Hi,
The way I understand Fusion now, it wasn't always the case, Fusion is more of an environment with different
tools than just simple CAD software. I originally learned CAD on AutoCAD but when I first started using Fusion
I struggled because I didn't understand the difference and the workflow was quite different. In fact to me it
was literally backwards.
In AutoCAD you draw the design THEN Model it for prototyping. In Fusion you would Model it and test it and
tweak the design THEN draw the plans for it. The way I learned CAD was based on Drawing parts and Assemblies.
The way I am learning Fusion is create the finished Model, test it with the tools such as Stress Simulations,
cross check your calculations and get the software to work out stuff like weights and CofG, get the software to
work out Toolpaths and G-Codes for manufacture and when the design is pretty much done, Draw the final
Plans for it. Everything in Fusion is based on the Model and what you do with it.
In AutoCAD, I know that some of the features cross over, but I either didn't know them, hadn't used them or
didn't need them. Since all of my AutoCAD drawings were based on a Part or Assembly, I didn't know about
or use Parametrics. I always had Dimensions and my Model or Prototype would come after. If it didn't work
then back to re-design and re-draw the plans - not so in Fusion.
Fusion is not CAD software to me because it is a great deal more. CAD software is for drawing Parts and Assemblies
and Fusion does do this but not the way CAD software normally does it. Fusion uses Sketches to create 3D Bodies
that I then modify with the tools. I can then take my Model and do Studies and Tests; I can animate it to see if
there are any issues; I can work out my Tolerances as I go and change them if they don't work. When I am finally
satisfied it all works, not only can I draw finished Plans and simply put in Dimensions and correct Tolerances to
print out and give to Production, I can create much of the CNC code to make it directly. AutoCAD can do some of
this stuff but it was never designed to do it. It is great for Drawing and good at some other stuff. Fusion can
Draw but is great for so many other things.
CAD is for Design and it works well. It is needed for less Manufacturing intensive things like Architecture. Fusion is
more for Manufacturing. I can do much more with both pieces of software than I could before and I can do things
that the Designers never even thought of when they wrote it. Both pieces of software have their strengths and
weaknesses. CAD is still used for many things but Environments like Fusion are more powerful in many ways in
some areas. Now that I know more about how Fusion works, and I am learning more each day, I would choose
Fusion over AutoCAD for many jobs because I know how much more powerful it is and what I can do. I can still
create AutoCAD files from Fusion. If I couldn't do something in Fusion that I could with AutoCAD I would save the
File and change over.
BTW if I was asked to do Architecture and given the choice I would do it in Fusion right now, so I am not
suggesting CAD is limited in this way. I actually tried AutoCAD Mechanical but got a bit overwhelmed by the
many more features and commands so went back because I wasn't using them at the time. I don't think twice
about creating a Bolt and Thread in Fusion now days but it was a struggle at the time in Mechanical.
My original comment was to a beginner who was lost the way I once was. Fusion is a very different way of thinking
than simply drawing a Plan of a Part. I don't even pretend to be an expert at Fusion. I read, lurk and post here to
learn and help others. You have probably noticed I try to direct beginners to the Tutorials in the Documents and
the AutoDesk YouTube Channel and others.
I have not tried it recently, but if I went back to AutoCAD and used the knowledge I have with Fusion I think my
CAD would be significantly better than it was. I don't think I would be able to do all I know in Fusion in AutoCAD
however, even if I did hit the Forums and read all the Documents. Based on that, I think that AutoCAD is CAD
software and Fusion is an Modelling Environment that uses CAD like features and can also do CAD. It is a much
different way of thinking, which is why I make the distinction between them.
Cheers
Andrew
