Fusion 360 Resources

[DavidScott]

Here is a post listing the different videos and other resources I have found useful when using Fusion. I have more to add and say but have to go help with dinner, or else!!!


Joint Discs Explained
Cam Follower Joints
Modeling and Assembling Gears

Machining
NYC Post Processors and Visual Studio Code

Contour Selections
Contour Selection Methods
Pocket and Open Pocket Selection Methods
Interference Detections - Don't cut into your vise!

Sculpting
Sculpting a Bike Frame
Cyan Box, short but good

 

[Litlerob1]

Question; I'm using the trial right now, to see if I want the paid version. But there are features unavailable in the trial. But with missing features, it's difficult to determine if it's going to work for me or not.

Can anyone tell me the major benefits and differences that come with the paid subscription?

Thanks David Scott for posting these links BTW!! Big deal for impatient, lazy shits like me.

R

 

[Mud]

Man thanks for that. I just opened the first one and that alone will be a big help. It's hard to know what to search for when you have no idea what you are doing.
Do you know of a way to reload an imported solid and update the toolpaths? I'm mostly programming Solid Edge parts, and when I make a change on the part or modify it as a 'family of' part I'd like an easy way to change the program without starting from scratch. I think you can save your tools and cycles as a template and reapply them, I haven't pursued that yet, am looking for the better way before wasting a lot of time down one rabbit hole or another. Editing the part in Fusion ruins the associativity to the assembly the part is used in as well as SE file history, I don't do that if I can help it.

 

[T_Dubs]

Can anyone tell me the major benefits and differences that come with the paid subscription?


R

The biggest thing for me was not being able to post programs with a tool change. I would have to post several programs for a part and it was annoying. I waited until it went on sale and got a year for $300 something. Actually about to expire and going to have to do it again.

 

[vical]

Those videos are great , thank you

 

[Mud]

Question; I'm using the trial right now, to see if I want the paid version. But there are features unavailable in the trial. But with missing features, it's difficult to determine if it's going to work for me or not.

Can anyone tell me the major benefits and differences that come with the paid subscription?

Thanks David Scott for posting these links BTW!! Big deal for impatient, lazy shits like me.

R

Late reply, but...
I tried the free trial before buying. IIRC the 30 day free trial was full featured, except for the manufacturing extensions which have to be purchased separately anyway even with the paid version. The free for a year version is the one that is crippled with toolchanges etc. removed.

I saw an offer to buy for $377 last January so I jumped. My renewal is coming up, looks like it will be $445 this time. If I auto renew then see a purchase offer for $377 again I'm gonna have to hate Autodesk like everyone else.

 

[DavidScott]

Late reply, but...
I tried the free trial before buying. IIRC the 30 day free trial was full featured, except for the manufacturing extensions which have to be purchased separately anyway even with the paid version. The free for a year version is the one that is crippled with toolchanges etc. removed.

I saw an offer to buy for $377 last January so I jumped. My renewal is coming up, looks like it will be $445 this time. If I auto renew then see a purchase offer for $377 again I'm gonna have to hate Autodesk like everyone else.

Yeah, it's hardley worth $445. I mean you can always get ???? for that much and it works just as well or better.

What felt like the rawest bfing was when as an early adopter I was paying $300 and seeing offers for $25. I called to find out if purchasing tbe $25 seat would still support my EA status. The idiot said she thought so but the tone in her voice made me hesitant. Glad I didn't do it, a few lost their EA status that way.

 

[Mud]

What is EA?

 

[Vancbiker]

What is EA?

Early Adopter.

 

[Mud]

What does that status entitle you to?

 

[DavidScott]

Supposedly basic Fusion price and getting premium for life, so far it's been $300 a year. Oh, and 1,000 free cloud credits a year too. You had to purchase Fusion in the first 2-3 months once you could pay for it, which I thankfully did even though I qualified for the free version. Sometimes it's good not to be too cheap.

 

[Litlerob1]

Late reply, but...
I tried the free trial before buying. IIRC the 30 day free trial was full featured, except for the manufacturing extensions which have to be purchased separately anyway even with the paid version. The free for a year version is the one that is crippled with toolchanges etc. removed.

I saw an offer to buy for $377 last January so I jumped. My renewal is coming up, looks like it will be $445 this time. If I auto renew then see a purchase offer for $377 again I'm gonna have to hate Autodesk like everyone else.

If I'm interpreting your post correctly....you're questioning whether the software is worth $445.00. This makes me very skeptical. I'm used to fullly subscribed (with maintenance) MasterCam and GibbsCam. I think MasterSuk was $12,000.00 a year last we paid. 6 dongles and 25 different machine def's and Post Processors. Granted that's not what I'm personally dealing with. But the cost difference feels like buying a Ford vs. Ferrari (no movie pun intended). Is it really that much lacking?

 

[Herding Cats]

It looks to me like the manufacturing extension needs to be added at $1600 a year to make the 3 axis "fully featured". So now we are up to over $2K a year per seat which seems to be on par with a lot of CAM maintenance.

 

[Mud]

If I'm interpreting your post correctly....you're questioning whether the software is worth $445.00. This makes me very skeptical. I'm used to fullly subscribed (with maintenance) MasterCam and GibbsCam. I think MasterSuk was $12,000.00 a year last we paid. 6 dongles and 25 different machine def's and Post Processors. Granted that's not what I'm personally dealing with. But the cost difference feels like buying a Ford vs. Ferrari (no movie pun intended). Is it really that much lacking?

No. I'm poking at Adesk for their bait and switch tactics. It's well worth $500/yr, at least twice that at minimum gauged by the cost of alternatives. I also own Edgecam Milling and Turning modules and DON"T feel I've gotten what I've paid $50K for there for the past 20 years.
Yes it's a Ford. But it's a pretty capable Ford.
I was abandoned by Smartcam, so I'm prepared to be abandoned again.
Was pretty much driven off by Edgecam. Prepared for that again also.

 

[DavidScott]

It looks to me like the manufacturing extension needs to be added at $1600 a year to make the 3 axis "fully featured". So now we are up to over $2K a year per seat which seems to be on par with a lot of CAM maintenance.

Granted we all have different needs, but if I had those extra capabilities I would never use them. Just like I have never used a single cloud credit so those 1,000 a year I get are totally wasted. How much are the stripped down versions of the better CAD/CAM systems? Which brings up the question, is that $2k a year for CAD/CAM or just CAM? I totally take advantage of the parametric CAD and tightly integrated CAM of Fusion. Change one or two dimensions and I have a totally different part where the cutter paths automatically update with a click of the mouse.

 

[Herding Cats]

Granted we all have different needs, but if I had those extra capabilities I would never use them. Just like I have never used a single cloud credit so those 1,000 a year I get are totally wasted. How much are the stripped down versions of the better CAD/CAM systems? Which brings up the question, is that $2k a year for CAD/CAM or just CAM? I totally take advantage of the parametric CAD and tightly integrated CAM of Fusion. Change one or two dimensions and I have a totally different part where the cutter paths automatically update with a click of the mouse.

To be honest I don't have a clue as to base prices. When I was CAM shopping I got prices on loaded 3 axis milling and just plain Jane 2 axis turning. I ended up with 3+2 milling since the plus 2 comes with some of the 3 axis features I got. Turning was about $2k iirc.

As far as maintenence I pay 1k for solidworks and somewhere between 1.5k-2k for solidcam milling and turning. I honestly forget the exact figure since I was wheeling and dealing and got 2 years maintenence at a reduced rate. But that includes actual phone support where half the time someone answers the phone and the other half they call you back in 20 min or less. Non of this several day nonsense I hear stories about.

CAM integration into parametric CAD was kinda important to me which is why I ended up with a add in to solidworks.

(Solidcam is not solidworks cam, it is a totally different company kinda like HSM works ran inside solidworks)

 

[Mud]

I'm having trouble addressing pockets with island(s), anyone have a link to how to rough pockets with islands, either open or closed pockets, and islands of different height than the pocket walls? That is a fundamental part of all the other CAM packages I've used, either my search ability is terrible or it's not well handled in Fusion or in instructional videos.

 

[T_Dubs]

Not sure exactly what you are doing but I have more luck with 3d pocket vs 2d pocket. Also, I have used the new "flat" toolpath with success. Have you tried it yet?

 

[Mud]

Also, I have used the new "flat" toolpath with success. Have you tried it yet?

First I've seen it, thanks.

 

[Oldwrench]

Dumb question perhaps, but can you buy a copy of Fusion or is it cloud-based?