Since the volume and weight of steel chips after being pressed into cakes are greatly reduced, this directly reduces the cost of transportation. More compact packaging reduces the number of loading and transportation times in transport vehicles, improves transportation efficiency, and reduces carbon emissions caused by transportation.

What I’m about to go try is in the contour setup, changing the “stock top offset” to -.25 inches. by simulation at least, it looks like it will work.

I have a task involving a 3/4 inch piece of cherry wood and in the process of creating the piece I want, I remove roughly 0.25 inches from the Z dimension of my piece.

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Steel scraps compressed into cakes often command higher prices than loose steel scraps due to their dense shape and higher density. This not only increases the recycling value of scrap steel chips, but also brings additional economic benefits to the company.

When I set up the operation in fusion it still showed the thickness at 3/4. I set top height as model top and as stock top with neither giving the results I wanted. With model top as “top height” the cutter cut all the way through the material while never creating any tabs. It’s as if it was going all the way to 3/4 inch deep.

My last operation is to cut the piece in two, so basically taking a piece that is now about 0.5 inches thick and using a contour cut to cut the piece in two although using tabs.

If you set Z (could be the stock top, model bottom, or anywhere else) and your model is 0.5" tall then you should be able to run the facing operation and then, without changing Z, run the contour with a top height of “model top” and have it cut down to the right height. This all, of course, depends on having your Z zero be correct for the stock thickness, etc.

The ENERPAT® steel chip compactor significantly reduces the space occupied by scrap steel chips. After compression, the volume of originally loose steel scraps can be reduced by up to 85%, greatly optimizing storage space, reducing warehouse storage costs, and improving the storage environment.

I’m asking because now it seems I have to ‘fool’ fusion to make it think my model is now .5 inches and I would have thought it was smart enough to know, starting with .75 inches and face milling to .5 inches, the model is now only .5 inches thick.

In some industrial scenarios, such as the foundry industry, the steel scrap briquettes after using pressed cakes can be directly sent to the furnace for melting, which shortens the melting time and improves the utilization rate and production efficiency of the furnace. In addition, the compression-formed steel chip cake is also convenient for mechanized operation, further improving the automation level of the production line.

Yes. I do the face mill with a 1/4 end mill and change to 1/8 for the contour cut and I do reset Z to zero in between the two cuts. I have them set so I don’t have to change anything (orientation is the same between the two cuts. ) So, I finish the facemill, change to 1/8 end mill, set Z to zero and start the contour.

Can you share the Fusion model? Typically, you would not model the stock that you’ll be removing…just define it as 0.75 in the stock setup. Then, face down to your Model top.

The Steel Chip Compactor, also known as metal briquetting press, metal briquetting machine, metal chips briquetting press, or metal chip briquetter. It is specially designed to compress steel chips (including iron chips, steel slag, etc.) generated during machining, cutting, grinding, etc. under high pressure to form regular, compact cake-shaped agglomerates. This process not only greatly reduces the volume of scrap metal, but also improves the convenience and efficiency of its handling. The metal briquetting press uses hydraulic systems or other mechanical forces to tightly combine loose steel chips to form cake-shaped solids that are easy to store, transport and reuse.

My question is this: Does fusion not account for the fact that the model dimensions change during milling? In this case, the model Z height went from .75 inches to .5 as a result of a face milling operation.

To answer your question: you’re right. Fusion 360 does not, by default, recognize changes in Z dimension. When you set the stock size for your setup, it will remain that size for the whole setup. Same goes for the model.

I’m ok with cutting air for a 1/4 inch but the bigger problem is I need to shift to a 1/8 end mill for the contour cut, otherwise I’m cutting too much material away from an already small piece.

For example in your case, I don’t know what your model looks like but I’ll just say you’ve got a 3/4" piece of wood and you want to cut a square out of it that’s 1/2" high.

One other thing to make sure of here is that you do not change your work origin at any point between starting the job and finishing the job. The origin that you set at the start stays for the whole setup.

Our steel chip compactors effectively reduce the scattering and flying of scrap steel chips, improving the working environment in the workshop. This is not only beneficial to the health and safety of employees, but also improves the cleanliness and production efficiency of the workshop.

Having just re-read your post, you’re saying I should set z before the face mill and not set Z before going in to the contour. I see what you are saying but isn’t that going to cut through air for the first 1/4 inch?

Have you considered zeroing Z on the wasteboard? I don’t have a bit zero, but my understanding is that you could zero x/y using the top of the stock and then Z separately on the wasteboard.

Sorry. I wasn’t sure if I should upload the fusion file or an image. I think I’ve successfully uploaded the fusion file here. Compress Files.zip (228.9 KB)

With a bitsetter, you can change bits and not change the zero. Setting the top to “stock top” should avoid the “cutting in air” by telling it when to start cutting.

@Moded1952 Basically covered it. It is easier to see what you’re trying to do and where the issue/confusion is when we can see the model. Here’s an example with zero set at the top as I pictured the problem you’re describing. Watch the simulation and, as Lucas said, the key is toolpath “Heights” tab. Face&Cut.zip (78.0 KB)

The ENERPAT® metal chips briquetting press is equipped with an advanced filtration system that effectively separates and recovers cutting fluid or coolant during the compression process. This recovered coolant can be reused in machining processes, reducing the company’s coolant costs and reducing the environmental burden associated with waste liquid disposal.

When I set up the operation in fusion it still showed the thickness at 3/4. I set top height as model top and as stock top with neither giving the results I wanted. With model top as “top height” the cutter cut all the way through the material while never creating any tabs. It’s as if it was going all the way to 3/4 inch deep.

If so, then you could change bits and keep the same zero by just zeroing Z after the bit change As an added bonus, then your stock thickness is less important. If you set the thickness too high, you just get some air cutting during the facing step but you still end up with the right final thickness/tabs.