What Is Fusion 360? Key Uses, Benefits, and Features in 2024

Anandita

8 min read

December 10, 2022

Table of Contents

Introduction

Fusion 360 has been praised in the AEC industry for its advanced 2D and 3D-based designing capabilities. In addition, it can also be used for PCB layouts, and load simulation and has received industry-wide recognition for the many features that it packs. It is also very affordable. Fusion 360 is considered more of a business software than an artisan software. Read on to find out more about its features, advantages, disadvantages, and how it compares to other software.

	Fusion 360
Key features	Load Simulation Animation CNC Machining PCB Layouts
Use in Industry	Electronics, Mechanical design, Furniture making, Architecture, Aerospace design, etc
Learning Curve	Steep learning curve: easy for those used to a CAD-based structure. Not very beginner friendly.
Price	Annual subscription of $545/year (or $70/month).
System Requirements	Available for both Windows and Mac. Memory Requirements: 8 GB memory (RAM) or more is recommended. Graphics Card: 4 GB Video RAM or more recommended. Disk Space: 600 MB disk space.

What is Fusion 360?

Fusion 360 is a 3D based modelling software, capable of modelling, simulation, and documentation. It was developed by AutoCAD in 2013, and is a cloud-based system with a top-down approach. This means that it allows the users to create larger structures, which are then broken down into smaller components. The user can tweak each specific component to their liking and requirement.

Fusion 360 is a relatively young software, and it is capable of:

Parametric modelling
Mesh Modelling
Surface Modelling
CAD and CAM integration
Extremely realistic renders
Printed Circuit Board (PCB) layout, planning and manufacturing
Cooling of electronics
Topology and shape optimisation

What are the Benefits of Fusion 360?

A design illustrating the use of splines in Fusion 360

Fusion 360 comes with a huge range of benefits. These include:

User Interface

Similar to most high-end CAD based software, Fusion 360 comes with a user-friendly interface. It is very intuitive, and comes with a ribbon-style top menu, with the entire screen changing depending on what component the user is working on. For instance, a different set of tools appears when the user is engaged in rendering as opposed to Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) and so on.

Integrated Electronics

The integration of MCAD (Mechanical Computer Aided Drafting) and ECAD ( Electrical Computer Aided Drafting) allows for co-designing of both and operational seamlessness.

Designed to Innovate

Direct modelling in Fusion 360 can be an extremely interesting process, as the software allows for a lot of creativity and flexibility. It follows a T-spline structure as opposed to a NURBS structure. What this essentially means is that it allows for curves to pass through rectangular structures, making for non-rectangular, curvy patterns and shapes.

What are the Pros and Cons of Using Fusion 360 For Architecture?

Pros

Affordability: Fusion 360 comes at a variety of price ranges for large scale corporations, boutique firms, small scale businesses, start-ups, hobbyists and students.

Streamlined Workflow: Fusion 360 is completely cloud integrated, and so it is possible to collaborate with multiple stakeholders such as co-designers and work on the same project together.

Integrated and Real Life Simulation: Fusion 360 allows a user to accurately test how their design holds up to real life stresses.

Realistic Rendering: Fusion 360 has extremely powerful built-in tools that allow for hyper-realistic rendering. In fact, it has an entire workstation dedicated just to rendering.

A picture of heights being milled in a diagram on Fusion 360

Cons

Malware Risks: Many users have found that despite its vast range of uses, Fusion 360 can be prone to frequent crashes.

Keyboard Incompatibility: Most CAD based software allows the user to customise their keyboard controls. However, Fusion 360 does not allow for this.

Frequently Updating Features: Fusion 360 users report that the software comes with very frequent feature updates and patches, which can be irritating to the users.

No Web-Based Version: Unlike SketchUp, it is not possible to work on Fusion 360 without a high speed internet connection and you may frequently lose data and files in the event of a lost connection. This is a drawback of most cloud-based software.

How to Start Learning Fusion 360?

Fusion 360 is very accessible to learn for anyone who is interested. Autodesk offers a huge variety of resources for learners, with a number of official training materials. Additionally, there are a huge number of resources for learning Fusion 360 available on YouTube.

What is the Cost of Fusion 360?

Fusion 360 comes at the extremely affordable price of USD 70/ per month. USD 545/ per month, and USD 1555/ for every 3 years. Additionally, Autodesk offers Fusion 360 for free to students for 3 years, if they can prove their enrollment at an accredited institution.

Fusion 360 is also offered for free to emerging start-ups whose revenue does not exceed USD 100,000 per year, with a staff of fewer than 10 people. It is also available for free to hobbyists engaging in non-commercial design and manufacturing. However, it is important to remember that for hobbyists, the software allows you to have a set of 10 projects active at any given time and no more.

How Do Other Software Compare to Fusion 360?

Fusion 360 has been compared to other 2D and 3D based design software. Its primary competitors in the market include AutoCAD, Rhino, SOLIDWORKS and SketchUp.

Fusion 360 vs Rhino

In comparison to Rhino, Fusion 360 designs are primarily used in industrial design, manufacturing design and engineering, whereas Rhino is utilised more for jewellery design and interior design. Fusion 360 is used more by businesses, who use it for generative design, simulation and additive manufacturing. Rhino, meanwhile, cannot be used for these functions.

Rhino has an easier learning curve than Fusion 360.

AutoCAD vs Fusion 360

AutoCAD is usually used for drafting and documentation work, vs Fusion 360 is used for 3D product design. Fusion 360 drawings can also be imported to AutoCAD, but their functions are usually quite different. Additionally AutoCAD can only work with 2D drawings for drawing, annotating and editing, whereas Fusion 360 is used for simulation, generative design and designing PCB based electrical structures. Fusion 360 architecture models are often preferred to AutoCAD based models.

Fusion 360 vs SketchUp

Fusion 360 and SketchUp are both very popular software, and they both offer varying versions for small businesses, students and hobbyists. SketchUp’s UI is a lot more straightforward and easy to understand, and therefore many uses prefer it. SketchUp also has a very rich.

Therefore, if Fusion 360 is a fruitful software for you, we definitely recommend giving SketchUp a try as well and also seeing how SketchUp compares to other software.

Conclusion: Is Fusion 360 Worth Learning?

In conclusion, it can be safely said that Fusion 360 is a software worth learning if you are interested in experimenting with 3D based modelling and its various types. It comes in a variety of price ranges, and has great creative potential for businesses as well as more artisanal based users.

Fusion 360 is one of the many 3D based modelling tools that have picked up in the era of digitisation. CAD based tools such as Fusion 360 do very well in terms of being stand-alone software, however, they cannot be incorporated very well with other software. An exception to this is the BIM workflow. Unlike CAD based tools, BIM allows for an integrated workflow, including architects, designers, engineers, construction managers and clients. Everyone is always on the same page, with no chance of miscommunication.

Novatr offers educational courses and content that aim to bring the digital revolution to the AEC industry. Make sure to check out our BIM Professional Course. Designed by experts with years of experience in the AEC field, it will equip you with all the skills you need to accelerate your career in the AEC space and earn up to 40% more than the industry average. Go to our Resources page to get more insights on AEC careers, software & tools, and industry trends.