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Autodesk Fusion 360

Autodesk Fusion 360

Overview

What is Autodesk Fusion 360?

Autodesk Fusion 360 is a cloud-based 3D CAD, CAM, and CAE tool which integrates design, modeling, and simulation capabilities.

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Recent Reviews

TrustRadius Insights

Users have found Autodesk Fusion 360 to be a versatile tool that caters to a wide range of needs. One key use case is its ability to …
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Lacks any support

1 out of 10
July 28, 2022
I use SOLIDWORKS mainly for all our designs but use Fusion 360 for the CNC machining. This was a good simple and cost-effective solution …
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Pricing

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Fusion 360 - Paid Monthly

$70

Cloud
per month per user

Fusion 360 - Paid Annually

$545

Cloud
per year per user

Fusion 360 - 3 Years

$1635

Cloud
3 years per user

Entry-level set up fee?

  • No setup fee
For the latest information on pricing, visithttps://www.autodesk.com/products/fusio…

Offerings

  • Free Trial
  • Free/Freemium Version
  • Premium Consulting/Integration Services

Starting price (does not include set up fee)

  • $70 per month
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Product Demos

Maximizing Efficiency with the Flat Strategy in the Autodesk Fusion 360 Machining Extension

YouTube

Fusion How-To: Design a First PCB | Autodesk Fusion 360

YouTube

Fusion How-To: How To Configure PCB Manufacturing Files | Autodesk Fusion 360

YouTube

Autodesk Fusion 360 Cloud | Dirt Bike Engineering Demo

YouTube

Williams International FJ33 Powered Kanim X 1 Jet Aircraft - Autodesk Fusion 360

YouTube

Airfoil Tools add-in for Fusion 360 demo video: Creating an under-water glider for my pool

YouTube
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Product Details

What is Autodesk Fusion 360?

Autodesk Fusion 360 is a cloud-based 3D CAD, CAM, and CAE tool which integrates design, modeling, and simulation capabilities.

Some of its capabilities include:

  • 3D design and modeling platform - Product engineering with a comprehensive set of modeling tools to ensure products' form, fit, and function with diverse analysis methods.
  • Sketching - With sketch constraints, dimensions, and a powerful suite of sketch tools.
  • Direct modeling - Editing or repair of imported geometry from non-native file formats. Make design changes without worrying about time-based features.
  • Surface modeling - Creation and editing of complex parametric surfaces for repairing, patching, or designing geometry.
  • Parametric modeling - Creates history-based features, including extrude, revolve, loft, sweep, etc., that update with design changes.
  • Mesh modeling - Editing and repair of imported scans or mesh models, including STL and OBJ files.
  • Freeform modeling - Creation of complex sub-divisional surfaces with T-splines and edit them with intuitive push-pull gestures.
  • Rendering - Photo-realistic images of a model, leveraging local or cloud rendering.
  • PCB design integration - Synchronization of bi-directional changes from electronics designs with Autodesk EAGLE interoperability.
  • Design to manufacture - Fusion 360 makes it easier to program CNC machines using simplified controls for high-efficiency roughing, adaptive clearing, and tool orientation. Design for 2D up to 5-axis milling. Simplify probing, turning, mill-turning, and profiling operations with a post engine.
  • 2D and 2.5D machining - Creation of 2D and 2.5D toolpaths to drive CNC routers, mills, water jet cutters, laser cutters, and more. Integrated CAD simplifies design revisions, reduces programming times and helps avoid mistakes.
  • 3-axis machining - A range of 3-axis machining strategies to create NC code to rough and finish 3D parts. Its workflows make it simple to program individual features or entire parts. Some of these capabilities require a subscription to Fusion 360 and the Machining Extension.
  • Integrated electronics - Brings designs to life with automation. Using schematic design, PCB layout, and routing capabilities built into Fusion 360.
  • Schematic capture - A complete set of schematic tools with access to thousands of components. Interconnect circuits and create custom attribute assignments.
  • PCB layout - The PCB editor lets users connect ideas together in the shortest time possible. Even the layout of dense boards is possible with a complete set of PCB layout tools.
  • Additive manufacturing in 3D - Creation of physical prototypes to validate prior to manufacturing and build 3D printed parts using additive manufacturing in Fusion 360. Connect to a library of 3D printing machines including Ultimaker, EOS, and Renishaw.
  • Fused filament fabrication - Manufacture parts using FFF in a seamless approach from design to print preparation. Reduce 3D printing time. Save material costs with infill pattern options and automatic part orientation. Simulate slices across a range of additive manufacturing machines before printing.
  • Metal additive manufacturing - Additive manufacturing to fabricate metal parts with powder bed fusion. Reduces material wastage and cost. Offers 3D print parameters, automate part orientation and generate fully associative support structures.

Autodesk Fusion 360 Videos

Autodesk Fusion - Features Overview
Autodesk Fusion 360 User Journeys: George Costa, Rennen Design Group
Autodesk Fusion 360 User Journeys: Patrick Mesa, James Avery Artisan Jewelry
Dr. Schwenke 3D Prints Artery Models to Visualize Complex Brain Aneurysms

Autodesk Fusion 360 Competitors

Autodesk Fusion 360 Technical Details

Deployment TypesSoftware as a Service (SaaS), Cloud, or Web-Based
Operating SystemsUnspecified
Mobile ApplicationNo

Frequently Asked Questions

Autodesk Fusion 360 is a cloud-based 3D CAD, CAM, and CAE tool which integrates design, modeling, and simulation capabilities.

Autodesk Fusion 360 starts at $70.

SOLIDWORKS, Solid Edge, and Onshape are common alternatives for Autodesk Fusion 360.

The most common users of Autodesk Fusion 360 are from Small Businesses (1-50 employees).
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Comparisons

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Reviews and Ratings

(96)

Community Insights

TrustRadius Insights are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, 3rd-party data sources. Have feedback on this content? Let us know!

Users have found Autodesk Fusion 360 to be a versatile tool that caters to a wide range of needs. One key use case is its ability to convert CAD files to a format suitable for 3D printing, making it essential for companies that heavily rely on additive manufacturing. Design engineers appreciate Fusion 360 for its ability to easily create and model their ideas, providing them with a visual representation of their designs. It is also a popular choice among tabletop gaming enthusiasts and product prototypers, who value the software's powerful CAD tools and hobbyist-friendly licensing terms.

With its seamless integration with MeshMixer, Fusion 360 allows users to repair faulty designs before they are printed, ensuring a smooth printing process. The software's CAM functionality enables users to generate G code for manufacturing purposes, further supporting their 3D work. Additionally, Fusion 360 proves useful in creating photorealistic renderings for branding and marketing visuals, offering more control and flexibility compared to pre-designed mockups in other programs.

For electronic development departments, Fusion 360's interface and ease of use make it a valuable tool in designing prototypes and confirming the proper fit of electronics within 3D printed models. The software has also proven effective in conceptualizing and visualizing 3D concepts, aiding in better communication with stakeholders and enabling rapid prototyping. However, some users have encountered challenges with customer service and technical support, which has led to frustration and prompted them to explore alternative CAD companies. Nonetheless, individuals working on hobby projects have praised Fusion 360 for its built-in Simulation and CAM functionality, which enhance their workflow and contribute to successful outcomes.

Modeling Tools: Users have praised the modeling tools in Autodesk Fusion 360, with many stating that they are really good and capable of building organic shapes with ease. Several reviewers have highlighted how these tools have helped them bring their ideas to life and create complex 3D models efficiently.

Ease of Learning: Many users appreciate the fact that the learning curve for Fusion 360 is not as steep compared to other design software. This accessibility has made it a popular choice even among less experienced designers, who find it easy to get acclimated to the software quickly. The availability of online tutorials further enhances the learning process and helps users grasp the software's functionalities in various industries.

Support and Community: The support provided by Autodesk for Fusion 360 has been widely recognized as amazing by users. Being owned by Autodesk gives users confidence in receiving timely assistance whenever needed. Additionally, Fusion 360 offers a vibrant community base for training and support, providing resources for learning and addressing questions. This strong support network adds value to the overall user experience.

Functionality Changes: Some users have found the frequent functionality changes in the middle of a project to be annoying and confusing, particularly for those new to 3D modeling or CAD software.

Sluggish Performance with Complex Models: The software's performance becomes sluggish and loses fluidity when working with more complex 3D models, leading to frustration for users.

Difficulty Importing Files from Maya: Users find it inconvenient that Fusion 360 does not allow them to directly open files created in Maya, requiring them to import old STL files instead. This can result in difficulty working on these files and adds an extra step to the workflow.

Users commonly recommend Fusion 360 for a variety of purposes, such as 3D modeling, structural layout mapping, and creating plans and drawings. They believe it is a complete, modern CAD software that can compete with more expensive options. Users advise taking pre-training due to its complexity and recommend using YouTube tutorials for learning. Fusion 360 is considered worth considering for CAD programs and as a backup tool, although not as a primary one.

In an educational environment, users suggest having a dedicated manager for the Fusion 360 computer lab. It is also highly regarded for product design, as it allows for professional project creation and enhances presentations. Startups, personal or small team projects, and hobbyists are encouraged to try Fusion 360, especially since it offers free access for students and is recommended for schools.

To ensure reliability, users caution against solely relying on Fusion 360 and recommend having a backup software in place. They also mention keeping Fusion 360 a secret and highlight the reasonable pricing of the software.

Fusion 360's capabilities extend beyond CAD, making it an attractive all-in-one manufacturing package with integrated PDM features. It is suggested to use Fusion 360 when creating 3D print models or connecting with 3D printing machines. As a backup tool, users suggest maintaining a seat of Inventor or Autocad for complex 2D drawings.

Overall, combining Fusion 360 with Blender can fulfill most needs, providing access to a solid CAD/CAM solution through the free version of Fusion 360.

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(1-3 of 3)
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Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
[Autodesk] Fusion 360 is very useful for its built in Simulation and CAM functionality. It is being used by only myself currently, as it is not our main design software. But is is my main software at home.
  • CAM (CNC Programming)
  • FEA simulation
  • Top-Down 3D CAD design
  • Free version is now limited to 3-axis machining
  • Feature Tree/History is difficult to get used to coming from SOLIDWORKS
  • Rendering seems simplistic. Or settings (such as custom color) are hard to find.
Companies where you need 3D design packaged with simulation and/or machining. Especially if you have work-from-home employees, as the files are saved to, managed inside, and accessible from the cloud.
  • Free version gives immediate ROI if you only need those tasks
  • CAM include can save significantly compared to say SOLIDWORKS CAM add-on
Both [Autodesk] Fusion 360 and SOLIDWORKS are far beyond any open source project or 2-D oriented software. Compared to SOLIDWORKS, [Autodesk] Fusion 360 comes packaged with more functionality without needing to purchase additional add-ons for each function.
Tyler Grudowski | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I use Fusion 360 as a quick and simple way to easily draw things out. It is a much faster-loading and quick software than SOLIDWORKS, so I like to use it for quick 3D CAD modeling and drawing. It is strictly used by me, as the primary and only design engineer. It helps me quickly model ideas that I have in my head to see what they look like physically.
  • Fusion 360 is incredible at enabling me to quickly and efficiently capture the ideas that I have in my head and output them as 3D models without having to do any intense drawings. I use this all the time to model small, less important parts of our products during the prototyping phase.
  • The software is really good at helping even the least experienced designers get acclimated to the software extremely quickly. Having a quick-access help manual and easy to navigate functions made the software feel almost second-nature the first time I used it.
  • Fusion 360 has the functionality to save all of your files online, so you can draw something out on one computer and move to another one that has the software and pick up right where you left off. I use this function all the time when I am when I work at a computer that is not mine.
  • Fusion 360 is a very simple program, so once you begin to draw more complex 3D models, the software gets sluggish and loses its fluidity.
  • It would be really nice if Fusion 360 could output a model as a SOLIDWORKS file so I can begin to draw something out in Fusion 360 and then pick it up in SOLIDWORKS when I need to do some more advanced functions.
  • Because Fusion 360 is a simpler program, there are a few functions such as 3D sketches that are not intuitive like all the rest of the functions are.
Fusion 360 is a fantastic program for a wide variety of uses. The models that the software does well with are simple ones, but once you get into more complicated ones, the program loses most of its usability. Once you get there, you will have to turn to a product like SolidWorks to get the job done.
  • Fusion 360 allows us to save a lot of money being able to model our products before bringing them straight to prototyping.
  • The software saves time by being able to quickly model and draw simple parts.
  • It allows me to be able to model and share my ideas and designs with others at the company, even those not in the R&D department, to help them visualize what I am thinking.
Fusion 360 is the second-most powerful software of the three, SOLIDWORKS being the best. Fusion 360 is an excellent step into making 3D CAD available to more people, but there are definitely still kinks they need to work out. The software gets sluggish and slow at times, but is plenty good most of the time.
Samuel Crawford | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We currently use Fusion 360 to create photorealistic renderings for high-quality branding elements and marketing visuals. We use it only within our design department and use the outputted PNG files alongside Adobe Creative Cloud programs to add engaging backgrounds and effects. If we were not to have Fusion as a resource, we would be reliant on stock, pre-designed Photoshop mockups that have only graphic replacement capabilities as opposed to the freedom of directional control, lighting, realistic 3D effects, textures, exposure, and perspectives.
  • Very intuitive interface for 3D modeling beginners
  • FREE FOREVER if your organization makes under $100,000
  • Very natural photorealistic rendering settings
  • Local rendering and cloud rendering options
  • Cannot directly open files created in Maya
Fusion 360 is great for start-ups or hobby modelers. It has great, simple, easy-to-use tools but it does not have some of the more high-level functions needed for either engineering (like Finite Elements Analysis and Stress studies) or very complex rigging capabilities. I consider Fusion 360 to be a beginner software while products like SolidWorks and Maya are for advanced 3D users.
  • It is free, so everything I have created costed only time
  • It has greatly boosted the quality of our marketing visual in developing our brand
  • We have created products with Fusion renderings as the focal point. Without these renderings, the products would be less accepted by our market.
SketchUp is much more user-friendly than Google Sketch-up for anyone who has had experience with traditional solid modeling softwares like Solidworks or Autodesk Inventor. Google SketchUp feels almost backwards in workflow and seems much more geared to designers or people who are involved in architecture. Fusion seems much more like a precies science with a very technical-looking interface while SketchUp resembles a cartoon.
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