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Integrated BIM tools, including Revit, AutoCAD, and Civil 3D
Professional CAD/CAM tools built on Inventor and AutoCAD
An overview of the basic turning toolpath parameters using the Turning Face strategy.
Type:
Tutorial
Length:
10 min.
Transcript
00:03
Turning is a process where a stationary cutting tool machines a part while the part is rotating.
00:10
Machining is limited to a 2-axis plane–typically, the ZX plane where the Z-axis points through the spindle.
00:18
In Fusion, you can create different turning operations to control the shape and size of a part by defining a toolpath.
00:25
On the Manufacture workspace toolbar, on the Turning tab,
00:30
expand the Turning menu to see the toolpaths available to represent this type of machining.
00:36
For this example, select the Turning Face toolpath.
00:41
A turning face (or facing) strategy removes stock from the end of the part to produce a flat surface.
00:48
The Turning Face dialog opens.
00:51
Many of the parameters for turning face are like other turning toolpaths.
00:57
This dialog is divided into five tabs.
01:01
Place your pointer over any of the headings and settings in this dialog to open a tooltip with more details.
01:08
The Tool tab is where you select the cutting tool, type of coolant, and tool orientation, and define the cutting feeds and speeds.
01:18
The Geometry tab is where you contain the boundary area to be machined along the center line of the spindle axis.
01:25
These options vary depending on the toolpath you select.
01:30
The Radii tab is where you set the radial containment boundaries.
01:35
Open the tooltips for the Clearance and Retract positions to better understand their relationship to the part.
01:42
Outer Radius and Inner Radius are used for the toolpath containment area.
01:47
The Passes tab contains cutting parameters, the amount per cut for multiple cuts, and stock to leave.
01:55
These parameters vary the most, depending on the selected toolpath strategy.
02:00
The Linking tab controls how the tool will position between interrupted cuts,
02:05
when the tool retracts from a cut and positions for the next cut.
02:10
Approach & Retract is for positioning prior to the cut and after all the cuts have been completed.
02:17
Leads & Transitions control how the tool will blend into and off the cut.
02:22
Again, there are some minor variations between these parameters, depending on which toolpath strategy is selected.
02:30
Go back to the Tool tab to define the facing cut for this example part.
02:36
Click Select to open the Select Tool dialog, which is divided into several general areas:
02:42
the available libraries on the left, tool Filters and Info on the right, and the available tools in the middle,
02:52
with the cutting data shown below the available tools.
02:56
Within the available libraries, the Documents section shows the currently open documents.
03:02
The Fusion Library section shows several tool libraries included with Fusion.
03:08
The Local section includes any custom libraries you created.
03:12
If you have activated Cloud Libraries, you can store custom tool libraries that are available wherever you open Fusion.
03:20
For this example, expand Fusion Library and select the Turning Tools (Inch) library.
03:28
Click Turn library on.
03:31
In the resulting list, select the CNMT Right Hand tool, and then click Select.
03:38
The CNMT insert configuration is a common insert shape for roughing.
03:43
In the Turning Face dialog, Tool tab, Feed & Speed group, select Use Constant Surface Speed to set your cut rate,
03:52
or deselect it to set an actual spindle speed and feed rate.
03:56
Most lathe programmers want to use constant surface speed,
03:60
and then enter the surface speed and cutting feed per revolution to determine the feeds and speeds.
04:06
For this example, leave the default speeds and feeds for this tool.
04:11
Switch to the Geometry tab.
04:15
This is where you would normally select the front and back areas to be machined.
04:20
For face turning, you only want to set the front face to clean off the excess stock.
04:25
Fusion assumes this and shows the path across the front face.
04:30
Refer to the tooltips to see how to change the Front Mode reference point.
04:35
You can set an Offset distance from the selected reference point.
04:39
Again, for this example, leave the default parameters for this tab.
04:45
Switch to the Radii tab.
04:48
Here, you can set clearance positions and cutting areas radially across X.
04:53
The Clearance height is the fully retracted position outside the parts.
04:58
It represents the safest retract for the first rapid position and the last height after the toolpath has been completed.
05:05
The Retract height is the intermediate position, where the tool retracts between cuts when taking multiple cuts on the part.
05:13
Normally, this is a minimal distance above the stock to be machined.
05:18
The Outer Radius represents the outer surface of the stock to be machined.
05:23
The Inner Radius is the final cut depth in X.
05:27
This is how you control the machining boundary closest to the part center.
05:32
Fusion will analyze what should be cut from within this boundary.
05:36
You can adjust any of these by selecting its label on the canvas and then dragging it to a new position.
05:43
Keep in mind that there will be limitations on where you can drag things because of the From relationships.
05:50
Each of these radii can have a different reference.
05:54
Some positions will be in reference to the model,
05:57
some will be in reference to the stock that you defined in setup, and some can be in reference to each other.
06:05
Switch to the Passes tab.
06:07
These settings control the cutting steps with parameters that are specific to the selected toolpath.
06:13
In this Turning Face toolpath example, Fusion assumes that you want to take one cut.
06:20
Select Multiple Passes to take more than one cut.
06:24
This makes additional parameters available to calculate the number of stepovers.
06:29
For this example, deselect Calculate Number of Stepovers to set a specific number of steps.
06:36
Set the Number of Stepovers to 2 and leave the Stepover amount at 40 thousandths.
06:42
You can also add additional finishing passes, but you do not need a finished pass for this cut.
06:49
Switch to the Linking tab, which controls how the tool positions between interrupted cuts.
06:55
Approach & Retract is for positioning prior to the first cut in the strategy and after all the cuts have completed.
07:03
With Approach Z, you can control the Z-axis position reference at the beginning of the toolpath.
07:09
With Retract Z, you control the axis position reference at the end of the toolpath.
07:15
The default Z position is the Safe Z, as defined in the setup.
07:20
You can use these options to change the toolpath first and last cut positions.
07:26
Leads & Transitions control how the tool will blend onto and off the cut.
07:31
Again, there will be some minor variations between these parameters, depending on which toolpath strategy is selected.
07:40
Click OK to generate the turning face toolpath.
07:44
Save your model if you want to continue working on it.
Video transcript
00:03
Turning is a process where a stationary cutting tool machines a part while the part is rotating.
00:10
Machining is limited to a 2-axis plane–typically, the ZX plane where the Z-axis points through the spindle.
00:18
In Fusion, you can create different turning operations to control the shape and size of a part by defining a toolpath.
00:25
On the Manufacture workspace toolbar, on the Turning tab,
00:30
expand the Turning menu to see the toolpaths available to represent this type of machining.
00:36
For this example, select the Turning Face toolpath.
00:41
A turning face (or facing) strategy removes stock from the end of the part to produce a flat surface.
00:48
The Turning Face dialog opens.
00:51
Many of the parameters for turning face are like other turning toolpaths.
00:57
This dialog is divided into five tabs.
01:01
Place your pointer over any of the headings and settings in this dialog to open a tooltip with more details.
01:08
The Tool tab is where you select the cutting tool, type of coolant, and tool orientation, and define the cutting feeds and speeds.
01:18
The Geometry tab is where you contain the boundary area to be machined along the center line of the spindle axis.
01:25
These options vary depending on the toolpath you select.
01:30
The Radii tab is where you set the radial containment boundaries.
01:35
Open the tooltips for the Clearance and Retract positions to better understand their relationship to the part.
01:42
Outer Radius and Inner Radius are used for the toolpath containment area.
01:47
The Passes tab contains cutting parameters, the amount per cut for multiple cuts, and stock to leave.
01:55
These parameters vary the most, depending on the selected toolpath strategy.
02:00
The Linking tab controls how the tool will position between interrupted cuts,
02:05
when the tool retracts from a cut and positions for the next cut.
02:10
Approach & Retract is for positioning prior to the cut and after all the cuts have been completed.
02:17
Leads & Transitions control how the tool will blend into and off the cut.
02:22
Again, there are some minor variations between these parameters, depending on which toolpath strategy is selected.
02:30
Go back to the Tool tab to define the facing cut for this example part.
02:36
Click Select to open the Select Tool dialog, which is divided into several general areas:
02:42
the available libraries on the left, tool Filters and Info on the right, and the available tools in the middle,
02:52
with the cutting data shown below the available tools.
02:56
Within the available libraries, the Documents section shows the currently open documents.
03:02
The Fusion Library section shows several tool libraries included with Fusion.
03:08
The Local section includes any custom libraries you created.
03:12
If you have activated Cloud Libraries, you can store custom tool libraries that are available wherever you open Fusion.
03:20
For this example, expand Fusion Library and select the Turning Tools (Inch) library.
03:28
Click Turn library on.
03:31
In the resulting list, select the CNMT Right Hand tool, and then click Select.
03:38
The CNMT insert configuration is a common insert shape for roughing.
03:43
In the Turning Face dialog, Tool tab, Feed & Speed group, select Use Constant Surface Speed to set your cut rate,
03:52
or deselect it to set an actual spindle speed and feed rate.
03:56
Most lathe programmers want to use constant surface speed,
03:60
and then enter the surface speed and cutting feed per revolution to determine the feeds and speeds.
04:06
For this example, leave the default speeds and feeds for this tool.
04:11
Switch to the Geometry tab.
04:15
This is where you would normally select the front and back areas to be machined.
04:20
For face turning, you only want to set the front face to clean off the excess stock.
04:25
Fusion assumes this and shows the path across the front face.
04:30
Refer to the tooltips to see how to change the Front Mode reference point.
04:35
You can set an Offset distance from the selected reference point.
04:39
Again, for this example, leave the default parameters for this tab.
04:45
Switch to the Radii tab.
04:48
Here, you can set clearance positions and cutting areas radially across X.
04:53
The Clearance height is the fully retracted position outside the parts.
04:58
It represents the safest retract for the first rapid position and the last height after the toolpath has been completed.
05:05
The Retract height is the intermediate position, where the tool retracts between cuts when taking multiple cuts on the part.
05:13
Normally, this is a minimal distance above the stock to be machined.
05:18
The Outer Radius represents the outer surface of the stock to be machined.
05:23
The Inner Radius is the final cut depth in X.
05:27
This is how you control the machining boundary closest to the part center.
05:32
Fusion will analyze what should be cut from within this boundary.
05:36
You can adjust any of these by selecting its label on the canvas and then dragging it to a new position.
05:43
Keep in mind that there will be limitations on where you can drag things because of the From relationships.
05:50
Each of these radii can have a different reference.
05:54
Some positions will be in reference to the model,
05:57
some will be in reference to the stock that you defined in setup, and some can be in reference to each other.
06:05
Switch to the Passes tab.
06:07
These settings control the cutting steps with parameters that are specific to the selected toolpath.
06:13
In this Turning Face toolpath example, Fusion assumes that you want to take one cut.
06:20
Select Multiple Passes to take more than one cut.
06:24
This makes additional parameters available to calculate the number of stepovers.
06:29
For this example, deselect Calculate Number of Stepovers to set a specific number of steps.
06:36
Set the Number of Stepovers to 2 and leave the Stepover amount at 40 thousandths.
06:42
You can also add additional finishing passes, but you do not need a finished pass for this cut.
06:49
Switch to the Linking tab, which controls how the tool positions between interrupted cuts.
06:55
Approach & Retract is for positioning prior to the first cut in the strategy and after all the cuts have completed.
07:03
With Approach Z, you can control the Z-axis position reference at the beginning of the toolpath.
07:09
With Retract Z, you control the axis position reference at the end of the toolpath.
07:15
The default Z position is the Safe Z, as defined in the setup.
07:20
You can use these options to change the toolpath first and last cut positions.
07:26
Leads & Transitions control how the tool will blend onto and off the cut.
07:31
Again, there will be some minor variations between these parameters, depending on which toolpath strategy is selected.
07:40
Click OK to generate the turning face toolpath.
07:44
Save your model if you want to continue working on it.
Manufacture > Turning (tab) > Turning > Turning Face
Turning Face is a toolpath strategy to remove rough stock from the face of the cylinder. This can be a single cut for finishing or multiple cuts to remove bulk stock from the work piece. After we select our tool from the Tool Library, we will cover the parameters used for tool clearance, toolpath containment and multiple cuts. The Turning toolpaths cut in a 2D plane, normally the ZX plane. When you select the Turning pull down, there are a variety of toolpaths that represent this type of machining.
This video includes an overview of the toolpath dialog parameters. It discusses their similarities and differences.
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