Tabs in Autodesk Fusion 360 for CNC Woodworking. A complete tutorial.

Hey CNC Woodworkers! This is an Autodesk Fusion 360 walk through tutorial on how to setup 3D tabs for CNC woodworking, both in the design and the manufacturing workspace (toolpaths). This is the entire process I do for setting up an STL model for 3D 2-sided machining, so I also cover the basic tips on how I do this. It's all in real-time, and you can follow along with the same files.

--- These are the exact STL models I used for this demo, and also what I used to create my Falcon automaton. I also have the complete setup Fusion 360 file that you can get to see how I did it.

I don't usually do Fusion tutorials, because they don't get a lot of views. If you like it, comment below. Otherwise..I'm not sure if I'll do them!

In this video I also cover how I setup a project for 2-sided machining. I basically draw my stock outline around my workpiece, and create a "Setup" around it. I can then easily copy it and flip it over to do the backside.

I flip back and forth from using Fusion and Vectric VCarve and Aspire for this type of stuff. I keep going back to Fusion due to the simulations: I can make sure I don't have a bit crash before even starting the CNC router. Fusion is harder to learn, but has a lot more options. But every time I use Vectric for my toolpaths I end up with some collision that I wasn't expecting, which could have been avoided with a proper simulation. At first I thought VCarve made this process easier...but it really isn't any more difficult in Fusion once you know how!

Corbin Dunn

0:00 Intro
0:23 Importing an STL / OBJ / Mesh
1:20 Drawing the Stock
3:40 Create Tabs
9:40 Trimming Tabs
10:08 Initial Toolpath Setup
12:10 Roughing Toolpath
18:05 Finishing Toolpath
20:31 Bottom Setup
22:57 Finished Results
23:24 Conclusion

[danielpritchett]

i only found this because i was looking for tabbing advice but this video solves my past three day problems

[MarkusHamm-ll]

Hi Corban, i used the same techniques to cut out on my cnc machine. Great video! Best Regards Markus

[bubaslf]

I am doing a job that is very similar to that one, and the trick to sketch around the part really helped because I could not find a way to avoid machining the tabs away during rough machining. Thank you!

[StevePotter]

@CorbinDunn That was a VERY helpful tutorial that answered a bunch of questions I was struggling with! Such as how to keep the tabs from being cut off. Can you explain how you fix the workpiece once you have flipped it over, to be sure the top and bottom are aligned well with each other? Do you use locator pegs or something? Please keep doing such Fusion tutorials!!

[robinp.]

Très intéressant, merci pour les astuces

[wayahedia]

wait a sec.. tabs are automatic in Fusion. why would you do this?