Are you a Fusion 360 user ?

[Stone Message]

Hi Everyone

I know that most of us are able to get a free copy of Fusion 360.

If you are a Fusion 360 user I would love some opinion and feedback. In particular I would like to know:

  - how easy it is to master?

  - whether I can import all my 2D AutoCAD stuff without having to then re-edit?

  - are there any problems producing 2D stuff from scratch?

  - any bugs or problem areas?

Many thanks.

Peter

 

[nclemmons]

I've used it for several years as a hobby user.  Started with it and gCode and now use it with SVG export for Shaper Origin.

It has a lot of capabilities that I like - parametric, 3D, built in rendering, strong community of users, continued improvements, free for hobby users and students.  And it's supported by a lot of CNC providers now because of these factors.

But the learning curve can be a bit steep.  I have done several online courses - one that I started with -https://www.udemy.com/course/fusion360/learn/lecture/6893904?start=0#overview

Quite a few other videos on Youtube on learning it.  April Wilkerson just released a couple of videos and there are many more that are great for getting started.

Autodesk also has a very active youtube channel that I'd suggest.

I use on a Macintosh and also have the viewer on my iPad.  You can see some performance hit on really complex 3D models, but for the most part, I've found it to be fine for furniture or other simpler projects.

Importing - I have not had any problems with DXF file import, STP file import and even JPG import for tracing over them.  I'm not an AutoCad user so can't comment on what does or does not come over.

2D - the sketching capability is quite strong - lots of abilities and continually improving with new updates.  They just introduced 3D sketching which does add some nice features if you want to do that.

Components are your friend, whether using Sketchup or Fusion.  They make a huge difference in productivity and keeping things organized.  As you move from 2D to 3D, you'll want to be sure to work through components

They do releases about ever 2 months or so and always do YT videos on the new features and updates.  And their forums on Autodesk.com are very active in tracking down and reporting on bugs. 

neil

 

[Stone Message]

Hi [member=167]neilc[/member]

That is very clear and extremely helpful. I have not downloaded it yet as I am busy with too many other things but I will have a break and watch a video or two.

Many thanks.

Peter

 

[bkharman]

Hi [member=167]neilc[/member]

That is very clear and extremely helpful. I have not downloaded it yet as I am busy with too many other things but I will have a break and watch a video or two.

Many thanks.

Peter

Peter,

Are you looking to do 2d or 3D work?  I use it on occasion but really prefer Adobe Illustrator. I think it is a lot easier for 2D work and layouts and as a bonus, it exports SVGs natively for my Shaper. I have been doing a bit of engraving and it works a peach!

Cheers. Bryan.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Stone Message]

Hi [member=21412]bkharman[/member]

I have done everything in 2D up to date but I feel that I need to get into that third dimension. I was an AutoCAD user years ago but then went for Draftsight when it was free.

When Dassault started charging for its use I took out a subscription from here in the UK. That was a disaster as despite the "pay now" on the UK Dassault web site giving my final checkout price in UK Pounds my credit card was hit with a transaction from Brazil and I had to pay both a standing charge and currency transfer charges. I contacted both Dassault and their selling partner, Cleverbridge, and found myself piggy in the middle with neither prepared to sort it out. I have asked for a full refund.

Meanwhile, I have started using Fusion 360 and am having a great time. I can see that for a straight 2D sketches it is overkill but it will allow me (I hope) to be able to provide my free plans with some perspective views and animated touches - that is the theory anyway.

Cheers.

Peter

 

[Mr Speaker]

When I started designing loudspeakers, I started in drawing 2D, I use Corel draw a lot because it exports and reads many formats. I own a large CNC router. So, I have been drawing in 2D for over 20 years. The desire to design and make waveguides, horns and sloped shapes with my CNC forced me to find a 3D drawing solution. It took me literally a day to just draw a square and make a cube in Fusion360. As an educator, I have a license. By reading a lot of forums and googling each issue I encountered, I was able to teach myself 3D drawing in a couple of months, getting more adept at it. Buying my first 3D printer and using Fusion to create solutions really sped up the pace. I use it now all the time, I made adapters from my Festool router to the vacuum (oval to round), a multitude of brackets and adaptor for my workshop.

In short, get fusion and spend some time with it. There is so much info and help available online that you will be amazed what it can do. It opened up a world of possibilities for me. I wish I had it earlier, Tinker CAD and Sketchup, though wonderful tools, cannot hold a candle to the power and options of Fusion. I have attached some examples.

I must say, even if you work in 2D, and working with MDF or plywood panels is 2D in this case, it still pays off to model in 3D. I can fit everything together in 3D, check proportions, etc. I have I down to even considering the thickness of glue in my models and knowing where the tolerances add up.

 

[Stone Message]

Hi [member=70889]Mr Speaker[/member]

Thank you so much for that. I am still at the first day stage but am learning a lot as I go along.

Having worked all my life with 2D drawings and computer programs it is quite a steep learning curve (old dog new triacks !)  but I will get there.

Your designs look very interesting - maybe I should get a 3D printer.

Cheers.

Peter

 

[TSO_Products]

Peter - go for it - full blown 3D CAD platform. Use the COVID-19 limitations on your movements to power through the hardest part of the learning curve. You'll never look back.

What better use to make of the pandemic?

Stay well!
Hans

 

[Stone Message]

Peter - go for it - full blown 3D CAD platform. Use the COVID-19 limitations on your movements to power through the hardest part of the learning curve. You'll never look back.

What better use to make of the pandemic?

Stay well!
Hans

Hi Hans

Brilliant - Many thanks.

Peter

 

[Stan Tillinghast]

Resurrecting this thread from April to ask FOGgers what the best tutorials are they have found for ConFusion 360.
I've watched the first 3 parts of the Woodgrafter's tutorial, the second part 3 times. He's definitely trying to teach me the basic stuff I need to know to do woodwork design on the program; but the video, at least on my screen, is very blurry; and the audio...I keep looking for a CC button which I use on so many British dramas.
I did find several videos on sale at Udemy (mentioned in a 2018 thread here) and they're cheap, but haven't looked at them yet.
The material from AutoDesk is not as focused on my specific needs as I would like.

Peter, how have you been coming along in your learning curve? BTW I never have trouble understanding you at all; something about the northern accents.

OK, I just spent the last half hour or 45 minutes with Mike Moyer's Udemy course on Fusion for hobbyist and woodworker--and so far it is a lot better for me: clear video and audio, shortcuts clearly explained; will have more comments as I continue but so far rating it 4.5 stars.

 

[Stone Message]

Hi Stan

I have put Fusion on hold for now as I have some more pressing work that is keeping me very busy.

I will look at your suggestion in due course.

Cheers.

Peter

 

[Trevin]

Look up this guy on You Tube.  Lars Christensen.  He is very good and I enjoyed watching his videos.

Trevin

 

[Stone Message]

Look up this guy on You Tube.  Lars Christensen.  He is very good and I enjoyed watching his videos.

Trevin

I agree, I have watched him a lot and that has helped.

Cheers.

Peter

 

[Stan Tillinghast]

I’ll give that a try, thanks!

 

[hdv]

I don't know if learning by reading is your style, but I taught myself Fusion 360 by reading the book Parametric Modeling with Autodesk Fusion 360 written by Randy Shih (ISBN 978-1630572716). I thought it was quite good.

 

[nclemmons]

Not sure If Lars is still with Autodesk as I have not seen him posting videos recently.  But he does have some historical ones on using Fusion which are good. 

 

[sancho57]

[member=11196]Peter Parfitt[/member]

The Woodgrafter on You tube is doing a multi part series on Fusion right now, I think hes up to episode 9.

Andy is very cleaver and his explanations are easy to follow and uncomplicated.

 

[Stone Message]

[member=11196]Peter Parfitt[/member]

The Woodgrafter on You tube is doing a multi part series on Fusion right now, I think hes up to episode 9.

Andy is very cleaver and his explanations are easy to follow and uncomplicated.

Hi Ron

Many thanks.

I hope all is well Covid wise where you are.

Peter

 

[kmickey]

I’m working my way through this, so far it’s been very good.https://course.makeorbreakshop.com/furniture-design-in-fusion-360-cad-cam-bundle

 

[Stan Tillinghast]

Mike Moyer’s Udemy series has been updated in the introduction and first couple of videos, important since that’s where we learn where things are.
Woodgrafter’s video is also up to date.
What about the source (I presume a book) cited above?