What will i miss using Fusion instead of Inventor?

[Anonymous]

Hi,

i am relatively new to the CAD/Cam topic. I tried demo versions of Incentor with HSM Express so far, and at the first look into Fusion360 it looks so similar, especially the CAM module seems to be nearly identical. So my question is: If i decide for Fusion, what can i miss generally speaking? Is Inventor faster (on larger assemblies?). Fusion seems to improve very fast, the price is really ok, so where are the main disadvantages compared to Inventor? Ther must be some reasons spending so much more money for Inventor...

[TrippyLighting]

Inventor is a more mature and industry proven package, however, Fusion offers things that you cannot do in Inventor e.g. T-Splines.

It depends on what kind of work you intend on doing.

[Anonymous]

Ok, obviously Inventor is an industry standard. But can you give me two or three main things that are only possible or can be done much easier with Inventor? 

I saw that Fusion has no different file format for assemblies, but still one can handle assemblies in one file and all these things like joints and so on. Are there some limitations in this area, maybe too large assemblies? If so, what would be too large? E.g. 20 single parts? Or hundreds of parts?

I am sure that there is a very different software core behind these two programs, but what are the main results of thes different roads? So far i couldn't find so many differences...

[TrippyLighting]

I cannot provide any advise on Autodesk Inventor as I've never worked with it.

I have 25+ years of experince with CAD and a lot of other software. I've worked with Solid Works for 12 years moslty in machine desing environments (large, state-of-the-art factory automation systems) .

The part limit for Fusion 360 I recall being quoted in another thread is about 2000.

Again, my recommendation can only be based on the work you do or intend on doing.

In general, Fusion is free and CAM is integrated. You loose nothing in trying out Fusion 360. Complete a couple small projects in Fusion 360 and see how you like using it.

If you then decide to spend some real cash for Inventor and separately for HSMworks then you only have gained experience. That's a win-win in my books!

[Anonymous]

You are certainly right, but its hard to compare if i only can use one of these two for free. Inventor can only be used once as a trial, and there is no "start-up"- license like in Fusion360. I certainly can use only Fusion for testing, but maybe i never can be aware of some great features of Inventor, if i can't compare it any more. Yes, one can say, when the features of Fusion are ok for me, i am fine. But let's compare it with the development of digital cameras: a few years ago everybody was satisfied with 2MP cameras. So you have to know what is possible to have a good basis for comparison. Do you think, Autocad would prolong a trial period for non-commercial testing?

[TrippyLighting]

I'll refrain from further answering your questions until you answer one of mine 🙂

What is the work you intend on doing ?

[Anonymous]

Ok, i'll try my best:

I am a Prototype developer of a new machine. It has the size of a espresso machine (but it is none;-). It consists of about 300 single parts. Some of them Standard parts (gears, screws,...), but most of them are own design. Some parts should milled on a 2.5D mill with Mach3, but maybe there will be an option for 3D milling, too, so it should not be excluded, that some parts should be CAMed for 3D milling. The parts should be assambled in the CAD program, some relaitvely simple movements of joints should be simulated, e.g. how far a handle could move and so on. I need photo realistic renderings, maybe cloud rendering would be a great option, because computers are used for other task most of the time. I did several CAD and CAMs with the trial version of Inventor, therefore it would be great if i could import the whole thing, also with CAM toolpathes. Dou you think Fusion is the right joice?

[TrippyLighting]

Excellent feedback!

Product developers like you are amongst the prime audience for Fusion 360 and it will do everything you demand of it. 300 parts should be no problem.

The CAM environment is directly integrated into Fuson 360 and as far as I understand it is very similar to HSM works. Mach 3 will not be needed for Parts you design in Fusion, you can mill this directly out of Fusion 360.

I would recommend for you to watch the intoductory videos in the Learning section of the Blog. I am assuming you have some CAD background so I would point you to these videos. They are in the "Transitioning from Solid Works" section, but there is nothing Solid Works specific in those videos.

After watching these, there are a number of recoded classes from Autodesk University 2015 that are well worth watching.

Now go download Fusion 360 and start playing with it.

There ater three major things that are difference betwen Fusion 360 and the CAD systems that I am aware of:

1. Be aware of the difference betwen a body and a components. The videos will explain this, but there is also an excellent description in the "Fuction" Section of the learning resources called Bodies and Components.

2. Fusion 360 is cloud based. The softare is installed and resides on your computer bt the Data ia managed in the cloud. Sharing projects and data with other people is very easy. 

3. Fusion 360 does not make a distinction between an asembly and part file.

Have Fun!

Edit: I forgot to mention. Fusion 360 has an integrated rendering workspace, offers cloud rendering and if all theat is not photorealistic enoug there is a plugin for Thea Render availabe

[Oceanconcepts]

Fusion is Autodesk’s CAD system for the future, looking forward for a couple of decades. Inventor is a mature product, and has some features that are not as fully developed in Fusion. The ones that seem to attract the most attention are Fusion’s current lack of sheet metal tools- very important for some users- and Fusions less developed module for creating drawings. If you need fully annotated, standards compliant engineering drawings, that’s not something that Fusion does right now. Both of these capabilities are on the product road map, and Fusion updates regualrly.  

For product design, Fusion has a lot to offer. If you work with any organic shapes, t-splines are terrific and well integrated into the solid modeling functions. Integration of CAM and rendering and the ability to share designs and do things like the live review can be incredibly useful.  Last week I was able to discuss and review a design with someone hundreds of miles away, with both of us manipulating the model.  From what you say, I think Fusion will be a better fit, and you are not likely to miss anything.