Drag Bit Engraving in MACH3 and FUSION360
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- Опубликовано: 14 дек 2024
- This is how I make custom Dog Tags with my business. Currently I have to use Fusion 360 and Mach3 to make this happen. If you know of another program to do the same process, please leave a comment.
Special Thanks to www.rdzengrave... for the bits used in this video and all other jobs done here at my shop. Check them out, they are the best bits I have used to this day!
Fusion 360 has a pattern feature that is very handy for exactly what you are wanting to do. Create your tool path and right click on it. Select add to new pattern. Select your direction, your spacing, and quantity. You can pattern in the X and Y direction off of one tool path. Really handy, I use it every day cutting fishing lure molds.
That is true but also when you use the pattern feature, you have to assign the CAM toolpaths to every instance. If you use work offsets then you only have to do the CAM on one instance. Also if you only want to do half the amount of items you can simply change the WCS number in your setup instead of going back to the design workspace and re-doing the pattern.
You only have to do your CAM operation once, then you can pattern it. You should try it, because I literally use it everyday and only create the operation once.. As far as the quantity of times would be the least of my worries, the worst that can happen would be the drag bit wouldn't be touching a tag and you just stop the program, jog retract z away, remove the finished doc tags and proceed on to your next project.
This video inspired my own desires towards a similar set up with a different type of end product in mind but in my trialing and experimenting since I saw this video months ago I have come across aspire which has a toolpath array copy feature which could be set to your fixture sizes. It's relatively easy to use too.
That's very interesting, I looked at aspire a while back but didn't know that it did array copy. Isn't it like $2000? This seems to be a very good option for me since I can also model with it. Thanks for the heads up, I will be seriously considering this.
@@rickcperry I have been playing with it a while now, it is expensive, and most people go for the v carve pro option, the others options might have the array copy too but I would aim for aspire cause it has no restrictions and I can't be bothered with all the limits. I haven't played with the modelling tools but I will get there in time.
Can you show how you use the parallel toolpath to engrave solid infill?
Yes, it's actually easier than you think. Select Parallel on the type of operation and if you use a drag bit enter 0 for RPM or 1 of the post processor complains. Then go to select your area and it will turn blue. Then tell it how much stepover you want and hit ok. For drag bit simply pre load the bit and for machining you gotta lie to the machine. Set Z at the proper 0.000" and then manually enter 0.001 into the DRO. It will cut 0.001 deeper than true Z and you can sneak up on the cut to get the cusps that you want. Fusion will complain about cusps and stepover being larger than the tool and it's ok because it's a V bit either way and just ignore the warning. Try it
are the tags just pressure fit in there?
yes, It's almost a fail though and I ended up making a vacuum fixture because some tags would be too tight and some too loose. The vacuum system works perfectly
Nice video! I think I'm the only one on planet Earth that hasn't learned Fusion 360 yet. For the life of me I just can't seem to grasp it, I don't know what my problem is.
How did you setup the drag bit in the tool library in fusion? Thanks
I modified the settings on a normal 45 degree chamfer/engrave bit and then told it 1 rpm so the spindle doesn't come on. When I set the zero for the Z height, I lie and tell Mach3 that it's 0.050" above the part. This will preload the drag bit and give me pretty good results.
Where did you get the dog tag template
Do you mean the white fixture? I designed and made it on this machine. The tags are bought from ebay sellers in bulk.
How did you set up your drag bit in Fusion 360 to avoid the spindle starting?
I set the RPM to 1 and my VFD ignores it and doesn't turn on IF I have it powered on. When I do the drag bit engraving I normally don't even turn on the VFD.
The other option is to post it normally then edit out the M3 S#### to prevent the spindle from turning on. The S#### is the programmed spindle speed. Sorry forgot to add that you edit it after posting in a text editor.
What air pump do you have?
Are you using the controller that ame with the China cnc?
Great video! Just what I'm looking for!
I have a video on my channel about my Vivosun pump and how to mod it for increased airflow. Thanks
Muito bom
Thank you!
There is a number of programs, I guess you are looking for free ones: you can generate path in Inkscape, or use Carbide Create
Carbide Create doesn't have a work offset table like Mach does. I'm sure they can accept G10 commands but I don't want to manually edit G-code every time I run a new batch of tags. Seems Mach is still the winner in manufacturing in the small shop. I wished that you would have listed those "number of programs" and if you do, I am only interested in the ones that easily accept work offset entry. Thanks for the comment
success if someone buy dogtags
It comes and goes, I get a setup fee for getting it all in CAM and then $3.00 for each tag afterwords.