a little bit variable shift in the path of the head as it travels through the contour. Have a good day.

[@vidineivalentin2775]

Hi, where do you get the values ​​for nozzel, feed rate and kerf, to match those wiht the machine setup.

[@ScienceMonkey00]

They are with the post processor supplied by langmuir, but you can fine tune them for you machine/plasma cutter.

[@tomhebert8948]

Hi there Thanks for your video Do you know how to reduce speed for the holes cuts? Regards

[@ScienceMonkey00]

Hello, as far as I know you would have to create a separate tool path for that.

[@tomhebert8948]

Yes that’s what I thought. First cut the holes and then the contour. But if the sheet moves you’re f..ed 😅

[@kevinschilling6813]

Great Video, and the easiest to follow that I have seen to date. And excuse me if this has been addressed already... But in the Tool Library section.. I believe you had already added your library for your machine. I say this because as I cycled through the Holders as you did nothing comes up as it did for you. So with that I became stuck. My machine is a Wright CNC plasma machine using Mach3 to drive the machine.. Do I need to download the Vendor Library for Mach3 Plasma? Or is there a different library I need to download or is there a work around? I hope that made sense.. Thx, Kev

[@ScienceMonkey00]

You should be able to manually add your machine. If you want I can make a quick video on it if you like.

[@kevinschilling6813]

@@ScienceMonkey00 I actually just figured out that I needed to open all fusion 360 libraries. Then the plasma tool popped up.. I also figured our the 2nd part, to get the g-code. And it runs on my maching, but it runs opposite from how it was designed.. so I missed something somewhere.

[@kevinschilling6813]

I figured out the machine running mirror from the g-code. I had to do some pin checking in the config folder of Mach3..

[@popo5413]

Hi, I'm just starting out and looking and I noticed your magnifier at your mouse as I'm in my 70s it is hard sometimes to see the buttons KZbin is clicking but not in your case thank you. now could you tell me how you got that to show in FDusion360 as It would be of great help to me and I think a lot of other viewers of your channel

[@ScienceMonkey00]

Thanks for watching! I think this is the info you need. Sometimes I do the magnifying glass in my editor. If you are using a mouse, select Start > Settings > Accessibility > Magnifier. Select View, and then open the Keep the mouse pointer or Keep the text cursor drop-down menu, and select how Magnifier behaves when the mouse pointer or text cursor move around the screen.

[@K1Racer.]

Do you have a video on the post process for fusion 360 to send it to fire control ?

[@ScienceMonkey00]

No, do you still need help with this?

[@K1Racer.]

@@ScienceMonkey00 Yes the post process video would be helpful ! Any fusion 360 videos for us beginner plasma table users ! Have been using videos from Crossfire pro website ... But your Cad part of fusion 360 was the most helpful !!!! I am getting the 2D drawing part just the Cad part was hard .. Thanks Dave

[@ScienceMonkey00]

@@K1Racer. Ok, let me see what I can come up with.

[@K1Racer.]

@@ScienceMonkey00 Thank you very much !!!

[@hittinpaydirt]

Fusion had an update in April 2023 (in the contour geometry section) - is there any way that you can do a tutorial with the recent update that changed some of the layout

[@ScienceMonkey00]

I’ll look into it! Thanks for watching.

[@popo5413]

OK with the plasma tool setting could you name the settings by metireal eg. 1.3mm sheet 4 mill flat bare !after you have fine-tuned your cutting speeds and rights and amps and son on

[@ScienceMonkey00]

Honestly, I’m not sure. I know in the milling function you can set defaults for different tooling, but not sure for material. I’m sure you can, I just haven’t done it. I know the values in my head so I just plug them in accordingly

[@popo5413]

Sorry what I meant was if you have a set of settings for a piece of metal you could give it a tool name so you go to the setting that meets your needs so it stops the need to to have a book of settings matching the cuts

[@ScienceMonkey00]

Ohhhh sorry. Yes I believe that is a good idea

[@holdemking6969]

For some reason my simulation keeps cutting out the outside of the square first then the bolt holes. I'm worried the part will fall through before it cuts the holes. I can't seem to get it to work correctly and can't find anything to correct this issue.😢

[@ScienceMonkey00]

You can do it in two ops if your worried about it. Do the bolt holes in one operation, then cut the outside of the square, and post the whole program out. Also, but I’m not sure if this could be it, double check your arrows on the paths you selected, make sure they are on the correct side of the line.

[@K1Racer.]

I added a reply to what I would like help with.. Also do you have a playlist for 2D plasma in Fusion 360 Cadcam ?

[@ScienceMonkey00]

No playlist for 2D or plasma specifically.

[@ScienceMonkey00]

What are you specifically looking to do in 2d?

[@Blou55]

i made the same way you do, when i push the simution button, i dont get the play arrow under the sketch. what's wrong?

[@ScienceMonkey00]

Are you still having this problem?

[@randyoliver6247]

How did you setup to cut holes counter clockwise and outside clockwise? or did i miss something? thanks

[@ScienceMonkey00]

I’m not in front of a computer right now, but double check the arrows, that they are on the correct side of the line.

[@randyoliver6247]

@ScienceMonkey00 they are on correct side but are oriented the wrong direction.

[@tonyhill8300]

how do you get the magnifier at the curser?

[@ScienceMonkey00]

Ctrl + Alt + L will get you a rectangular one in Windows 10, but the one in the video is in my editing software.

[@herbhippler293]

Can I import a DXF file from Solid works

[@ScienceMonkey00]

As long as it’s a dxf I don’t see any issue

[@sincityhvacr]

hello i am using a crossfire to cut i use fusion 360 but when i go to simulate it cuts way outside the drawing do u have any idea why it would do that ? any help is much appreciated

[@ScienceMonkey00]

What do you mean it cuts way outside? Like on the wrong side of the line?

[@sincityhvacr]

@@ScienceMonkey00 thank you for you’re reply let’s say I design just a simple 2ft by 2 ft square and do all the steps go to simulate it cuts 3to 4inches outside the parameters

[@ScienceMonkey00]

Weird, did you ever figure it out?

[@ScienceMonkey00]

If you shared it with me, or sent me a pic of settings I might be able to figure it out. Almost seems like there is a weird offset or kerf set.

[@Eman425]

Is there anyway to make a new tool path on a new pet on the same file . I’ve seen people do it but everytime I try it puts the stock around all parts of that file

[@ScienceMonkey00]

Yes add another setup with tool path or just add another tool path. You can select what you want it to cut. Not sure if im missing what your saying? But it should be pretty straightforward

[@Eman425]

@@ScienceMonkey00 when I try and do that my plasma cutter never starts at the edge of the new part . It starts wherever the first part that was made is . I’m not sure if that make sense but I can’t get it to just select the new part . Probably something simple I just can’t figure it out

[@ScienceMonkey00]

@@Eman425 You are using the fabricate menu in fusion correct? If you make an additional setup you need to select the new area you want to cut in, then make your new path. That should work. If you want to email me a pic or video you [e-mail]

[@jamescole3152]

Great video but the sound is hard to hear because of the bad accustics in the room.

[@RayRay-wq1yi]

I did everything that you did and received errors. I also didn't get the arrows and not sure how to send the g code to my crossfire pro Looking for more videos from you.

[@ScienceMonkey00]

What errors?

[@RayRay-wq1yi]

Error: Internal Cam kernel error. Invalidating: Generation failed. I'm watching you video to be able to use this machine. Had it for weeks and haven't been able to make 1 cut

[@laghomtallanziko1630]

How do we get the Gcode?

[@ScienceMonkey00]

Once you have the tool path, then you post it out, you’ll need the latest post processor for whatever machine your using.

[@laghomtallanziko1630]

@@ScienceMonkey00 It's for a DIY machine. How do I know which post processor to use?

[@ScienceMonkey00]

@@laghomtallanziko1630 what software are you using for your machine to run it?

[@ScienceMonkey00]

You can get fusion360 to post a generic post as well. This is from Autodesk’s website knowledge.autodesk.com/support/fusion-360/learn-explore/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Does-Fusion-360-Write-G-code.html

[@laghomtallanziko1630]

@@ScienceMonkey00 Thank you very much.

[@oceanstrongchannel9199]

my geometry looks different

[@ScienceMonkey00]

How do?

[@jamescole3152]

WARNING "When generating toolpaths for the CrossFire PRO with THC, use NO lead out to avoid losing arc voltage at the end of a cut." Not sure what yours is in this video.

[@johndunn9819]

For a teaching video I wish you'd slow down a little.

[@ScienceMonkey00]

Sorry. Usually ppl either slow it down in the settings or pause it, or go back.

[@johndunn9819]

@@ScienceMonkey00 well, it was my fault. I had to back up and study the drawing aspect (which is also eating my lunch). I was taking my frustration out on you a little. I apologize. Once I actually create a part , I'll be back. Thank you for the video 👍

[@ScienceMonkey00]

@@johndunn9819 no worries, this stuff is not the easiest to learn!

[@johndunn9819]

@@ScienceMonkey00i'm back. maybe my scull has softened up a little...

[@ScienceMonkey00]

@@johndunn9819 🤣🤣🤣

[@logandillon5892]

Wtf have I gotten myself into…

[@ScienceMonkey00]

lol. It’s not that bad. Just need time.

[@timbamler8964]

You go way to fast and you don't tell what your clicking on

[@ScienceMonkey00]

@@timbamler8964 you slow it down or pause it, and that’s how I design them to be used. It’s a steep learning curve with this program as well, and once you learn where the functions are, you can move much quicker it thanks for watching

[@johndeerefarmer4483]

You went way to fast. How do you expect us to keep up with what tool you are using? You should say "I am going to use the circle tool and then click on it and show the results on the screen

[@ScienceMonkey00]

Hello, sorry about that. I make these for my students, and they will typically pause or rewind videos if I go to fast.

[@itsnotlevel2]

laser, waterjet and plasma....... laser jet is not a thing.

[@ScienceMonkey00]

I know, I know, may have mis spoke.