Creating Toolpaths for a CNC Lathe

In Week 1, we’ll learn how to set up a CNC Lathe coordinate system, stock, and begin cutting some basic geometry. The fundamental difference in how a lathe coordinate system is set and how the stock is held are critical to the success of turning toolpaths. Once we understand these concepts, we can begin exploring more complicated geometry.

In Week 2, we’ll dive in deeper to turning toolpath functionality by exploring internal and external grooving. With Fusion 360 we can identify and cut a single position groove as well as handle roughing and finishing multiple grooves in multiple orientations. So, let’s take a look at grooving toolpaths in Fusion 360.

In Week 3, we’ll turn our attention to more finishing toolpaths to break edges and create threads. There are a few different ways to create threads on turned parts and we’ll start by looking at cutting external threads, tapping internal threads along the axis of revolution, as well as identifying live turning tools to drill and tap on a C-axis.