Autodesk Fusion 360
Version | 2(as of 5/11/2022) |
Platforms | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Web |
License | Commercial |
Category | Scientific |
Main Features
- Create 3D product designs using a varied tool suite
- Perform simulated stress, thermal, and other tests
- Access designs anywhere via the cloud and mobile
- Produce manufacturing and assembly specifications
Software Overview
Autodesk Fusion 360 is a 3D industrial and mechanical design tool that engineers use to develop products. It allows users to model, test, and share product designs, as well as prepare materials to begin product manufacturing.
While Fusion 360 offers a free 1-year subscription for hobbyists, it is primarily a professional design tool. Professional product designers use Fusion 360's freeform, parametric, sheet metal, direct, surface, and mesh modeling tools to create product designs, before testing those designs via Fusion 360's simulation tools. Fusion 360 allows engineers to perform a number of tests on their product designs, including motion tests, stress tests, thermal tests, and event simulations. It can also help engineers determine a product's optimal design, by automatically generating a design that accounts for performance requirements and manufacturing constraints.
When engineers are ready to share a design with team members or a client, they can do so using Fusion 360's easily accessible cloud platform. Fusion 360 designs are saved on Autodesk's cloud platform, and users can access, comment on, and download any design they have access to from Fusion 360's web or mobile apps, in addition to Fusion 360 desktop.
As a design enters its final phases, designers can produce realistically rendered mock-ups for use in presentations and promotional materials. They can also create all the manufacturing specifications that manufacturers need to begin assembling the product, including production drawings, part profiles, and assembly animations.
Summary
Autodesk Fusion 360 is a standout tool that allows professional engineers to create, test, fine-tune, and share product designs. It is especially useful for designers who frequently solicit feedback from team members or clients, as the program's cloud-based collaboration tools make sharing designs and receiving feedback easy. For those designing industrial products in a professional or corporate setting, investing in Fusion 360 may be worth your money.
Primary File Type
.F3DFusion 360 Archive FileSupported File Types
Extension | File Type |
---|---|
.F3D | Fusion 360 Archive File |
.123DX | 123D Design Model File |
.3DM | Rhino 3D Model |
.ASM | Pro/ENGINEER Assembly File |
.CATPART | CATIA V5 Part File |
.CATPRODUCT | CATIA V5 Assembly File |
.DWG | AutoCAD Drawing |
.DXF | Drawing Exchange Format File |
.F3Z | Fusion 360 Shared Project Archive |
.FBX | Autodesk FBX Interchange File |
.G | BRL-CAD Geometry File |
.IAM | Inventor Assembly |
.IGES | IGES Drawing |
.IPT | Inventor Part |
.NEU | Pro/ENGINEER Neutral File |
.OBJ | Wavefront 3D Object File |
Portable Document Format File | |
.PRT | Creo Parametric Part |
.SAB | ACIS SAB Model |
.SAT | ACIS SAT 3D Model |
.SKP | SketchUp Document |
.SLDPRT | SolidWorks Part |
.SMB | Autodesk Shape Manager Binary File |
.SMT | Autodesk Shape Manager Text File |
.STEP | STEP 3D Model |
.STL | Stereolithography File |
.X_B | Parasolid Model Part File |
.X_T | Parasolid Model Part File |