Creating First CNC Plasma G-Code Using Fusion360 With a Floating Head
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- Опубліковано 24 лип 2024
- Link to CAD Models and Plans: bit.ly/ToshDavisCNCFiles
My website to buy some of the custom metal parts: toshdavis.com/products/cnc-pl...
I've started to sell some of the parts to make the build easier for you.
Check out my playlist for the complete build below. In this video, I go over Fusion 360 and how to use it to generate your G-Code. I also go into detail about how to use Fusion 360 with a floating head. Some back story this is my 3rd build of a CNC plasma table. The first build you see in this video, while the second one I made was for a friend, featured in the THC video on my channel. This design is based on the design I designed for my friend. Hope this video helps.
Fusion 360 website: www.autodesk.com/products/fus...
Fusion 360 post-processor website: cam.autodesk.com/hsmposts
If you are looking at buying the full version of Fusion 360 use this link, it is a referral link and you get 20% off the full version: aklam.io/5NCtQv
How to build a CNC plasma table: • How to build a CNC Pla...
00:00 Intro
00:16 Downloading Fusion 360
01:30 Exporting files from SolidWorks
02:03 Importing file into Fusion 360
03:00 Basics of Fusion 360
03:51 Creating toolpath
11:54 Generating G-code, editing post-processor to work with a floating head
22:14 Finding your probe offset
23:37 Homing CNC
24:10 Zeroing the part on the sheet
25:34 Cutting
Parts List:
HG20 20mm Linear Rail Guide Actuator CNC 1500mm*: www.ebay.com/itm/292600713239
HG20 20mm Linear Rail Guide Actuator CNC 750mm*: www.ebay.com/itm/292600713239
3PCS Nema 23 Stepper Motor: amzn.to/3naoHLC
Nema 23 Stepper Motor: amzn.to/3r5Kc14
SainSmart CNC Micro Stepping Motor Driver**: amzn.to/3FfKdEJ amzn.to/31H6jCD
DC 24V 15A Power Supply: amzn.to/3FbyfvO
R55 Plastic Open Type Cable Wire: amzn.to/3GrjGWN
MR12 12mm Linear Rail Guide 100mm: amzn.to/3HN50Bf
8mm to 10mm Shaft Coupling: amzn.to/3r5Cbth
400mm 8mm Lead Screw ACME: amzn.to/3n9N10c
4 Pack Caster Wheels 4 inch: amzn.to/3q9Ja5d
5 axis CNC Breakout Board: amzn.to/3JTyLCu
12 Pack of Micro Limit Switches: amzn.to/3GfcXiy
Metal Gear Rack -20 Pitch 6ft (5174T21): www.mcmaster.com/catalog/5174T21
Metal Gear 20 Pitch 15 Teeth (5172T11): www.mcmaster.com/catalog/5172T11
Compression Spring 2" Long 0.875" OD, 0.635" ID (9657K03) Pack of 6: www.mcmaster.com/catalog/9657...
Zinc-Aluminum M5 x 0.8mm 20mm Thread Pack of 50 (91274A131): www.mcmaster.com/catalog/9127...
Zinc-Aluminum M5 x 0.8mm 12mm Thread Pack of 50 (91274A127): www.mcmaster.com/catalog/9127...
Zinc-Aluminum M5 x 0.8mm 16mm Thread Pack of 50 (91274A129):
www.mcmaster.com/catalog/9127...
Notes:
* These are the linear rails I bought, though because I don't have space in my shop I have to keep my machine outside and these rails have rusted, just keep this in mind
** I know the linked Stepper Motor Driver is unavailable. I just wanted to link the exact one I used. The second link is a driver that looks similar, I just have not used it so can't guarantee anything - Наука та технологія
This is the part of your build that I had the hardest time with. You did a great job with your tutorial. l had struggles with Fusion 360. The Fusion 360 learning curve was very steep for me. I do have My machine up and running. I could not be happier with the end results. I did add Proma THC along with splash rails and a water storage under the table with filters and a pump to refill. Mine sets in the shop and the water evaporation raises the humidity. I don't use it every day. It made sense to me not dragging a hose out refill.
Thank You again for your excellent build video.
You're welcome! I'm glad you got your machine working great!. Ya Fusion360 honest sucks. I hear OnShape is launching a new CAM system in the summer so hopefully it's a lot better because it would be nice to move away from Fusion.
Thank you so much for this video! you answered so many questions I had that no one ever answers in their videos.
Glad it was helpful!
Great vids, have been really enjoying your build series, making me seriously consider your plans as a next level upgrade to a smaller table I just finished. Hope you'll continue making more vids!
Glad you like them! Yes when I have a little more time I'll post some more videos
Yes, your videos are awesome. Great explanations of everything@@ToshDavis
Great informative video. I will be using Fusion 360 for both CAD/CAM but have never used it for plasma. Now I know what to look for in the post processor. Thanks!!
Awesome!
Thank you for the video; it was what I needed to get things rolling for me. I have been retrofitting a very old Vicon 6' x 24' plasma table. I have 20+ years of CAD experience and have always wanted to do this as a hobby. I will upload a video of the dinosaur on my other channel (I accidentally commented with it but deleted it, I do not pay a lot of attention to it yet on replies) once I finish setting up the BuildBotics controller.
Glad it hear it! Oh cool, best of luck with your retrofit.
good video with many info ... good plasma fusion explanation ... i plan to use fusion in my shop ...
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent video. Great detailed explanation. 29:12 Extremely helpful. Thanks so much for posting.
Thank you for watching. You're very welcome!
That was very good and helped me alot. I'm trying to learn the Mach3 ropes and how it interacts with my table. I figured if I could make the g-code work with a marker to draw out a small test project. I should be able to then replace the pen with my plasma cutter.
Mach3 is way different from my CNC Router controller but most of the steps are the same in fusion 360 to get the g-code..
Then once I add the plasma cutter and get the probe height working with that. I start to figure out the THC.. Crawl, Walk, Run!
Awesome! Good luck! Glad the video helped
Very helpful video, thanks !
You're welcome! Glad you liked it
Very nice and informative, cheers. Keep up thr good work
Thank you!
Great video! Though I believe I will have to watch this a couple of times more🧐
All the parts will soon arrive, Im so excited to get started😛 One concern I do have, Im working with millimeter and not inch..🤔
Thank you! Yeah, there is definitely a lot of information. That's awesome, you'll have to keep me updated on how your build goes and if you have any questions. Yeah... imperial units haha, not the best. I don't think it should be too big of a deal though, just something you can keep in mind, probably the biggest issue is when you buy the metal it was designed around inch tubing and not mm.
Great video
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.
Nice job on the build. Now that you've finished the entire project, could you do a wrap up video to cover what worked well for you and what you would do differently if you did it again. I think this would be the most valuable video for those of us that will be building one. Again, thanks!
Hi! Thanks for watching. I’m glad you enjoyed the videos. That’s a good idea. I’ll try at some point to put a video together
@@ToshDavis Tack så mycket.
@@ToshDavis yes +1 for follow up video on the build.
Great video!
Thank you!
Круто), ты молодец😊
Amazing content thanks u
Thank you!
Awesome
Thank you!
tosh I've followed your cmc plasmas table build very closely and build one using your plans almost to the tee. I did use open builds black box as I'm very new to this and feared the electronics and computers more than anything. It's up and running cutting out trial tabs etc. much thanks for all your help. I am struggling with significant bevel (20-30 degrees and parallel in y negative and y positive travel) on my cuts however, especially on the y axis. both side of the the tab bevel the same direction. the x axis cuts are perfect in positive x travel, and beveled in negative x axis travel. I've messed around with torch alignment, cutting heath and speed, but I'm really stretching my head. any suggestions?
Hi. Glad you were able to get your machine cutting. I'm sorry to hear about the bevel though. When I've struggled with bevel it normally is when the cutting tip is old. So I would first start will replacing the tips and see if that works. On my plasma cutter I have to replace the tips quite frequently to have nice cuts. The thickness of the material affects the cuts a lot as well. If I'm cutting on an older tip on thicker material I'll have a bit of bevel, but if I cut using the same tip on thinner material anything under 1/8" then there is significantly less bevel. Another part that causes bevel is the cut height I would make sure you're cutting that the optimal height for your machine. It should say somewhere in the manual. I think if I got a Hypertherm or some nicer machine it would cut nicer as well.
Are there any nuances or differences in the initial settings for floating z setup if I’m using fusion360 and post-processing in open builds? I just finished my first table and it’s down to these settings before coming alive.
Hopefully you got your machine up and running. Sorry for the late response. I don't think there is any nuances, it should just be the setting I pointed out I believe.
Do u know, what thick of the nozzle it s best for clean cuts?
I'm not sure. Normally with plasma cutting, you have one nozzle size that covers a wide range of material thicknesses. So maybe I'm not understanding the question. Though to get the best cuts it will depend on the plasma machine and the cut height. This is why a THC makes a big difference because it keeps the machine's cut height at the best height to give the cleanest cut.
Great video.
I dont have wifi un the shop...will i be able to run Fusion 360 without wifi?
Could i use my old Vista portable?
I believe Fusion360 has an offline mode, but I'm not positive. I personally have Fusion360 on my personal computer and then I have another older computer that has Mach3 running on it. So I generate the G-Code on my personal computer and then put the file on a USB thumb drive to take over to my other computer which has Mach3 on it. The big requirement for the computer that runs Mach3 is that is needs to have a parallel port.
I saw i can buy mach3 usb...so i thought to use it in my old Vista pc. ????
Hey Tosh. Thinking about building this. Do you have a rough idea of costs?
Excluding the plasma machine probably around $2,000
Hi I am planing on building a cnc plasma cutter my self. But I am wondering why do I need a z axis/floating head. Thanks😁
The material on the table is never completely flat and so the floating head allows you to re-zero the torch height before every cut. The cut quality is highly dependent on your cut height and so if your torch is cutting too close or too far away because the material height changed with respect to the torch then your cut quality will drastically change as well. The purpose of a THC is to do this adjustment just while you are cutting.
@@ToshDavis ok thanks a lot.
@@ToshDavis do i set the height in mach 3?
If you have a z axis you can control the height with mach3 but if you don't then you would have to manually set it. And it wouldn't matter in mach3 because there would be no axis to control.
@@ToshDavis ok thanks for all the help.
I watched your video with interest.
I am respectful
We use mm units.
Could I get a cad file in mm unit?
Your video makes me happy.
Trying to get started soon.
I am in Korea.
Take good care of me.
Hi sorry for a delayed response. Glad you like the videos. If you take the CAD files you should be able to just change the units in your software to mm instead of inches. Just open the CAD files in your CAD program. With Mach3 in the initial setup you just need to select mm and not inches. This will make Mach3 run the code as mm/sec and not inches/sec. Hope this helps
@@ToshDavis Thank you
when i go to import the file it says invalid post process? any ideas
Is this error at the end when you are generating the g-code? Or at the beginning when you are importing your part into Fusion?
@@ToshDavis I get the same thing when trying to import the .CPS file from local
@ 18:20 in video
@@ToshDavis got it......left out a comma on one of the edits
Big NO to fusion360 for their subscription policy and lies that "it will always be free for hobbysts"(lars christiansen, many times)!
helpful video and great job. swallowing loudly into the mic like that=thumbs down