topic Betreff: Is Fusion360 the right software for me to be looking at? in Fusion Design, Validate & Document Forum

Is Fusion360 the right software for me to be looking at?

Anonymous — Sat, 23 Jan 2016 04:36:40 GMT

Hi,

I'd like some feedback and advice on Fusion360.

My immediate need is using it to design components I will print on a extrusion 3d printer. I'm in the final stages of assembling a Prusa i3 unit.

The types of components I will design are small parts for my RV. Small plastic parts that are out of production and hard to get, gauge mounts, and small electronics enclosures.

I will also eventually design mechanical things for projects (think CNC) and enclosures for open source hardware projects that I design and build.

My full time job is as an IT Manager for a company. I'm an expert in Windows and I'm competent in Linux.

My software background includes InDesign, Photoshop for pre-press, corel draw, EngraveLab, Embroidery Software, BobCad/Cam, and Eagle. I have also used sketchup and tinkercad.com.

Of the cad/cam packages, I found BobCad to be okay, but poor documentation and a steep learning curve. It was actually good at 2D and I found it's interpretation of 3D to be awkward. I still on a license to V23. Thee company's sales strategy was patently offensive and obnoxious.

Sketchup is difficult to design complex assemblies in, but I have used it to layout metalwork before cutting and fabricating. I've designed big welding tables (4x8x4, 1200 pounds) and a 350 gallon aquarium stand as well as aquariums and support equipment this way. Tinkercad is okay, but it lacks the ability to do precision work when building assemblies. Example: 1.75mm cut out to a 3mm depth in a 5.25 mm column. This would be a mount for a PCB that accepts a 2mm screw. Copy it 4 times and align to specific points. Make one copy 27mm away, make a copy of the two objects 75mm to one side. i.e. typical 4 point standoff/mount.

I prefer to work in Windows 10 as I'm in that OS all day long professionally. I do not mind using Linux for CNC control, etc.

I would like to be able to use the same software to design for 3d Print or small metal machining (desktop CNC mill) or small laser engraver/cutter.. There are projects like a video camera enclosure I want to build that will be 3d Printed and then have a cover cut from thin acrylic on an engraver. I would typically cutout the edges and then cut out circles for the screws that hold it down.

For right now my work is personal / non-commercial, but there is a possibility of using it in a small business context. I'm fine with the licensing cost for the Fusion model at $40/mo if I went that route.

However, I want to pick the right piece of software and then focus on being proficient in it. Right now I'm mostly interested in 3d printing and CNC machining. Being able to stress test is something I might explore if it were easy enough to learn.

Betreff: Is Fusion360 the right software for me to be looking at?

macmanpb — Sat, 23 Jan 2016 10:16:25 GMT

Hi Brian,

i am using Fusion360 since two years now. I have build up a lot of CNC and Lathe stuff with that. Also i have a Prusa Hevestos i3.

I design my 3D printing stuff within Fusion, Then when that finished i use Simplify 3D to print it on my Prusa. This workflow is perfect to me.

The learning curve of Fusion360 is fast and upright for me. You are an IT guy, like me too and you are thinking abstract enougth to understand the core principles fast and easily!

The new Update brings us the thermal and thermal stress simulations to us. That will very helpful for 3D printed parts for electronic enclosures.

Managing assemblies in the Cloud A360 are quit as good and using them within Fusion are easy.

What i really love is CAM within Fusion360. You dont need to start another program or export your design. You can create yor CAM's right in place in a complex assembly!

Nothing to isolate or to save in another file. CAM simulation is very helpful and has a good crash detection.

And!! The community and team support is the createst that i ever seen!!

But! Fusion has now no support of sheet metal, but it is on the way in future updates and a stable part on the roadmap.

Hope i have pointed you to the right way.... 😉

Betreff: Is Fusion360 the right software for me to be looking at?

Anonymous — Sat, 23 Jan 2016 15:50:37 GMT

Great information. Are there feature differences between the free and paid versions?

Betreff: Is Fusion360 the right software for me to be looking at?

TrippyLighting — Sat, 23 Jan 2016 15:55:13 GMT

No, at this time Fusion 360 and Fusion 360 Ultimate are the same software. As development is moving forward 5-Axis CNC machining and other advanced features may be limited to the paid subsription version.

I would also answer your question with a resounding YES.

Betreff: Is Fusion360 the right software for me to be looking at?

macmanpb — Sat, 23 Jan 2016 15:58:51 GMT

For now the features in Fusion 360 ultimate and Fusion 360 are the same but in the future ultimate will get more features than standard.

Hey trippylighting was faster

Betreff: Is Fusion360 the right software for me to be looking at?

Anonymous — Sat, 23 Jan 2016 16:08:34 GMT

Two other pieces of software have come up on my search.

The lead is Design Spark Mechanical and it's cousin PCB. Being able to pull Eagle PCB files in and use them when designing enclosures would be a huge time saver. It is also very intuitive looking.

OnShape looks powerful, but I'm not sure I need that level of sophisitication.

What are the advantages with Fusion 360 over these packages?

Betreff: Is Fusion360 the right software for me to be looking at?

HughesTooling — Sat, 23 Jan 2016 16:44:44 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

Great information. Are there feature differences between the free and paid versions?

See this page for info on the different versions, Fusion-360-Packaging-FAQ

The free version is the Ultimate version, there are 2 version for paying customers.

Mark

Betreff: Is Fusion360 the right software for me to be looking at?

HughesTooling — Sat, 23 Jan 2016 16:47:53 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

Two other pieces of software have come up on my search.

The lead is Design Spark Mechanical and it's cousin PCB. Being able to pull Eagle PCB files in and use them when designing enclosures would be a huge time saver. It is also very intuitive looking.

OnShape looks powerful, but I'm not sure I need that level of sophisitication.

What are the advantages with Fusion 360 over these packages?

Pretty sure the file export is restricted for Design Spark, file types.

No CAM in either product.

Mark

Betreff: Is Fusion360 the right software for me to be looking at?

TrippyLighting — Sat, 23 Jan 2016 17:02:34 GMT

Fusion 360 advantages:

1. Integrated CAM

2. T-Spline environment allows for free form surfaces to be integrated tightly with mechanical features. This is a major advantage for 3D printing not only functional, mechanical parts.

3. Awesome Forum supprt if a user hits a road block.

4. Software is being developed rapidly and features are added constantly.

5. PCB integration is planned. Seen Copper yet ?

6. Integrarted mesh repair environment is on the road map for 1st half of 2016 allowing to repair meshes of scanned objects.

7. Static FEM simulation.

All free for hobbyists.