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Back - README

Planar

The follow page details the settings to set for the main operation types used for ASMBL. Most models can be setup using a single 3D Contour and 2D Adaptive Clearing. Feature specific CAM operations (such as smoothing a fillet) can be done with additional operations if the model requires it.

This is a guide that I have found to work in most situations, it may not always be correct.

2D Adaptive Clearing

Uses: Top surfacing

  • Tool
    • Select/create a cutting tool with appropriate dimensions for what is installed on you ASMBL machine
  • Geometry
    • Select the surface you would like to top surface
  • Heights
    • Set the Clearance Height and Retract Height equal height
      • Exact height doesn't matter, just ensure the tool will clear the print.
  • Passes
    • Set Optimal Load to ~0.2-0.8 mm
    • Set Direction to Conventional
    • Disable Stock to Leave
  • Linking
    • Set Ramp Type to Plunge

Multiple surfaces at different heights can be selected with the same process. This can help reduce setup time in Fusion

3D Contour

Uses: Side walls & slopes

3D Contour can be used for most none flat surfaces. They are good for quickly CAM'ing a large number of faces.

  • Tool
    • Select/create a cutting tool with appropriate dimensions for what is installed on you ASMBL machine
  • Geometry
    • Recommended settings to machine everything:
      • Set Machining Boundary to Silhouette
      • Set Tool Containment to Tool outside boundary
    • If you want to do more complicated CAM operations you might want to select the boundry contours for the sides you would like to cut (everything in the boundry will be cut)
      • You can specify an out and inner boundary to only cut a certain region
      • Play with the settings here to make it do what you want
  • Heights
    • Set the Clearance Height and Retract Height the same height
      • Exact height doesn't matter, just ensure the tool will clear the print.
    • The Top Height and Bottom Height can normally be left but you may want to change them for your part:
      • ie if you have a chamfer on the bottom face; you can set the the bottom height to the top edge of the chamfer
  • Passes
    • Set Direction to Conventional
    • Set Maximum Stepdown to be equal to ~2 layers
      • Recommend large stepdown for vertical faces and a small stepdown if you want to interpolate a slope to reduce staircase effect.
    • Set Order By Depth to True
    • Disable Stock to Leave
  • Linking
    • Set Maximum Stay Down Distance to 0 mm
    • Set Ramp Type to Plunge
    • Set Transition Type to No contact

If a face has something above it, then it can be CAM'd by selecting that face as below (You may need to create a separate operation for this to work):

Angled overhangs can be CAM'd using offset faces. See the example here for how that can be setup.

2D Contour

Uses: Can be used for vertical walls where you may want more control that with a 3D contour

  • Tool
    • Select/create a cutting tool with appropriate dimensions for what is installed on you ASMBL machine
  • Geometry
    • Select all the contours for the sides you would like to cut
  • Heights
    • Set the Clearance Height, Retract Height, and Feed Height equal height
      • Exact height doesn't matter, just ensure the tool will clear the print.
    • Set the Top Height and Bottom Height appropriately for the desired process
      • ie top and bottom of the surface
  • Passes
    • Set Sideways Compensation to Right (conventional)
    • Set Finishing Overlap to non zero for better finish
    • Enable Multiple Depths
    • Set Maximum Roughing Stepdown to be equal to ~1-2 layers
      • Ensure this is an integer multiple of the layer height to get the most consistent results
    • Disable Stock to Leave
  • Linking
    • Disable Ramp

2D Contour can be used when fine control over the process is needed. Undercuts can be done using this process.

Non-planar Operations

This program will automatically detect if an operation is non planar and will embed the cutting after all required parts have been printed.

Non-planar operations can be configured similarly to the planar operations described above. More care is required when creating the toolpaths as is it easy to accidentally cut into the part.

Some non-planar operations that have been tested to work are:

  • Parallel
  • Radial
  • Spiral
  • Scallop

An example Fusion setup can be found here