I am a member at a makerspace near Detroit, and we just acquired a well equipped used CrossFire Pro, with a Razorweld 45 and Sheet Cam installed on a laptop. I like Fusion 360 and will use it for my sketches. I suppose I have a couple options… 1) Export sketches as DXF, then create my GCode using Sheet Cam, or 2) use the Fusion 360 post processor to do everything. Are there any benefits of one method over the other? Also, where can I can find the Fusion 360 and Sheet Cam settings for the Razorweld 45? Thanks in advance. Jim
@Auto_Pilot Welcome to The forum
Myself I like to do everything with inside the fusion ecosystem. The main reason I like to is because any change in design will work forward into Cam without having to leave the program.
The downside to Fusion cam is no native center marking option and a little less detailed as far as cutting rules goes.
Of all the cutting I ve done there is only one very complicated large art piece that I had to use sheet cam on because Fusion would not process it no matter what I did. But this was a anomaly.
I’m heavily biased towards fusion so take that into account.
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I do very little in fusion mainly because I have been exposed to other software previously.
I do play with it a little here and there. I will say if I was designing in fusion why export it elsewhere to cam? I would just finish it there.
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Welcome to the forum.
Agree with both Tin and Phillip. Find what you are comfortable with and we all come with our own bias. Strictly from a financial basis I stuck with the hobby version of Fusion for everything and now I have not found a reason to need SheetCAM.
Like Tin said, it is nice to stay in the one environment and do everything but once you get accustomed to your process, either one will work.
Fusion 360 allows for amazing designs especially in the 3D environment. You may not think you will need it but now that I am comfortable with it (such as Sheet Metal environment), I learn more every project and it is because I am staying in that environment.
SheetCAM: Fusion is at about an 8.5/10 compared to how SheetCAM does the CAM process. I would give SheetCAM 10/10 rating. With “work-arounds” Fusion gets to about 9.8/10 of the SheetCAM process…from what I can tell. I just never liked the SheetCAM interface.
Once you learn one or the other, you won’t look back.
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Welcome to the forum and congratulations on a well named thread!. Often the thread name is not related to the real question 
My vote is F360 for both CAD and CAM. I say this not because I think SheetCAM is a deficient program, but because being new to the CAD/CAM process you will likely sometimes need to revise your sketches after you try to create tool paths. Going back and forth between F360 and SheetCAM would be a hassle.
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Welcome to the forum.
If you were ONLY going to use Fusion for CAD then that is an obvious, no additional cost choice. However, if you’re going to be using other CAD/Drawing programs, I HIGHLY recommend going the SheetCam route. You’ll experience far less frustration in this case.
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Thanks for all comments. I am leaning toward Fusion360 post processor, but Fusion is not installed on the Plasma-dedicated laptop. Sheet Cam is on that laptop. I have a follow up question… Is there somewhere on Langmuir’s website where I can find recommended Fusion settings?
So the Maker space has already licensed SheetCam? If that is the case, this is NO CONTEST. Use SheetCam. It is FAR easier to learn and you’ll have the knowledge you need when you get that oddball design from any other source.
And don’t let that Scary Monster TW tell you to keep everything in the same ‘ecosystem’. This is 2D technology for goodness sake!
EDIT: Also, don’t let him anywhere near your manuals! DAMHIKT!
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He is only scary when he turns red. I haven’t seen that side for awhile.
Yes, definitely learn SheetCAM since you have access.
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Sorry, I agree with the Tin Man. Fusion does it all. In the five years I’ve used it, I have never needed any other program. As mentioned earlier, SheetCam has more 2D cutter functions, but I personally have never needed them.
Now, I will say the fusion learning curve is way more intensive.
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And how many 2D artsy fartsy projects have you done in these five years? I know that you’ve done some fine work. But everyone’s needs and interests are different. Will you concede that, perhaps, someone might get some use out of another CAD/Drawing program than Fusion 360 (I’ll update you with bug fixes every Wednesday)? 
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You’re correct… almost no artsy-fartsy stuff.
I concede.
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With very little CAD and zero CAM experience (and what I had was 20 years ago) I went directly to Fusion and stayed there. My rationale, besides the free hobby use software, was the investment in learning it for this purpose (a crossfire pro) could be leveraged for other, future needs, CNC, 3d Printing, etc.
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That is where I was in the process. And, you did not say the words but I gathered from what you said that you picked one (in this case Fusion 360) and decided that you would learn it.
Once I made the commitment that I would learn Fusion 360, and stopped trying to find the “easiest” option, then things started to fall into place. I think what is hard is that Fusion is such a massive program that new users are overwhelmed.
And I love that I have a 3D modeling program now and I use it, to some degree, most days. I got a 3D printer just over a year ago and I absolutely love designing and making things with it.
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The best reason for having SheetCam is that you don’t have to learn and use fusion, any other 2d cad program that saves in dxf will work fine. Look at all the patterns here on File Share and see how many need a complicated 3D program like Fusion. None. I happen to use V-Carve on my Shopbot, CNC mill, laser cutter and plasma cutter. All 2d stuff. If you are also into 3d printing, Fusion is worth the extra learning curve (it’s steep). It is a shame that Langmuir doesn’t provide a post processor for V-carve.
I completed my first project! A squirrel-proof bird feeder. Not quite done but very close.
I found it easier to use the DXF exported from Fusion then sheet cam. The previous owner of this system had the plasma settings completely messed up and it took me a while to figure this out. For example, the thickness of 12 gauge steel in sheet Cam was listed as 3.94 inches! Once I got the thickness correct everything went very well.
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The squirrels accept the challenge!
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I found a video where a guy tested the size hole such that a bird can fit but a squirrel can not. He put a lot of time into his testing. 1.875 inches is the size. He cut 1/2 inch sections of 1.875 id pipe and glued them together with hot glue. I’ll test this soon. Hate squirrels!
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I love them they taste great … Just when you are trying to get your wife to try them and has never eaten them… Don’t call them a tree rat.
In Western Washington we have these small squirrels that can get into spaces much smaller. I got a bird feeder from Birds Unlimited listed as “Squirrel Proof.” No such luck. The squirrels loved that feeder.