If you are wondering what Fusion 360 is, this article will tell you everything you need to know and provide information on the different features Fusion 360 has to offer.
If you want a high quality 3D programme, Fusion 360 is for you. It is another of Autodesk’s many comprehensive drafting/modelling programmes. Fusion 360 was launched in 2013 and has been a huge success. Since its release, Fusion 360 has grown exponentially in popularity. The reason for its rapid rise to popularity is its variety of pricing models, flexibility and versatile applications. Fusion 360 can be used for everything from electrical circuitry to motion animation, manufacturing, 3D modelling and much more.
Sitting down with Fusion 360 in front of you as a beginner can be daunting due to its vast array of capabilities. However, this article will give you an overview of the software’s main tools and how to use them.
What is Autodesk Fusion(Fusion 360)?
Fusion360 has been renamed Autodesk Fusion.
Autodesk Fusion is a 3DCAD software that can be used to design machines and parts. There is also a free trial version, so anyone can easily start using this software. In addition, it is easy to operate, is connected to the cloud, and sharing CAD data is very smooth.
Autodesk Fusion Licensing
Autodesk Fusion works on a subscription-based pricing model with different plans you can choose from:
- Every 3 years – $1,555 (approx. $43 Monthly)
- Annually – $545 (approx. $45 Monthly)
- Monthly – $70
- 30-day free trial
- Free version – Personal users or even people who would like to 3D model as a hobby can get their hands on Autodesk Fusion but will be limited to only having access to CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) and CAD (Computer Aided Design) workspaces
- Student version – Students are able to get access to the full version of Autodesk Fusion. The student will need to sign up and log into Autodesk and then provide proof of their enrolment to their institute. Student versions last a year whereby you will need to reapply for the student version.
- Start-up Option – If you have recently started a company, you can get access to the full version of Fusion 360 for free. Only if your business is less than 3 years old and has less than 10 employees.
System requirements for Autodesk Fusion
Autodesk Fusion is available for both MacOS and Windows. Below you will see the recommended system requirements to run Autodesk Fusion without experiencing issues:
- RAM – A minimum of 8GB of RAM is required
- CPU – a 64-bit processor, AMD Ryzen 3, 1.7GHz Intel Core i3 or larger
- Graphics card – Minimum of at least 1GB of VRAM
- Disk Space – 3GB of space is required for installation, be aware that this is a minimum and Fusion will need more space to run smoothly
- OS – Windows 10 or 11, MacOS 12 Monterey or 11 Big Sur
On top of all of the above requirements, I would recommend also getting a three-button mouse to speed up your working processes.
Autodesk Fusion user interface
Previously in this article, it was mentioned that Autodesk Fusion has many different features. It is organized for the user’s convenience in various workspaces shown in Figure 3.
Main Toolbar
In (1) you will find the Main Toolbar, which contains all the main tools you will need while working in Autodesk Fusion, with the current workspace on the left, as shown in (2). The tools available to you will change as you move between workspaces.
Figure 3 shows the Design workspace, where you can see the different tools available to you, from Sheet Metal, Plastics, Solid, Surface and a few others.
Application Bar
You will see the Application Bar (3) just above the Main Toolbar, and tabs showing any other open files (4). You can use the Quick Menu (5) to save your work, start a new project, redo or undo your work. (6) gives you access to your profile, where you can manage your subscriptions and projects.
Canvas
The main place where you work and see your model is called your canvas, shown in Figure 3 by (7). The Browser is shown at (8) in Figure 3, this is a list of all the available features you can use on your canvas, from meshes to solids and even different measurement systems.
The Make menu is a right-click floating menu that displays commonly used tools. When you use a particular feature, such as the Mill tool/operation, a setup window will open where you will have finished using the feature. This feature will not pop up immediately, but there are some additional features that are located within the window that will pop up.
Basic operating instructions are explained in this article.
【2024】How to Use Fusion 360: A Beginner’s Guide to Getting Started
Autodesk Fusion features and functions
Because Autodesk Fusion is such an advanced modelling software it has a wide variety of different features and functionalities. The various workspaces that are on offer will be explained in the section below.
Design Workspace
The Design Workspace allows you to model any part from scratch or even import files. You start by creating a sketch or sketches and from there you can extrude and revolve to turn your sketches into 3D volumes. In addition to these features, there are sheet metal, mesh and surface tools, and even a plastic tool for injection moulding design.
Generative Design
This workspace has unique capabilities. It takes a structure from a previous/existing model and evolves it by reducing the amount of material used while improving the shear and normal resistance and provides analysis on these factors.
Render
The rendering capabilities of Autodesk Fusion are excellent and very fast, even when compared to its competitors such as SolidWorks, which has slower rendering times. You can create very realistic backgrounds and renders with different materials. When you need to create a design proposal, rendering is a fantastic tool that allows you to accurately represent your design in a real world environment.
【2024】Fusion 360 vs SolidWorks: Leading 3D CAD Software Comparison
Animation
This function is used to create motion animations for systems. It is easy to use; you start by selecting the fixed part (this part is the anchor of the system), then select a part to be the ‘input part’ (this part will cause a movement) and then you can sit back and watch the system assembly actually move. You can even record the animation and export the footage to a video file.
Simulation
Autodesk Fusion introduces finite element analysis, which evaluates various mechanical properties within your project/model. It does this graphically, which is fantastic for certain industries, but is not recommended in an academic setting or specialised industries where it is important to be aware of the actual theory behind the graphical representation.
Manufacture
The manufacturing workspace is one of the more popular and powerful components of Autodesk Fusion. It gives you the tools for 3D printing, turning and milling, these tools can be found in the additive tab. The capabilities are amazing, from performing 2D and 2.5D CNC engraving to face milling and contouring, you can simulate paths to your operations and have more than one operation in one G-code file.
Autodesk Fusion user experience
Once up and running, Autodesk Fusion is a solid, stable piece of software. Unfortunately, it can sometimes take several minutes to start up the software and load one of your models, depending on the capabilities of your hardware.
If you are new to 3D modelling, Autodesk Fusion has its own pros and cons. It is extremely accessible with its various pricing models and you can learn on your own with thousands of online tutorials and step-by-step guides.
This contrasts with what SolidWorks has to offer as a product, as SolidWorks is extremely expensive and you have to buy a licence through the company.
However, although the software does its best to use symbols to indicate the various tools and their purpose, the actual design of Autodesk Fusion isn’t as user-friendly as it could be. You really need to know your way around the software and be aware that there are many setups/features that require right-clicking to open.
AutoCAD is also recommended for 3D modelling. This online training course will help you master AutoCAD skills for practical use in two days.
Conclusion
Hobbyists, independent users and start-ups all use Autodesk Fusion for their design projects because of its accessibility. It is one of the most popular CAM programs in the world due to its comprehensive nature, easy accessibility and user-friendly interface, and also boasts decent simulation capabilities within the software.
There are numerous customisable operations to suit your project needs at a very reasonable price. With cloud-based storage and the ability to work collaboratively, Autodesk Fusion is an excellent option for design.
