Creating a toolpath template library

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In Fusion, you can use the Template Library to store predefined manufacturing operations that you can reuse.

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As you develop your favorite style of programming, you may find yourself setting the same parameters over and over.

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By using templates, you can store these parameters,

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making it simple to program similar parts quickly, and reducing the possibility of errors from repetitive tasks.

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Templates are especially useful for shops that machine families of parts.

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In this example, a bracket has been previously configured for machining.

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The toolpaths consist of a roughing routine on the outside, roughing several types of pockets,

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finishing toolpaths, spot drilling and drilling holes, and finally, chamfering the edges of the part as a deburring operation.

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The bracket requires machining on the top and bottom.

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The other parts in this family will require the same types of operations and will even use the same tools.

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Creating a template can streamline this workflow.

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Before you begin this process by saving the existing toolpaths to the library, first, review the Template Library interface.

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From the Manufacture workspace toolbar, Manage group, click Template Library.

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The Template Library area includes all available default and user libraries.

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Use the Search field to find keywords in your template descriptions,

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noting the importance of creating useful titles and descriptions for templates.

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Under My Templates, you see any previously saved Cloud and Local libraries.

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While Local libraries are only accessible from the local computer, Cloud libraries can be accessed from any device.

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Below this, you will find the standard Fusion library template samples.

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In the center area, you see the available toolpath templates for the selected library.

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Above this list, the template management tools can be used to edit, copy, paste, import, export, and delete templates from the current library.

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Click the Filters tab to select the types of templates shown in the list

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and whether the templates contain All strategies or Any strategies, of those selected.

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Selecting a template opens the Info tab, with the contents and the types of operations contained in the selected template.

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Close the Template Library.

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To activate Cloud libraries for your user profile, on the Application bar, click Autodesk Account and select Preferences.

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Navigate to General > Manufacture, select Enable Cloud Libraries, and then click OK.

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Returning to the example, suppose that the part has been fully programmed, but there are additional, similar parts.

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Some are longer and some are shorter, but they will all be the same material, require the same types of toolpaths,

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and use the same stepovers, feeds and speeds, and they will likely use the same tools.

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Now, you can create a new template to streamline this process.

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First, select the operations to be saved within the template.

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This can be a single operation, individual operations, or all the operations from a setup, as in this case.

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In the Browser, activate Setup1.

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Select the first operation, then press and hold Shift as you select the last operation in the setup.

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Right-click the selected operations and select Store as Template.

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In the Store as template dialog, enter a meaningful Name, which will help when searching later, such as “Bracket Top”.

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Then type a Description, which may include a list of operations, or any other helpful information.

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Here, enter “For machining the top of the part”.

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For the Location, expand the drop-down and select Choose another location to open the Template Library.

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First, create a new folder to help maintain an organized template library.

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Under My Templates, select Cloud, then right-click and select Add folder.

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Name the folder “Brackets”, then press Enter.

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With the new folder selected, click Select folder.

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Back in the Store as template dialog, click Save.

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Repeat the process for the next setup.

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In the Browser, activate Setup2, multi-select all the operations, then right-click and select Store as Template.

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Enter a Name of “Bracket Bottom” and a Description of “For machining the bottom of the part”.

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The Location should still be set to My Templates > Cloud > Brackets.

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You can confirm this by placing your pointer over the Location entry for a few seconds.

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Click Save.

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Now you know how to reduce programming time by creating a toolpath template library.