Create a multi-axis contour operation

00:02

In this lesson, we'll create a multi-axis contour operation.

00:07

After completing this lesson, you'll be able to create a multi-axis contour operation and control multi-axis tool orientation.

00:17

In Fusion 360, we want to carry on with our spline coupler RTP.

00:22

Now that we've taken a look at our multi-axis swarf, we want to move on to take a look at multi-axis contour.

00:28

We're going to select multi-axis contour, and we're going to take a look at our multi-axis tool library.

00:33

We're going to be using tool number 8, which is a taper mill, and we're going to select.

00:40

From here, we're going to move on to our geometry, and we need to select a curve.

00:45

For this example, I'm going to be taking a look at this smaller groove on the side of my part.

00:50

I'm going to select the bottom edge of the groove, and I'm simply going to say 'okay' and see what the operation creates.

00:59

We can see a preview of the tool on the screen and in our browser, we can see that the toolpath is currently being calculated.

01:06

Certain operations, especially multi-axis operations are going to take a bit more to calculate.

01:13

So you might need to make sure that you check on the operation and whether or not it is completely calculated.

01:20

You can always go into your manage task manager and see if anything is currently calculating or if there are any issues.

01:28

While this operation is selected, I'm going to go in to simulate and take a look at what the tool is doing.

01:34

I'm going to view it from a right hand side, and I'm going to manually move the cursor along the bottom,

01:40

and we can see that the tool comes in, and it's staying exactly normal to our selection.

01:48

We can see that we've got plenty of clearance with our adapter plate, and the tool moves away.

01:55

So everything there looks pretty good, and we're getting the tool in, and we're cleaning out that edge.

02:01

But if we want to make any adjustments, for example, if we want the tool to lead the cut by a little bit,

02:08

we can always go back into the operation and go to its passes and make adjustments to the tool parameters.

02:14

Right now, there are various parameters that we can adjust.

02:18

For example, there's an axial offset value in which we can use to shift the curve up or down.

02:24

Right now it's centered, and we can change that compensation to left to right, and then we have options to do forward tilt and sideways tilt.

02:33

We can also do a minimum and a maximum tilt.

02:37

These are helpful whenever we're dealing with limitations for either access to the part or maybe limitations on the tool.

02:46

For our purposes, I'm going to increase the forward tilt, and I'm going to set it to 5 degrees, and I'm going to say 'okay'.

02:55

I am going to allow it to recalculate this,

02:56

and then we're going to take a look at how that changes the tool and how it's actually interacting with our part.

03:04

Once it's been calculated, I'm going to go back in to simulate.

03:08

But this time I want to take a look at it from the top.

03:13

When we rotate to the top, it might be kind of hard to see because of some of the other fixtures that we have.

03:19

So I'm going to go in and hide the UMC-750, then once again manually move my cursor around.

03:26

So the tool is now angled 5 degrees forward or in the direction it's traveling.

03:33

This takes the load or at least the intersection between the end of the tool and the part.

03:38

It takes the load off of that leading tip and allows us to tilt the tool.

03:43

Generally, we would do this for a cleaner cut and less tool wear and in this case, 5 degrees is a very small amount.

03:51

If we want a larger amount, we simply need to go back and make adjustments.

03:56

The angle is going to be based partially off of what we're cutting, but also it's going to be based off of the tool itself.

04:03

Now, in our case, the tool has a very small radius and diameter at the tip, and it has a five degree taper on the overall body.

04:12

Notice when we increase that angle too much that we're getting a warning, and it's not actually able to create the toolpath.

04:18

Because we went past the 5.4 degree taper on the tool, what we're seeing is we're actually causing a situation where the tool isn't able to cut.

04:29

But right now I'm going to set all these values back down to zero and allow it to recalculate.

04:34

But this is a good example where we can use a multi-axis contour,

04:38

select an edge and allow it to come in and traverse around the part, keeping at a specific orientation to our selection.

04:47

Once that's been recalculated, let's go ahead and save this before moving onto the next step.