2D Fabrication: Laser, Waterjet, Plasma, Vinyl and Router#

This section prepares designs for 2D cutting with laser, waterjet, plasma, vinyl and CNC router processes. It begins with a process overview and materials and cutting settings, then covers kerf and tolerances, finger joints, tabs and slots, and living hinges and flexures.

The output pages cover exporting DXF, sheet metal flat patterns for cutting, 2D Profile toolpaths, nesting parts on sheets, and CNC router and vinyl cutter workflows. It suits beginners new to cut files, with intermediate and advanced pages on fit and flexure design.

Pages in this section#

1. 2D Fabrication Processes Overview (beginner): Compare laser, waterjet, plasma, vinyl and CNC router 2D processes and learn how a Fusion design becomes a flat cut file.
2. Materials and Cutting Settings (beginner): Choose sheet materials for laser, waterjet, plasma and router work, and understand speed, power, feed and pierce settings.
3. Kerf and Tolerances (intermediate): Measure kerf, build it into parametric Fusion sketches, and use compensation correctly for press fits and sliding fits.
4. Finger Joints, Tabs and Slots (intermediate): Design parametric finger joints, tab-and-slot connections, T-slots and holding tabs for laser, router and waterjet parts in Fusion.
5. Living Hinges and Flexures (advanced): Design kerf-bent living hinges and flexure patterns for laser-cut wood, acrylic and plastic, with parametric sketches in Fusion.
6. Exporting DXF and SVG (beginner): Prepare clean sketches and export DXF or SVG from Fusion for lasers, vinyl cutters, waterjet services and router software.
7. Sheet Metal Flat Patterns for Cutting (intermediate): Turn a bent sheet metal part into a cut-ready flat pattern, with bend lines, reliefs and layers, for laser, waterjet and plasma shops.
8. Cutting Toolpaths with 2D Profile (intermediate): Set up a Manufacture setup and 2D Profile operation for laser, waterjet and plasma cutting, then simulate and post-process.
9. Nesting Parts on Sheets (intermediate): Use Fusion's Manufacture nesting (Nest Preparation, nest studies, packaging, yield, DXF and toolpath output) to pack parts onto sheet stock.
10. CNC Router 2D and Vinyl Cutter Workflows (intermediate): Prepare and machine flat parts on a CNC router with 2D toolpaths, dogbones and tabs, and send artwork to vinyl cutters and drag-knife plotters.

Before you start#

Some pages mark figures and rules as general shop guidance, not Autodesk data; follow your fabricator's and machine's specifications.

Confirmed vs not confirmed#

Not confirmed in Autodesk's documentation: an SVG export command (the help covers Insert SVG for import and DXF export only), tilted-head or taper-compensated waterjet output from 2D Profile, and where nesting spacing and rotation increments are set.