I’m still learning Fusion, but I worked out a method to “Start cut from Center of Hole”. Since this has been a topic, and I don’t believe I’ve heard this answer I thought I’d post it. It’s not as simple as a single button click, but here it is using a .125 hole as an example:
Lead-in radius to 0: The cut goes straight from lead-in distance to edge without curving.
Lead-in sweep angle to 90 deg: this makes the cut move in perpandicular to the circumference.
Lead-in Distance: Sorry… we got math. But its simple math. Radius - 1/2 kerf. In the case of this example I am making a .125" hole and my kerf is .055". So the radius is .0625".
.0625 - (.055/2) = .040
or…
.0625-.0225=.040.
I’m not sure what the benefit of starting at the center is, if you are not spiraling into the circle to eliminate the defect where the lead in changes direction. With a 90 degree lead in, the effect of the sudden change of direction is the same, regardless of the length of the lead in.
Here is what starting at the center of a circle looks like in Sheetcam.
Well… Dang Thought I had something there. It’s doable on larger holes by using a lead-in radius and making the lead-in distance 0. The problem is that the math changes for every size, so I can only do it by trial and error.
Edit: Ii think I got it. Using a 180 degree Lead-in radius, and no Lead-in. The equation becomes:
(Hole Radius - (kerf/2))/2
Basically the same equation as above but divided by 2, because we are not doing the whole length of the lead-n, but the radius of a 180 degree lead in.
In Sheetcam, you just check the box for “start at center of circles smaller than” and input a value for the maximum size circle that you want to start in the center of.
For all you sheetcam lovers, this was kind of focused on Fusion users. ie: is there a Fusion alternative to the start from center command. We know this exists in sheetcam.
By reading your posts, I know that you know Fusion…hence I would push back on you coke v. pepsi.
Sheetcam and fusion are not similar at all. And inferring they are is a disservice for folks trying to figure this all out.
Sheetcam, looks like it rocks for getting going and cutting fast, but the investment in learning Fusion is well worth it. I learned a long time ago that basic products have their place but I soon want much more and realize I have to move on and learn the larger more complex software anyway.
Just this weekend I “bent” up some sheet metal fixtures in fusion…flattened them out…cut them on my pro and that is just for starters.
I used this method on Saturday cutting some 3/8” holes in half inch plate. Worked much better than the standard lead in/out I tried on the first set of holes.
I had intended to take some pics but I already installed them. Plates were guides for a home made log splitter my dad was trying to get back up and running.
SheetCAM vs Fusion, Coke vs Pepsi, Budweiser vs Molson Canadian (@TinWhisperer shoutout), Football vs Basketball, … damn testosterone just won’t let us agree on anything!
Thought I had something there. It’s doable on larger holes by using a lead-in radius and making the lead-in distance 0. The problem is that the math changes for every size, so I can only do it by trial and error.
Edit: Ii think I got it. Using a 180 degree Lead-in radius, and no Lead-in. The equation becomes:
