Expanding machining capabilities for advanced machine programmers

Role:

UX Designer II at Autodesk

Timeline:

May 2022 to May 2023

Outcome:

High Fidelity Desktop Designs

Introduction

During my time at Autodesk, I worked as a UX designer on the Manufacturing XD team for Fusion 360. Fusion 360 is a CAD and CAM (computer-aided design/manufacturing) software that enables users to bring their ideas to life through automated design and manufacturing processes.

At Autodesk, I worked on a project to improve a subtractive manufacturing feature known as Touch/Avoid Surfaces. This interface allows users to choose particular surfaces in their part that their tool should either machine or avoid. I collaborated closely with the product manager, the product owner, and the development team on this project.

What is CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing?)

Before we delve into the project details, it's important to provide some basic context on CAM. Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) is a process that involves using software like Fusion 360 in conjunction with computer-controlled machines (CNC machines) to automate the manufacturing process.

A Diagram of the General CAD/CAM Process

The diagram above illustrates a simple flow for getting from a design idea to a finished product. Once you have a part in the design workspace of Fusion 360, you can switch to the manufacturing workspace to begin programming your part. To program you part, you would do the following steps:

• Create a setup(s) for your part (which will dictate your coordinate system, the stock you are using, etc…)
• Create toolpaths to dictate where the tool in the machine will move and thus, how the part will be manufactured
• Post your toolpaths and translate to G-code, which is read by the machines

A part with a setup that has a facing operation created in it

What are Touch/Avoid Surfaces?

There are many different types of subtractive manufacturing (milling) strategies to generate tool paths. Strategies are different ways to machine a feature of a part, and have different parameters for users to fill in.

For example, users typically use the 2D face strategy to smooth out the top of their stock before they create subsequent operations. A user may want to use a bore strategy to machine the holes in their part and perhaps a 2D pocket strategy to machine the pockets.

An Example of a Strategy Dialog

In all strategies, there is a dialog that pops up on the right of the screen with five tabs in it to adjust toolpath settings; tool, geometry, heights, passes and links.

In the geometry section, there are multiple options for a user to define the geometry of their machining operation. These include things like defining the machining boundary, selecting additional surfaces not defined in the setup, and choosing specific surfaces to touch or avoid.