No problem, if you try to download a file without logging in to fire share it will prompt you to log in.
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I was trying to download the Test piece Cletus uploaded, anyhow I have to call it a day. Been at it for 8 hours and it’s cooking in the shop right now. I’ll get back at it tomorrow, I’m mostly just glad to see the gantry’s and FireControl running the table properly without any real issues. And it’s holding fluid.
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I was able to get registered and download the test file, do I need to convert it before I use it?
You need to unzipped and extract the fleshare file before it’s use them . They come in compressed state to begin with.
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It’s a .dxf, so I need to load that into sheetcam and make it a gcode right?
yes that’s right
When you have a completed design saved as a DXF or SVG that is the time to move into sheetCAM to start developing toolpaths.
Or. Fusion 360🎉
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The Test Card by Cletus is .dxf so I downloaded Fusion 360, extracted the file so I have the .dxf but whenever I try to load it into Fusion it gives me the error “Fails to insert this .DXF file!”. Any idea what might be causing that?
When I try to open it in SheetCam it says this file version is no longer supported.
I think I might have figured it out, I didn’t select a plane before clicking on insert.
After several hours of working through videos and trying to figure out exactly how to navigate through fusion and make a gcode I finally got the Test file converted but without the text because somewhere along the lines I accidentally removed the TEST text and didn’t want to spend an extra hour learning how to fix that. So, here is the first cut from my table. I would call it a 95% success only because I think I can reduce the dross just a hair. Otherwise it couldn’t have gone better.
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Congrats great start.
Check out my number six video I made it might help you with some of the single line letter cutting.
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I just redownloaded it and tried it again works no problem. I am starting in a new job and then adding new part. Is that your process? It does complain about some duplicate lines but it removes them and goes on no problem.
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Those look really good! The word test will help you determine kerf width and pierce delay so it’s worth figuring out.
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When the letters disappeared on the “Extrude” function is when I lost them. I’m going to try making another file to cut today, it took almost 3 hours to figure out how to get the Test piece run through Fusion and converted to a usable GCode but it will definitely be faster the more times I do it as I become familiar with the process. Great video Tin thanks! ScottNH I read somewhere that kerf is usually 1.5x the diameter of your nozzle (ballpark) so I just used that formula. It seemed to work decent but I’m sure it’s probably a little bit one way or the other form 1.5x. Using text as a way to measure kerf seems like a really good idea. Is there a way to keep the table from splashing coolant all over the place when you are cutting near the edges? I wound up just putting my material in the center of the table and setting the work start to that spot which worked good but that won’t always be an option.
One more question, can you import .SVG files into fusion for conversion to gcode or is fusion .dxf only?
SVG can be used in fusion 360.
After you extrude the body on the left hand side in the browser bar make sure that the sketch is visible before moving into the manufacturing space.
This will allow you to select the single line geometry that doesn’t get extruded.
The video I linked to you above goes through this scenario.
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You found the best way to prevent splash that I’ve found. Just work further from the edge if possible. People also put scraps near the edge of the cut line to prevent that. I also try to remember to put the jog to continuous and at least 100 ipm before I hit start so at the end I can move the nozzle over metal if it ends up near an edge over the water.
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You should be able to go right to sheetcam with an SVG also. I love fusion but have not found the CAM part very user friendly so I use Fuion to design and sheetcam for the CAM. I will eventually figure out Fusion cam but for now I’m happy with using sheetcam. Post the SVG you want to process I’ll pull it into sheetcam to make sure.
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When I get to locking the letters, when you click on them after getting your font and spacing setup, 3 letters lock in black and one letter locks in blue. Also naming the lock button the fix/unfix button is just next level trolling…