Design & Manufacturing Collection - F360 Machining extension

[Anonymous]

Hi,

We have made a decision to migrate to Autodesk Inventor / Fusion360 from other well-known cad software. So far we are happy with the decision, however, we expected to have a bit more from Fusion360 in terms of extensions. As "Product Design & Manufacturing Collection" subscribers we expected to get access to all Fusion extensions without additional payments during the subscription period - or at least "Machining" and "Nesting" extensions, as the collection includes "Inventor CAM Ultimate", "Inventor Nesting".  We do quite a lot of simultaneous 5 axis machining and machining extension is mandatory for us. 

We have tried to contact online support to clarify the extension availability with "Product Design & Manufacturing Collection", but seems that the person we got to talk to doesn't even know what is extensions in Fusion360. So we feel a bit "left out". We would appreciate a clarification on the matter.

[daniel_lyall]

@jodom4 Can you advise on this please, is there a list somewhere that shows all of what the D and M collection has in it?

[Jason_Lichtman · Accepted solution]

tmitkus,

My name is Jason Lichtman and I'm a Sr. Technical Specialist for Fusion 360 at Autodesk. I'm on the Fusion 360 sales team.

The Product Design and Manufacturing Collection (PDMC for short) includes access to:

Inventor, Inventor Tolerance Analysis, Inventor Nesting, Inventor CAM and Inventor Nastran

AutoCAD, Fusion 360, Factory Design Utility, Vault, Navisworks Manage, 3ds Max, Recap Pro, Autodesk Rendering and Autodesk Drive.

This is a high level overview and can be found here: https://www.autodesk.com/collections/product-design-manufacturing/included-software

However, there are a lot of details that are not covered by the webpage. For example, PDMC includes access to Vault Basic, not Vault Pro. Most customers who actually use Autodesk Vault, choose to upgrade to Vault Pro separate from their PDMC purchase.
PDMC also includes access to Fusion 360 itself (base Fusion 360), but it does not include cloud credits, which are required for certain simulation studies. (This is actually no different than if you purchased Fusion 360 by itself.)

PDMC also does not include access to any of the Fusion 360 extensions. So, it does not include access to the Fusion 360 Nesting & Fabrication Extension as an example. However, you do have access to nesting via Inventor Nesting, which is in PDMC.

Same for CAM. Inventor CAM is in PDMC. Fusion 360 is part of PDMC and includes access to CAM. However, the Fusion 360 Machining Extension (special ADVANCED toolpaths) must be purchased separately.

The question I ask is this:

• Are you sure you need/want the Fusion 360 Machining Extension? 

Also, feeling left out is typically a symptom of feeling like you don't have something, but everyone else does. Anyone that subscribes to PDMC has access to the same set of tools you do. But, a follow up question is:

• If you definitely want the Fusion 360 Machining Extension, does that same user of the machining extension really need access to the other tools in PDMC? If not, that user might be better served with Fusion 360 (base) + Fusion 360 Machining Extension. That person might not need PDMC at all.

If you would like to discuss all of this in a private meeting, I am happy to meet with you.

Warmly,

Jason

[Anonymous]

@Jason_Lichtman ,

Thank you very much for your time explaining all this, it is much appreciated. I would appreciate a private meeting. Kindly suggest the time and other details in a private message, please.

Thank you. 

[Jason_Lichtman · Accepted solution]

@Anonymous ,

It doesn't look like there is a way to private message you.

I am willing to put my email address here.

So, please email me at jason.lichtman@autodesk.com to set up a meeting time.

Warmly,

Jason

[contactCFRBG]

along the lines as the first poster, we have purchased the product design and manufacturing Collection with the same understanding. Though our license is through Teksoup for nonprofits. inparticular are videos dealing with the probing functions in fusion dont mention that most of them are behind paywalls. we are a makerspace so most of the workflow comes from local 501c's, highschools and Binghamton University and Cornell Cooperative exchange.... needing parts made for one off projects. or our training program in partnership with workforce development. Fusion is much better tool for them because they have access to it at home but we have used the tools such as nesting to quickly layout things like makertables used at the local children's museum. 

some of these tools were part of the Fusion Ultimate. what I am trying to say is, having a package similar to the student edition but for the nonprofits like makerspaces ad fablabs would be helpfull. And better documentation indicating that the are optional upgrades... because by reading your site, you are getting fusion360.... not fusion lite....no indication that there is limited access to any of those programs until you purchased the pack and see access and not download to half of the things..... that that will be another $11,000. that just seems shady and a bit deceptive.