Fusion 360 for 4 axis CNC Foam Cutters - Parallel Cuts Only - Part 1

#usbfoamcutter #grbl #FreeSoftware
In this video, I show how to take an image and create a sketch so you can use a post-processor to generate 4 axis g-code for a 4-axis foam cutter.
Using a 2d contour in the manufacture section we create the geometry for the g-code. It's based on the GRBL Laser post-processor.
To demonstrate this I'll make a simple fuselage for an L4 Grasshopper aeroplane.
It's only for parallel cuts which will be useful for some projects.
Part 2 will show making the fuselage in 2 parts and to a larger scale along with making a wing.
Post Processor Download rckeith.co.uk/download/fusion...
Website article rckeith.co.uk/fusion-360-for-...
DevSim CNC Foam the free simulator used in the video www.devcad.com/eng/devsimcncfo...
Here are the video chapters
00:00 Introduction
03:57 Contents
07:01 Calibrating the image
12:50 Create the Sketch
20:02 Installing the Post Processor
24:16 Create the Setup
29:53 Create 2d Contour
34:48 Fusion simulation
36:16 Create G-code with the post processor
38:56 Simulate with DevSim CNC Foam
43:18 Foam cutter test
48:32 Foam cutter test results

[@maksimsaturn8457]

my man here carried my honors project, your going in my gratitude page Keith

[@enterstreng]

Keith is the best example, youtube often provides fame and likes for more or less nonsense channels, but Keith has some serious knowledge and thx for your help with my foam cutter issue. I would love if there were more people like you on here, very precise videos, and so fast you can t keep up when watching them. Keep going Keith, this channel is awesome.

[@rckeith]

Thanks really appreciate your comment. 😁

[@abcdefg4570]

Thank you for all of these tutorials and videos! Using them, I've been able to build a hotwire cutter for my long-range UAVs at only 17 years old. I can't afford to pay upwards of 200$ for the foam cutter softwares, so I've been using Jedicut and Fusion 360. Jedicut is very difficult at times.

[@rckeith]

Thanks for your kind words. Have a look at www.diyrcwings.com/app/ this is free and very good. Yes, Jedicut isn't easy to use it's probably easier if you know French.😀

[@abcdefg4570]

@@rckeith Thanks! That is much easier to use than Jedicut!

[@Friendroid]

Thank you so much for these videos.

[@elvisevanessa4713]

Great tutorial, glad you came back.
Your videos are excellent!

[@rckeith]

Hi thanks. I haven't been anywhere. I only upload content when I think may help other hobbyists. 😁😁😁

[@elvisevanessa4713]

@@rckeith Yes, you help a lot in many places around the world, and I here in Japan

[@jotham123]

Haven't watched the video yet, but how would you feel about exporting two 2d cuts, each cut being one side of the foam? A post processing script may make it possible to stitch the two cuts into one 4 axis cut.

[@rckeith]

Hi don't think that would work because the left and right carriages need to be synchronised so the hot wire leaves the foam at the same time. It would make the post-processing very complex. You start getting into interpolation which involves some heavy maths. I did consider it but it's far too complex for my old head.👍👍👍

[@matthewdinaisthedude]

Keith, thank you so much for this tutorial. My machine works in a different axis, in part two, could you show us how to convert the axis quickly?

[@rckeith]

Hi Matthew. It may be a while before I have Part 2 out. If you send me an email with your axis letters I'll show you which lines of code need changing.

[@DavidtheSwarfer]

@@rckeith - I have some ideas for improvements to the post, like options for wire on/off and of course axis word options, obviously XYUV (for LinuxCNC) and XYUZ (for GRBL4axis), if Matthew Dina can tell us what he needs we can do that too.

[@giga18116]

i was looking for free solution to cut letters and other shapes using wing foam grbl cutter (made with great help of your videos)
I was using inkscape to make dxf file and jedicu to generate gcode but cuts came up not as smooth as wings go, Less curvy and more edgy instead. Hoping this helps!

[@rckeith]

Please watch all the video because you need to think how the hot wire will travel. You will probably need to add helper lines so the wire travels from letter to letter.

[@giga18116]

@@rckeith yes, did that. Its the best part coz u can set travels perfect. But shape is less smooth.
(Its something about dxf files i guess) Hard to explain. Will upload video.
Thanks for great videos!

[@rotax618]

Would it be feasible to draw the profile in any 2d cad, export it as dxf and enter the dxf file into Jedicut twice as XY and ZU?

[@rckeith]

Jedicut doesn't work well with many dxf files. Had several guys contact me with problems loading them. I don't use it anymore so I can't say if that will work.

[@vitesyukselt4146]

hi firstly thanks much, ı have a little problem, when ı try the upload .nc code to grbl cutter ı have a error "invalid gcode at line 10" and my line 10: "G0 X-0.5 Y2.458 U-0.5 Z2.458" x and u axis loooks weard but before everything is okey but now have a problem, also working if ı make edit old .nc codes

[@rckeith]

It looks like the negative values you have for U and X. Have a look at how I move the origin and increase the stock size here th-cam.com/video/sq7Dfw7plzw/w-d-xo.html that should get remove the negative values