I loaded Fusion on to my computer first and have gone through the tutorials. I have loaded Fire Control today and am wondering if I can design and work direct from Fire Control on simple projects or does everything have to be loaded in to Fire Control?
Sorry if it is a dumb question but thought it worth asking.
Firecontrol can only create basic G code for straight cuts.
So no.
Just create it in the CAD of your choice - a simple design in Fusion can take as little as 10 seconds. Then run your CAM through Fusion, or Sheetcam, and you have your g code ready.
At first, it’ll take a bit but in no time it’ll become second nature and you’ll be flying quickly through designing and creating stuff.
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for you maybe! 
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Welcome to the forum @MnRoads
This software flow info on LS main site might be a good read for you.
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Welcome to the forum. Bret gave you a good link that is spot on. I only add this little blurb because I did not realize the last two steps (Manufacturing and CNC Cutting), you have very little choice.
You will need to learn three software systems: Design, Manufacturing and CNC cutting.
- Keep in mind that “design/drawings” can come from all sorts of software; basically anything that can create a DXF or SVG file.
- “Manufacturing/CAM” or making the g-code is limited to two sources: SheetCAM or Fusion 360.
- Cutting at the table “loading the gcode,” is limited to one source: FireControl.
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The workflow on the Langmuir site is out of date. The operations are the same, but they have renamed a lot of them. It is still a good exercise.
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Ok, thank you, I won’t look into it any farther.
I went through the Fusion360 tutorials first and then it was time to plug in the Fire Controller. Nothing happened, so then found the download software for fire control and when I was able to open Fire Control it looked like there was a lot in it that was a duplicate in Fusion. That is what spurred the question.
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Curiosity is a good thing, plus there’s really no such thing as a dumb question.
There are several manufacturers that do implement certain shapes and other common geometries into their controller software to cut without the use of CAD and CAM. But often times they go unused as I’ve seen it myself with Optimum via STV CNC.
Although they did release a completely new version which I’ve yet to try out - seems like a trip to my friend’s is in order
Really though, even with Firecontrol being limited, it has just enough to do what most people need anyway. Less is more in this case.
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Jim,
DXF or SVG files?; these things aren’t for people that don’t know what those things are. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into, should have guessed it when I bought a fully assembled “new never used” table and plasma cutter from a Marketplace ad. The seller must have decided the learning curve was too steep.
I was interested in the Arcdroid, looks to be simpler system, bought this one thinking they must all operate the same, it was available nearby and less money. Surprise!
I will stick with it and figure it out.
Thanks for the tip
Checked it out, it helped.
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I am not sure if you are asking what DXF or SVG files. They are both graphic files that portray the image with line segments that have data points for the start and end and that gives the Manufacturing/CAM program what it needs for telling the CNC machine how and where to move when it adds in your cutting speed.
DXF is a very common file type both in graphic programs and drafting programs. It would be odd for a drafting program to not have that as a file type. But there are some free versions of drafting programs that might restrict you from exporting a DXF file unless you pay for a license.
SVG, as I have been told, usually is handled better because it is a ‘cleaner’ file type than the dxf file. Most art/graphic files have an SVG format.
Either file type is acceptable for Fusion 360 (free/hobby or licensed version) or SheetCAM to use to make the gcode file for FireControl.
I got my system when I was 62. I have some difficulty reading due to vision issues so I sometimes skip important words. Maybe I am a lazy reader as well. But, there were times I had to give myself a talkin’ to, to say “You have learned before. It is no different. Now what do you need to do next. One foot in front of the other …so to speak.” Lots of us (older folks) here like that. That is why we try to help new people: We remember what it was like.
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Oh! To be 62 again!!! 
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I hear ya!
Well, I am 72 and would like to have this mastered? before I am 73. (April) I have no prior experience with cad/am. I come from the cutting torch and arc welder days, fabricating with good old Eyeball Engineering and a tape measurer.
I have spent the money on the equipment now and am too cheap to leave it sit in the corner, so I guess I am committed to making it work. (Or should be for thinking I could do it)
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Just don’t put too much pressure on yourself to be cutting right away. It’ll happen. There are folks on here who are more than willing to stick with you.
What is your goal? Signs, repair parts around the farm, art, …? Which plasma cutter did you get with the setup? How about your air supply and drying equipment? The more we know, the easier it is to help.
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I have the Razorarc 45, the 24 x 24 bed with a water tray.
The plasma table, CNC, is something I have always been interested in. I have to make some electric motor mount plates to re-locate the electric/hydraulic power supplies on my four post car lifts that I have installed. Because of making duplicates of the same plates I thought it was time that I invested time and money to give it a whirl.
Hopefully if I get efficient with it I can help my shop out with parts or just have fun with it making things that interest me.
No big plans of making money with it.
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Those mounting plates sound like a really good first project. Likely they are pretty simple. If they have bends you may need to venture into the Sheetmetal functions of Fusion.
Fusion has a “canvas” feature that will let you import a picture, add scaling, and trace it. You can watch a youtube video on the canvas feature and get an idea of how to create one.
Basically, you can make a cardboard model, take a photo, bring the photo in as a canvas, then trace it to make a sketch of your bracket.
Or, if it’s a simple shape, just draw it from scratch in Fusion. If you show us a picture, we can make a recommendation on which might work best.
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@MnRoads For a beginner like me, it can be a little overwhelming, but adding to what @Wsidr1 said;
I just found out that in Inkscape (which is free) you can upload a regular picture and it will convert it to a .dxf file.
I just did it the other day, it was amazing.
Although right know I can’t remember how to do it, it wasn’t too hard, even for a dummy like me.
Hahahah…Originally it took me 4 hours to draw a box in Fusion…Now I am down to 3 hours…hahaha…JK. 
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It is all in what program that “the light switch comes on” in your brain.
RunsWithScissors can run circles around me in Inkscape. I just tried to draw something in Inkscape and can’t figure it out. Back to Fusion 360 for me. But, to get comfortable knowing what I was doing in Fusion took weeks. It has now been nearly 3 years and I only know a small percentage of the capabilities of Fusion but I can make it do nearly anything I can imagine.
Here is a very brief video where TinWhisperer takes you from start to finish making a bracket, perhaps along the lines of what your first project might be:
Here is a longer video where TinWhisperer takes an image and converts it so that it can be used for making a sign. He takes you thru the entire process from finding and image on internet, having website convert the image so that it works in Fusion and then bridging the centers of letters so that they don’t fall out of the sign. He then takes it to Manufacturing so that you have a gcode file (nc) that can be used by FireControl.
My point in all this is that the more you see the process, the less intimidating it is. The only thing not shown is how to make a “tool” in Fusion. But I think that is enough information for right now.
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I started, my first try, was taking a picture with my phone, emailed it to myself and managed to move it into Fusion, sized it using the 3/8 holes in the plate, drew lines around it on the border of the image but it did not fit square on the grid. I tried to square it up but finally gave up and designed the plate in Fusion.
Now I have the plate saved but have not figured out how to move it into Fire Control to try to cut it. Maybe I will get it done today.
I got frustrated with the laptop that I have hooked to the system, it was too slow. Even for me, a one handed key board typist either the software programs were slowing it down or it is too old and needs to be replaced. I did a “Restart” on it last night so today, first thing I have to reload Fusion and Fire Control. I’ll see if it keeps up with me now.
I found a good Youtube series by Mike Festiva and will use the two laptop method to follow along and get to where I am going with this thing.
It is interesting to see that Mike Festiva started with a Langmuir CNC table but has also purchased an ArcDroid. His review of the two systems is worth watching. He says the Fusion 360 is used on both machines for processes needing design work, but for quick cut and run, the Arcdroid is easier to trace or plot a part for the one and done pieces.
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