amateur question here. Tried to find resources myself here and on YT but couldn’t find any. I have a STEP-file for a acrylic project and I am in the process of buying a Shapeoko for this and many other future projects.
How would one use a STEP-file with a Shapeoko? I couldn’t open it in carbide software. Can open it in Fusion but somehow cannot export it into a carbide usable svg or dxf.
Any resource that will guide me on how to use these files properly would be very helpful.
Thanks in advance!
Thank you so far guys. I do posses the power to google. I was just hoping some of you guys have some best practice or tutorial video. Maybe there need to be changes done after converting or not? I just never used such a file but it is the only format I have right now to use.
Can your design be represented by a single 2D drawing? If so, you should be able to export from Fusion easily. If you share an example STEP or f3d, I can show you how I’d do it.
To export a dxf from fusion 360: create a sketch and project the surface of the object that you want to export. Click Finish Sketch. Right click on the sketch in the hierarchy/tree and it should offer to let you save as dxf.
I have used this to go from fusion to carbide create and fusion to sendcutsend (before getting my shapeoko).
If the file can be represented by a 2d sketch as I asked above, you’ll want to export a sketch of the projected face/features as @crpalmer said. You can export any Fusion sketch as a dxf.
Can you just add the step to a zip and upload it here directly?
Sorry, that link still has me download and executable file, Nope. Ain’t gonna take a chance.
Now, for giggles, I just uploaded a .step file, but changed the file designation to .h, Wonder if that will pass through the system if you rename from .h to ,step? Steering block.h (264.1 KB)
So that works, But now that the drama is over, and looking at your model, if you can open it in Fusion, why wouldn’t you use Fusion to generate the gcode for your Shapeoko that you want to buy? A few of us model in fusion, and generate the gcode for our machines from Fusion.
If that is possible: Sure why not. Like I said: I never ever did anything with CNC. Never had a machine. In the process of buying a shapeoko. Will have to find some tutorial now on YT to learn about your inputs.
Thanks so far!
The part has threaded holes modeled, so the curves on the top surface are not round or centered.
The solid model translates with a bunch of open vectors & would need to be cleaned up a lot.
Extracting all the curves & replacing the threaded holes with straight pilot holes worked nice.
The threaded holes should represent the pilot hole (4.234mm).
true hero. I found some videos on YT on how to go from step to g-code. Helped a lot that you guys pushed me in the right direction. This looks more like coming to reality than I thought.
Here’s an SVG with closed paths. Fusion → Remade holes as non threaded → Sketch on face → projected face → Export as DXF → Open in Inkscape to fix open paths/extra nodes.
That said, I’d recommend doing all of the CAM in Fusion as @Steve.Mc suggested.
Yay,
another hero. Thank you so much. As soon as I can get my hands on my shapeoko I will try that out. Small problems with them not sending to Armed Forces Europe. Will figure it out.
