<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAt first glance, Fusion 360 looks like a great deal, considering everything it can do. However, several of Fusion 360s more distinguishing services are NOT included in the monthly subscription fee. Were you expecting to be able to utilize the CAM simulator or the Annotative Design feature?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You certainly can, for a nominal fee! For more details regarding the cost of the Cloud Credit services, look at the section entitled Fusion 360 Cloud Credits<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLet’s be fair and look at things from the other side. If you need to render a complex model and your computer would take 20 hours to render, it would undoubtedly be well worth the Cloud Credits to have Autodesk’s servers render it for you via the cloud. See? Hidden fees aren’t always a bad thing, are they?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That being said, let’s break down the cost of AutoCAD vs. Fusion 360<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Free Trial (Yes for both programs)<\/li> Student Edition (Free for both programs)<\/li> Hobbyist Edition (Free for Fusion 360…? Yes! You heard correctly! If you want to use Fusion360 just for fun and not for commercial use, then go ahead and use it. When your free trial ends, it will still be available for use.)<\/li> Subscription Fee: Fusion360 costs $60\/month – $495\/year – $1,335\/year<\/li><\/ul>AutoCAD costs $210\/month – $1690\/year – $4,565\/year<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n2. Customer Service<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nWinner: Tie<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nAutodesk owns both, so you can expect the same level of customer service with both applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. User Experience<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nWinner: Tie<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nIn many ways, comparing how the two UI’s operate is liking comparing apples to oranges. Overall, they both strive to be user friendly. You have the same typical workspace with the three axes (x,y,z) and a lot of buttons and option menus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
AutoCAD has the classic “command line” (which I love), and Fusion 360 has a contextual “right-click” menu, which can be useful for saving time and improving workflow. Fusion 360 tends to be “intuitive” in many ways. It recognizes what you are doing and will often bring up a contextual menu with functions you are likely to use next. Very cool!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Below; Fusion360 UI)<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n4. Learning Curve<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nWinner: Tie<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you are asking, “Which of these programs is easier to learn?” Then the answer, as far as I am concerned, is “neither.” Why? The simple answer is that whether you only need the more essential functions or the most complex functions, you need to put effort into learning how they work. I am tempted to say that AutoCAD is the easier of the two because the most advanced functions of Fusion 360 might require an engineer’s level of expertise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On second thought, the question isn’t whether or not the software is complicated, but whether or not, given the user understands their field of expertise, which of the two is easier to learn. Taking that into consideration, many different kinds of professionals use these programs for their purposes. Assuming you know your profession, either of these programs will require a decent amount of effort and energy to learn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So do yourself a favor and stop worrying about how easy or difficult it is to learn! Set your mind to learning, and you will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Below: Udemy Fusion360 Courses)<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n5. Capabilities<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nWinner: Fusion 360<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nBoth AutoCAD and Fusion 360 can produce 3D models of all shapes and sizes, but there are some things Fusion360 can do that AutoCAD simply can’t. Here’s a short list:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1) Standardized bolt hole tool<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2) Applying materials to shapes<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3) Stress testing those materials for real-world conditions<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4) AI-based part design (Yes, we are getting to the point where AI can design parts for us…scary, but true.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5) A slew of product-development-specific predictive tools in the UI<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6. CAD\/CAM<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nWinner: Fusion 360<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nSpecific machines such as steel cutters, waterjets, 3D printers, and lathe machines can all be programmed to run off of a CAD drawing. For a water jet, the file can be a simple DWG drawing that tells the computer where to cut its lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It needs a file format that it can convert into its physical operations. The same is true for 3D printers; they use STL files. AutoCAD and Fusion360 can both produce STL files. Depending upon what machine you’re using, either one of these programs can likely be used, but DWG files (AutoCAD’s format) are more common for such machinery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fusion360 can simulate how a CAM machine might cut a 3D part out of the raw material. Keep in mind; this is another Cloud Credit service. (See Fusion 360 Cloud Credits<\/em> section below for a few more details)<\/p>\n\n\n\nFusion 360 has a menu of industry-standard CAMs that can replicate the real-life process to predict potential manufacturing problems before they happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
7. Rendering<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nWinner: Tie<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nAutoCAD and Fusion360 can both produce some impressive photorealistic renderings. Renderings are critical when it comes to showing off. It may not seem important to you, but you need to consider that the best professionals in their business are going to push the envelope in every way they can to present their product as the best of the best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is an inescapable principle; showmanship is part of developing a product. No matter what you are producing, salesmanship, and showmanship is always going to be a critical factor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to point out that if you want to “render on the cloud” via Fusion 360, you will need to pay an extra fee. Fusion 360 can render via your local hardware, but the cloud-based service is more advanced and powerful and would probably go faster. For more details, view the section entitled Fusion360 Cloud Credits.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n(Below; Fusion360 Rendering)<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n