Fusion 360 no longer included with Pocket NC purchase?

[Mike Henry]

Is F360 no longer included with a new Pocket NC order and if not are we supposed to buy an F360 license ourselves?  Are any other CAM products officially supported?

Mike

[Kerry Neal]

Hi Mike,

Autodesk stopped extending the 1-year trial to machine tool manufacturers in October 2019. We wrote about the details of that change here. Fusion 360 is still free for education or for non-commercial use. If you use the machine for commercial use you can purchase a license directly through Autodesk. 

We support several other CAM options, they are listed here. Mastercam is officially supported and a new addition is Solidworks CAM (3+2 only - they offer a paid 5-axis simultaneous post). 

Thanks,

Kerry, Pocket NC

[Mike Henry]

Thanks Kerry.  I have a license for SprutCAM for my Tormach CNC machines and that includes tool paths for 5 axis machines.  I'd already contacted PNC about SprutCAM support and may follow up in more detail on that once I order my PNC as I'm sure that I will have lots of questions.

Mike

[ke...@pocketnc.com]

Hi Mike,

I believe that SprutCAM does have a post for the Pocket NC as we do have some customers using SprutCAM (likely also with the Tormach connection), I'm not sure if that's available within a library of posts they offer or if you have to contact them directly. 

Thanks,

Kerry

[Mike Henry]

Hi Kerry.

I sent Sprut some info on the PNC a year ago or so and they worked up a draft post for the PNC.  My PNC purchase plans have been delayed so I haven't been able to check the post out on the machine itsellf.  I'd be interested in hearing from any other SprutCAM owners that are using it for PNC code.

Mike

[murray....@gmail.com]

Hmm, "while all 5-axis tool paths are in the version that is free for educators, personal use, and start-ups, or $495 for commercial use, there are extensions offered from Fusion 360 to extend the capability of the software." sounds like weasel words to me. Either all 5-axis toolpaths are available - or they are not. In fact, "true" simultaneous 4 and 5 axis paths such as rotary are NOT in the free version. 

You seem to acknowledge the difference between 3+2 and "paid 5-axis simultaneous post", while wilfully(?) allowing the naive to believe that the Fusion paths are somehow 5-axis. They are 3+2 unless you pay $200/month.

[Graham Stabler]

You get three simultaneous 5-axis tool paths without the extension: flow, swarf and multi-axis contour, this used to be all there was, they have then added more in an extension. I agree it is not well explained but I don't think they are trying to deceive anyone.

Personally I think it was a mistake to bundle so many disparate features in one extension.

Cheers,

Graham

[ke...@pocketnc.com]

As Graham mentioned there are the three simultaneous 5-axis tool paths mentioned in the standard Fusion 360. I can see how that point is confusing in the blog post and will modify it today to clarify. 

Thanks,

Kerry