Fusion 360 for personal use

[MorrisWoodman12]

Hi! I've been using Designspark Mechanical for years to design any 3D printed object I require. Others here have recommended Fusion 360 for various reasons and someone posted a video tutorial for it so I thought I'd try to use it again. The first time I found it appeared far too complex so uninstalled it and erased the install download. So the first thing to do is to install it again. However I couldn't find the free version for personal use, just the 30 day free trial. I don't want to spend the relatively expensive subscription for the small amount I will use it.
Does anyone know if Autodesk have stopped the personal use version and if not then where it can be downloaded?
Thanks
Martin

 

[rob1693]

https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/personal

 

[MorrisWoodman12]

Wow @rob1693 that was quick! Thanks. I couldn't find that page.

 

[Lons]

Rob beat me to it Autodesk don't make it easy to find as they want you to pay for obvious reasons.

I use the free version for my 3D printer. I find it a bit cumbersome but that's probably because I've forgotten how to use Autocad despite having taught it for a number of years. I'd stick with it and give it a proper go however. There are several other free alternatives around as well that other members are happy with so if you can't get on with it then maybe post a thread and ask the question.

 

[Cooper]

I’ve been using sketckup for years and have wondered about Fusion. How easy do you think it would it be for this old bloke to learn? I’ve used sketchup for 3D printing with Cura. And as a design tool.

 

[Lons]

I’ve been using sketckup for years and have wondered about Fusion. How easy do you think it would it be for this old bloke to learn? I’ve used sketchup for 3D printing with Cura. And as a design tool.

It depends on your attitude aand capacity for change as we're all individuals but it isn't that hard just different. It's free and easily removed if you don't get on with it so what do you have to lose except a little time by giving it a go. I'll be 76 next month so if I can do it.................

 

[ChaiLatte]

How easy do you think it would it be for this old bloke to learn?

That is a very subjective question. It is impossible to answer. A lot depends on your skills, thought processes and attitude.

Form the other direction, it is problematic for anyone who does attempt an answer as most of the time answers are given without reflection on the skills, thought processes or attitude of the respondent, which inform the words that same person is about to write.

You might be a Michelin chef; I can burn a pot of water. And neither of us knows the other's talents. So advice regarding cooking based on that level of mutual ignorance (lack of shared knowledge) is worthless.

A practical piece of advice would be to close off that part of your mind which knows Sketchup when approaching Fusion - treat it as completely new, not as a potential rival to that with which you are familiar.

What can travel across is concepts - the many ways to go from a 2D object to a 3D object, the use of symmetry (reflection), arrays (repeating something in a regular pattern). These are 'how' at an abstract level not 'what button to press' in a specific software.

 

[MorrisWoodman12]

I’ve been using sketckup for years and have wondered about Fusion. How easy do you think it would it be for this old bloke to learn? I’ve used sketchup for 3D printing with Cura. And as a design tool.

Well, having arrived at 76 a few days ago, I'm up for the challenge so why not give it a go @Cooper . Mind you when I tried before I couldn't get into it but I'll try again using the YouTube videos. Search for 'Day 1 of Learn Fushion 360 in 30 days for Complete Beginners! - 2023 EDITION '
Have fun
Martin

 

[Ollie78]

I’ve been using sketckup for years and have wondered about Fusion. How easy do you think it would it be for this old bloke to learn? I’ve used sketchup for 3D printing with Cura. And as a design tool.

If you can use sketchup and cura then Fusion should be no problem. I moved from sketchup a few years ago.
There are some differences in the way Fusion works compared to Sketchup which are a bit confusing initially as it seems counter intuitive if you are used to the sketchup way. However, once you "get it" I think it is a better solution overall and now sketchup seems counter intuitive to me.
You have to be prepred for a little time to get used to it, there are some excellent youtube videos to get you going.

 

[Cooper]

Thank you all for your encouragement, I’ll have a go and keep you posted!
I should manage as I’m only 74 and 30 years ago used to teach Geometric and Engineering Drawing before it was taken off the National Curriculum!!

 

[Lons]

Thank you all for your encouragement, I’ll have a go and keep you posted!
I should manage as I’m only 74 and 30 years ago used to teach Geometric and Engineering Drawing before it was taken off the National Curriculum!!

I wouldn't take your teaching as a given. I taught Autocad to college students on a part time basis but when I came to use Fusion which is from the same stable I'd forgotten it all.
You soon pick it up though even from scratch and if you get stuck on anything a quick google brings up the solution and there are usually several ways to achieve the same objective.

Good luck with it, I've been doing some today, the more you do the easier it gets of course.

 

[MorrisWoodman12]

Thank you all for your encouragement, I’ll have a go and keep you posted!
I should manage as I’m only 74 and 30 years ago used to teach Geometric and Engineering Drawing before it was taken off the National Curriculum!!

74! A mere youngster Go for it @Cooper if it stretches your brain all the better. You'll lose it if you don't use it. Much better IMHO than simple logical puzzles.

 

[pe2dave]

Rob beat me to it Autodesk don't make it easy to find as they want you to pay for obvious reasons.

I use the free version for my 3D printer. I find it a bit cumbersome but that's probably because I've forgotten how to use Autocad despite having taught it for a number of years. I'd stick with it and give it a proper go however. There are several other free alternatives around as well that other members are happy with so if you can't get on with it then maybe post a thread and ask the question.

Does fusion use the same command set as autocad?

 

[ChaiLatte]

Does Fusion use the same command set as Autocad?

AutoCAD is primarily a 2D drafting program. Fusion is a 3D modelling program.

Where the functionality overlaps (e.g. drawing a 2D circle in Fusion or a 3D cylinder primitive in ACAD), they are likely to be very close if not identical.

However, at some point you reach a fork in the road where 2D concepts no longer apply. Then you meet new ideas like extrude, loft, sweep, revolve which have no 2D analogue.

For some people, having no prior knowledge of 2D CAD before starting 3D modelling can be an advantage.

Saying that in another way, sticking too closely to how you did things in 2D can be a positive disadvantage when going into the 3D world.

For some people, the ability to reconstruct a 3D object in their mind from three 2D orthographic projections can be a great benefit.

Hence, it would be useful to reflect on why you are asking that question and what you intend to do with any answer you receive. Some things you have to approach with an open mind and just try them.

 

[pe2dave]

@ChaiLatte - I used Autocad 1, with two 5" floppy disks ;-)
At home I've used qcad for a long while.
Noted the 3D aspects of Fusion are 'outside' acad.
Never worked in 3D, curious about extrusion etc. No more.

 

[Lons]

@ChaiLatte - I used Autocad 1, with two 5" floppy disks ;-)
At home I've used qcad for a long while.
Noted the 3D aspects of Fusion are 'outside' acad.
Never worked in 3D, curious about extrusion etc. No more.

I agree with Chailatte though I didn't find any disadvantages having taught Autocad, possibly because I'd fogotten most of it. Autocad was on versions 12 - 14 when I stopped.

Why not download the free home user version and give it a go. Costs nothing, has all the features you need as it's not an evaluation copy and it's easily removed if you don't get on with it so nothing to lose. The main limitation is that saved files are on line and there is a limit to how many you can save but easy to get around as you just export them to your computer and delete which frees up space for more.