topic Re: Fusion 360 - Feedback in Fusion Design, Validate & Document Forum

Fusion 360 - Feedback

docara — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 13:39:12 GMT

To Developers,

I'm a hairy arsed nearly 50 year old bloke who has lived with and developed IT systems for the past 30+ years. I have never never before tried to use a piece of software which has brought me virtually to tears (honestly) with frustration as the GUI and lack of command feedback as Fusion360.

Since college If have used AutoCAD and the command interface was such a joy to use. It prompted you what to do, gave meaningful messages when you did something wrong and generally made your life easy none of which applies to F360, if you ran into problems the (offline) help was second to none.

Before anyone says please post to the forum the problem I cant its everything. No matter how many times I look at youtube videos etc I cant do the things I want to do.

This rant is because now I have a rectangle which I am trying to edit (offset) no matter what I try is doesn't want to play and it doesn't tell me why.

The problem seems the people who develop this are so knowledgeable they forget the basics, they seem to be so caught up in the own world they forget about the user who wasn't in the design briefing room and wasn't in on the joke. Your software is not intuitive to use and certainly doesn't help you with the order of commands.

Matt

Re: Fusion 360 - Feedback

TrippyLighting — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 16:52:08 GMT

I am 53 and I also have used AutoCAD in college to develop and engineer the mechanical components and electronics for the keystone project of my masters degree in mechatronics. I also wrote the software to control all that.

I found the 2D CAD solution of that time while still much better than creating technical drawings on paper very limiting. Later I used Catia also only in 2D. I've used ACAd in 3D and also found it too limiting. Then In 1998 I had the chance to design in Solid Works. Acad was dead for me immediately and I only used it to create 2D equipment and plant layouts of the factory automation solutions I developed.

I've used computer graphics and CAD software for almost 30 years now and at one time have programmed a Bresenham algorithm and fractal algorithms in x86 assembler and later tinkered with progressive refinement radiosity algorithms in Pascal. Nowadays I use a variety of 3D and other software tools to create the things I produce.

In other words CAD and computer graphics are their own specific discipline and require in depth knowledge and experience to expertly operate even today's intuitive CAD tools.

It would seem to me that based on your long IT career history you've set your expectations way to high. I might add that you share that with a good number of other IT professionals here on the forum that find CAD harder than they anticipated. The fact is simply as I've stated above that 3D modeling and CAD are their own specific disciplines that have their own work flows and require specific skill sets.

Maybe give yourself a little break, take a few steps back and ask questions. This forum is one of the most responsive forums I've ever participated.

Re: Fusion 360 - Feedback

promm — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 16:59:48 GMT

@docara,

Thank you for sharing you initial reaction and frustrations when using Fusion 360. I know that there is a range of styles that people prefer when learning and interacting with CAD tools. Can you share a little about what made you look at Fusion? You talk about the order of commands, are you looking for specific workflows or what to click next? I made a quick video that shows how to create a sketch of a rectangle and offset.

http://autode.sk/2x4KHhu

Regards,

Mike Prom

Re: Fusion 360 - Feedback

gmdimarzio88 — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 16:10:18 GMT

I have to admit, I['m not a fan of the December 2017 update. The Tool Library setup change isn't better than the previous setup. It seems more divided. When I select a tool I liked all the info on the first tab. Also, the body length should just be called stickout, like all other CAM packages.

Re: Fusion 360 - Feedback

JDMather — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 17:25:08 GMT

@docara wrote:

....This rant is because now I have a rectangle which I am trying to edit (offset) no matter what I try is doesn't want to play and it doesn't tell me why.

Is your rectangle in the active sketch?

Can you Export the *.f3d file and then attach it here?

Can you create a Screencast recording of your attempted steps?

Re: Fusion 360 - Feedback

Anonymous — Sun, 08 Apr 2018 15:34:46 GMT

Unfortunately I have to join Matt on this one. Since I finished studying I am no longer able to use my educational version of Solidworks and I cannot afford to buy it, so I switched to Fusion 360. And there are definitely some benefits, like working collaboratively and I also like the was one can select profiles without necessarily having a dedicated underlying sketch. But this is nowhere near enough to make up for the lack of speed, workflow and simply successful modelling I was able to do in Solidworks. And a lot of time the problem isn't anything that you can post on a forum and wait for answers because it just seems to be a random glitch that sometimes appears and sometimes doesn't. I am fairly experienced with parametric CAD software and I am beyond the learning phase if it comes to Fusion 360, but it still very much frustrates me on a daily basis.

Why is the right click menu so useless? Why is it so hard annoying to create construction layers? Why is it always a gamble when mirroring a mirrored feature? Why do I always have to project 3d geometry in such a confusing way into a sketch in order to use it for references? Why is it so clumsy to arrange components in an assembly (questionable revert/capture position treated like a feature)? How does one even productively use the 3d sketch function? Why does the software crash so much? Why does the "Look at" command always go to the centre point rather than the most suitable view for the respective sketch? Why does the "extrude to object" function rarely work with organic surfaces? When editing the selection of a fillet feature, why is it better to redo the whole feature because it never works to add to the selection? Why is that case with most features that have multiple selections (e.g. mirror or pattern)? Why is to hard to find the underlying sketch of a feature in the history? Why does the "save" command always create an undesired new version instead of just updating a component for an assembly?

And these are just the issues I can think of at the moment, slowly getting annoyed that I am providing lengthy feedback in my personal, unpaid time. You guys should have experience in building a proper 3d modelling software, why is Fusion 360 so unreliable? If its teething problems then I think you've simply released it too early, expecting your users to do the work for you. I mean, its great that you make it available so easily and cheaply to anyone, but thats clearly with the agenda to monopolise in that market so I am not counting that as a plus.

I am sure a lot of work goes into creating an application like it and I am not discrediting this, but the amount of frustration it serves me on a regular basis is a very high price to pay for any user.

Re: Fusion 360 - Feedback

TrippyLighting — Sun, 08 Apr 2018 15:59:22 GMT

You've already stated that you cannot afford SolidWorks. I fully understand that it can be very frustrating to move from a mature software product to a new and somewhat entry level software such as Fusion 360. I've had to do that more than once in the almost 30 years I've worked with CAD software.

However, at some point in time you just have to realize that you get what you pay for.

If the software solution you've chosen is too expensive in terms of frustrations, having to re-do work etc.it might be time to evaluate the market for other solutions. For mechanical and machine design Autodesk Inventor for example is a much more mature package. Certainly more expansive than Fusion 360 but clearly not as pricey as SW.

There is a whole host of other very capable CAD apps out there that might not be so omnipresent as SW but offer much better bang for the buck. Due to Fusion 360's lack of surfacing abilities I added another Software tool to my selection of tools and have been very happy with it.

I will continue to work with Fusion 360 in those areas I find it particularly strong in. A mostly Top Down design workflow, as often used in product concept design really suits Fusion 360's workflows very well.

Mechanical design and particularly machine design are areas where 80-90% are bottom up design I find Fusion 360 is very weak. that's why I called AD's marketing approach that aggressively targets SW silly. Actually silly beyond believe!

Re: Fusion 360 - Feedback

dieselguy65 — Sun, 08 Apr 2018 17:05:45 GMT

You cant afford $37 a year for a license of solidworks?

honestly, ihave tried SW, and find it very frustrating.

i tried alot of CAD packages, and FUSION was the easiest for me right from the word go

Re: Fusion 360 - Feedback

Claus_J — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 12:33:46 GMT

Trippy, can I ask what surfacing software you are using?

Thanks, Claus

Re: Fusion 360 - Feedback

TrippyLighting — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 13:21:10 GMT

PM sent.

Re: Fusion 360 - Feedback

Garret_H — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 17:17:42 GMT

I'll add some feedback.

Fusion 360 has been a breeze to work with in top down design compared to Inventor. When trying to create new designs with short time constraints the free move feature and direct x/y/z movement combined with as-built constraints is an absolute breeze. In contrast to Inventors clumsy move/rotate and the nightmare of using constraints to set construction of weldments Fusion 360 is straightforward and usable.

Then I tried to create a drawing. I've created a wish list on this, but quite frankly the drawing aspect of Fusion 360 is inadequate, impractical and approaching useless. Tables are a joke, there is no copy/paste feature, there is no ability to draw simple objects or modify bubbles... I can't even fathom how this is considered to be a commercial product. Is this TinkerCAD? I am working on trying to create a blank table and the behavior is completely erratic. I can't move the table, editing cells is problematic.... In trying to complete a project this is like running a marathon and tripping 10m from the finish line. I literally have a table stranded in the middle of my drawing and can't move it!

Re: Fusion 360 - Feedback

Anonymous — Sat, 10 Nov 2018 22:50:56 GMT

personally i find fusion360 quite good to work with for most things... but...

i do a lot of v-carving where i have to import fairly large dxf files, and i have to say, fusion360s performance is utterly appauling at this. i mean come on autodesk, with a 6 core i5 running at 5Ghz, why... WHY does it take FIVE HOURS from starting the import to the final screen rendering of the 'star wars' version of the mayan calendar? it's only a 6meg file for christs sake.

Re: Fusion 360 - Feedback

HowardAlison.Smith — Sat, 06 Jul 2019 10:47:40 GMT

Being a hobbyist I had no 3D modelling experience, started to use google sketchup until the trial period ended and then stumbled on Fusion 360. For someone starting from scratch, the you tube tutorials and general support was excellent. I find it incredibly easy to use and every day is a learning day. OK there are faults, but things I used to blame Fusion for have frequently found to be my own issues and no fault of the software. Crashes are a rarity these days and apart from a few glitches, each release seems to provide better reliability.

I can't compare it to solidworks but Fusion 360 is my go to tool for designing model aircraft and everyone I've recommended it to has become a fan.

Re: Fusion 360 - Feedback

g-andresen — Sat, 06 Jul 2019 11:42:04 GMT

Hi Howard,

II agree with everything you say.
For me, the compatibility of the application with my way of thinking in design and construction is paramount.
And that's what Fusion does for me.

günther

Re: Fusion 360 - Feedback

grayed — Sun, 13 Dec 2020 20:10:26 GMT

Oh, YES! YES! YES! F360 is so counter-intuitive. I often have to go back to 123D Design to do something simple.

Another issue I have is the absolutely meaningless and unhelpful error messages. I get one and think, "So what the hell does that mean, and what do I do about it? Most recent example, I went to join two bodies to create a component and got this: "Inconsistent graph vertices". What graph? What vertices? How do I fix this to join my two bodies?

Re: Fusion 360 - Feedback

Anonymous — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 19:17:35 GMT

Or maybe you should design things more intuitive ?

Re: Fusion 360 - Feedback

Anonymous — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 20:41:11 GMT

hi, Im a 53 year old with 0 cad experience, 0 drafting experience on paper, 2D or 3D. Ive been doing youtube tutorials and find that Fusion 360 is not all that hard to pick up. The reason I wont use it is because I can't seem to find any way

to save my own work on my own computer and also can't find a way to delete my own work from the cloud storage. Don't bother directing me to the place where you can "delete" your files, if it can be recovered at a later time, it's not really deleted is it? Program is pretty cool otherwise, unless you consider the fact that you can't even work on your designs if your internet goes out. Thanks but no thanks.

Re: Fusion 360 - Feedback

TheCADWhisperer — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 21:31:40 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I can't seem to find any way
to save my own work on my own computer… …unless you consider the fact that you can't even work on your designs if your internet goes out.

I’m 64 years old and most of the files I create are saved locally and never go to the cloud.

Someone else will come along and explain off-line use.

Re: Fusion 360 - Feedback

ritste20 — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 00:40:31 GMT

@TheCADWhisperer You'll never be a day over 39 to me... 😁

Re: Fusion 360 - Feedback

dieselguy65 — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 01:02:15 GMT

Well. You can in fact save them locally.
But, if the cloud scares you. Have fun in life. Because everything is
tied to it.
The phone and computer you use to access this site, and your