This is post is applicable to the old CNC Router that we sold in 2022. It is not applicable to the new CNC Router.

 

This page explains the steps to get your tool paths from Fusion 360 to the CNC router.

 

Our CNC runs software called Mach4. 

When in the Manufacture section of Fusion you may export your tool paths. Right click the tool path (or Setup containing numerous tool paths using the exact same end mill) and select Post Process. This will open a dialog box. This box will look quite different on Windows versus Mac computers.

This is a normal dialog box to save a file but with some options.

One very important option is to choose which software you want Fusion 360 to format for. If you see a menu with the term Acramatic in it change that selection to one that contains Mach3Mill. Even though we are running Mach4, Fusion currently only gives us a choice for Mach3 which works fine with our CNC router.

There are 2 other options I turn off by choice.

I deselect “Open NC file in editor”. If you leave this on it will open a text editor with your gcode file. Leave this on if that’s something you want.

I also turn off G28 safe retracts. Left set to Yes this returns the CNC gantry to its furthest left, forward, and up positions. This wastes a little time but more importantly I suspect it can nudge the Machine Zeros slightly as it maxes out it’s travel. This can cause tiny offsets when running a second gcode file causing alignment issues in multiple cuts.

 

When you have all your settings correct click the Post button and save your file. Name it anything you want but make sure it retains a .tap file extension. You may bring this to the CNC router on a thumb drive or over the AMT network using the public files.