User-defined

This page provides a video and step-by-step instructions to guide you through using the 3+2 Axis machining mode, with the ‘User defined' option, to compute a toolpath strategy for your part.

With this machining direction:

The tool orientation comes from the orientation you specify in the Target setup(s) within CAM Assist.
A toolpath strategy will only be computed by limiting the tool to the specified orientation.
Facing operations will only be computed if the +Z Axis is selected.
The tool then operates on the part from a fixed orientation, which means that the orientation cannot change during cutting.

Note: the beta version of this feature is ideal to run on simple to moderate parts up to 12”x12” (300mm x 300mm).

Step-by-step instructions

Videos

The following YouTube videos provide useful information:

How to Use the 3+2 Axis Machining Mode (User-defined) - illustrates the following step-by-step instructions (duration: 2:14).
Using 3+2 with CAM Assist for Autodesk Fusion - provides an in-depth walkthrough of CAM Assist’s 3+2 machining modes (duration: 12:36).
How to run a 3+2 part through CAM Assist - a demonstration of using the 3+2 machining mode (user-defined) to specify separate roughing and finishing directions (duration: 6:40).

Selecting a part and opening CAM Assist

Specifying the ‘3+2 Axis’ machining mode

Tool library - select a ‘Tool library’ from the drop-down.
Stock Material - select a material from the drop-down.
- CAM Assist will select tools, machining strategies, and cutting presets based on the selected material (see the Tool Use tab for a report on the selected ‘Tool library’).
Choose machine - select a machine from the drop-down.
Edit machine properties [optional]- enables you to change the machine’s properties (see Machine Properties).
Machining mode - select ‘3+2 Axis’.
- The ‘Machining direction' options are displayed.
Machining direction - select ‘User defined’.

Using the ‘User defined’ option

Target setups - ensure at least one Setup is checked.
- The ‘Target setups' section is populated with options for each Fusion setup for the part.
- If you want CAM Assist to create a toolpath strategy for a setup, ensure that the respective setup's checkbox (such as 'Setup1' and ‘Setup2’) is checked.

For each ‘setup’ that you have checked:

Choose from the options shown in ‘User defined' options, below.

Optional Steps:

Click Run
- CAM Assist now applies it’s computed toolpath strategy to the part within Fusion (see the example, below)

‘User defined’ options

The following table shows the options available for the 3+2 Machining mode (User-defined).

Option	Instruction
Same direction for roughing & finishing	Checked - indicates you want to machine the part in the same direction for both roughing and finishing operations. Unchecked - indicates you want to machine the part using different directions for the roughing and finishing operations. If unchecked, the ‘Select machining directions' option is replaced with both ‘Select roughing directions’ and ‘Select finishing directions'
Keep roughing order	Checked - tool orientations will be ordered in the same sequence as they are selected (this applies to ‘Select roughing directions’, see below). Unchecked - tool orientation will be sequenced by CAM Assist but may not be in the order selected.
Select machining directions	This option is only displayed if ‘Same direction for roughing and finishing’ is checked. To set a machining direction: Click Select (0). On the Fusion part, select at least one face - you can select as many as required. ‘Select (0)’ changes to ‘Select (n)’, where n is the number of separate faces you selected. For this option, you can only select planar (not curved) faces on the Fusion part.
Select roughing directions Select finishing directions	These options are only displayed if ‘Same direction for roughing and finishing’ is unchecked. To set a roughing or finishing direction: Click Planar/cylindrical face (0). On the Fusion part, select at least one face - you can select as many as required. ‘Planar/cylindrical face (n)’ changes to ‘Planar/cylindrical face (n)’, where n is the number of separate faces you selected. For this option, you can only select planar (not curved) faces on the Fusion part. You can select a cylindrical face that features a hole as a direction of tool orientation. You will not be able to click ‘Run’ until both directions have been selected.
Avoidance geometry	Blocks out portions of the stock that you don't want to be machined in this setup. These blocked out portions (avoidance geometry) are different from fixture bodies. While fixture bodies MUST be avoided, the Avoidance Geometry is considered part of the stock and MAY be gouged in specific cases. For example, drilling a through hole may pierce the avoidance geometry but not the fixture. Fixture bodies also require clearance from any tool, whereas all roughing tools may touch the surface of the avoidance geometry. For details of the options available, see Avoidance Geometry, below.
Workholding security	Use the slider to set the ‘Workholding security’ for the specified setup. Excellent - a more secure ('excellent') workholding, such as a vise with serrated jaws, will result in CAM Assist selecting larger tools or more aggressive cutting parameters. This will result in faster toolpaths, but with more force on the workpiece. Poor - a less secure ('poor') workholding, such as a thin part held by a soft jaw, will result in CAM Assist selecting smaller tools or less aggressive cutting parameters. This will produce slower toolpaths, but with less force on the workpiece. based on the slider’s position, the ‘Largest available tool’ is the largest tool diameter that will be available by CAM Assist to calculate a toolpath strategy. CAM Assist will choose roughing tools suitable for the specific workholding.

Avoidance Geometry

Avoidance geometry blocks out portions of the stock that you don't want to be machined in this setup.

This geometry ensures that machining operations do not occur in specific portions of the stock for this setup, such as the space under the part or between the vise jaws.

These blocked out portions (avoidance geometry) are different from fixture bodies. While fixture bodies MUST be avoided, the Avoidance Geometry is considered part of the stock and may be gouged in specific cases. For example, drilling a through-hole may pierce the avoidance geometry but not the fixture.

Fixture bodies also require clearance from any tool, whereas all roughing tools may touch the surface of the avoidance geometry.

You have two choices for Avoidance Geometry:

Use the Generate Avoidance Geometry add-on:
- CAM Assist will do the majority of the work for you.
- For instructions on how to user the add-on, see Generate Avoidance Geometry.
Use the option in the ‘Target setups’ section:
1. For Avoidance geometry, click Body (0).
2. Within the model/part, click on the specific portion of the stock to indicate avoidance geometry.
3. Body (0) changes to Body (n), where n is the number of bodies that you have selected.
4. On clicking Run, CAM Assist will generate the avoidance geometry and integrate it with the computed toolpath strategy.

3+2 Axis machining mode example

The following screenshots show the ‘Demo 4’ part before and after applying CAM Assist’s computed toolpath strategy.

Click on the images to magnify them.