I have a crossfire pro with the torch height control, and a thermal dynamics cutmaster 40. I am making garden markers out of 12 gauge aluminum. When I am setting up the 2D cutting in the linking tabs, I’ve had to use different settings for the lead in entry (anywhere from no lead in to .01 and .07 radius) and pierce clearance from .18 to.07. Sometimes it allows all the cuts, and sometime only a couple, then I have to play around with those two settings to get it to select the whole design. Could it be something in the design - such as the width of the cuts, or what other settings should I check out? Is there a rule of thumb to follow when I am designing?
Always set pierce clearance to zero. It’s just an extra lead in.
1 Like
Thank you. I will try that.
The smaller the item to be cut (holes, letters) the shorter lead in you need to have. .8 is still pretty safe with a 45*. or .1 radius with no lead in distance and steeper angle - 90*.
2 Likes
Welcome to the forum.
Sticks gave you a good rule of thumb.
And definitely agree with David: NO Pierce clearance needed. It is like our appendix: superfluous!
I am assuming you are using Fusion 360 because it tends to be the more finicky with accepting contours. What you might consider in the near future is to do multiple tool-paths under the same setup. That way you get the best quality cut with an appropriate lead-in and for those contours that are discarded, you run a separate tool-path with a very small lead-in.
The contours with very small to no lead-ins may suffer from a little scarring with the plasma entry cut but at least you get the contour accepted.
Another “trick” some people do is to increase the size of your sketch, by perhaps double. Run CAM as usual and then when you get to FireControl, you reduce the image by 50%. In this scenario, FireControl will reduce all of the lead-ins the needed amount and you will get all of the contours cut.
1 Like
Thanks for the info. I will keep this in mind for my next one.
Great idea with adjusting in FireControl. I appreciate the detailed reply. I was really struggling with this part as I am pretty new to this.
1 Like
I did as well, when I first started. This was probably one of the more difficult, nuanced things with the entire design to gcode process: getting all of the contours to be picked up. SheetCAM really does a better job with catching things but Fusion 360 will reward you if you stick with it.
I watched a lot of videos and always remark that it was a video by @TinWhisperer that finally helped me to understand what was going on. I am certainly not proficient with Fusion 360 but I can generally make it do what I need to do now. It took a few months of learning to get past that “NOW WHAT HAPPENED” phase.
Lots of good people of the forum. Pay close attention to their instructions. Don’t give up.
3 Likes
I am going to check out that video. Thank you
LOL!!! Now you put me on the spot because I would not know what video it was.
He has a YouTube Channel and on this forum he has this topic:
I always learn something new when I watch his videos even if it is not a topic I think that I am interested. You will learn aspects of Fusion 360 that I have never heard on other Fusion 360 videos. And, he shows you his mistakes. I think that is one of the best ways to learn: mistakes show you what might happen.
2 Likes
Awesome. I am already watching one on sheet metal, but will look for that link as well.
2 Likes