I have designed a model in Autodesk Fusion. A simple flat profile similar to what you might think of as a flatpack. It is actually a desktop that has a unique shape that would be a lot of work to do by hand but should be easily done on the Maslow. I was told by our manager at the maker space that I belong to that the easel post processor could be used to generate the code for the Maslow. Autodesk Fusion is not allowing me to simulate with the machine. so it attempts to do a simulation without the machine and I am running into difficulties that seem to be different each time I try to create a 2D contour.
Is anyone else using Autodesk Fusion, and do you have any advice or pointers on how to get useful output that can be used with the Maslow? I had previously created files that worked using Easel As the post processor for the X-carve. But now nothing seems to be working.
There is a generic GRBL post in fusion, thats the one I use. You need to pay attention when doing your setups as well. Your WCS needs to be on the top of your stock. For what you’re doing, it sounds like a 2D contour will take care of it. I’ve not really found any videos or anything super useful to show how to use fusion for cnc routers like this, so I pretty much just tried things until I got what I wanted.
You won’t be able to “simulate with machine”, but you can still simulate the program and see what the cut will look like.
I made a Maslow M4 config in Fusion, really all I did was take the generic 3-axis machine and then put in the Maslow’s limits on it. If you want to use it I attached an export of that machine config.
MaslowM4.mch (120.0 KB)
@Aggie.wes is right about not being able to simulate with the machine, but you can still do a simulation with the tool before sending it out to gcode, which has helped me catch issues before I wasted material.
I used Fusion 360 for all my modeling that I send to the M4.
To add to the previous comments make sure when you post processing you change the retract setting to reference the retract height instead of G28 otherwise it will cause the x axis to plunge all the way down at the beginning and end of cuts when it trys to travels to your starting position that WILL ruin your workpieces and likely break bits.
Hello Nicky, thanks for your kind warning regarding the G code. I have used an X carved in the past and the G code generated by fusion has always worked without issues on that machine.
So I will now open up the G code that I am preparing to use for the Maslow and take a look for this potential issue.
I am preparing to use an older version of the Maslow which may be even older than the M3. It may even be in M1. It was acquired by a maker space that I belong to https://fox.build/ and the Maslow is seldom used and the one person who knows and understands the hardware is unavailable for a period of time.
So I feel like an archaeologist discovering an ancient ruin.
I can’t seem to even get the software to send a signal to raise and lower the Z axis in preparation to run code, so I’m really just guessing at the potential issue. Actually, the software may be sending a signal but the Maslow may not be turned on and listening? Is the software intelligent enough to know whether it’s connected or not? I’m assuming the Maslow is hardwired to the computer. But it is all buried behind the machine and difficult to trace the wires. I’m not even sure whether it is wired or Wi-Fi.
What would I look for on the Internet to find something that might be called “wiring diagram” for an older Maslow? Are there any archives available on the Maslow site that show how those older machines are wired?