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Summary: You can think of Fusion 360 as offering a wider range of features in its most basic package, without as much depth in each feature. SolidWorks tends to be used more by professional designers and engineers. Advanced features don’t necessarily make it possible to create better designs, but they do help to streamline the design process.
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SolidWorks focuses more on advanced mechanical design features. It is still used by more advanced users, but doesn’t quite have the depth (more complex features) compared to SolidWorks. We’ll discuss cost and features in more detail later in this article. It has become extremely popular with hobbyist makers and small companies, no doubt because of its low cost for the range of functionality it can provide. These include more advanced simulation tools, file management, manufacturing, electrical integration, visual rendering and so on.įusion 360 has a slightly greater focus on new users, offering access to a lot of different capabilities. In Fusion these are called extensions, in SolidWorks they’re known as add-ons. Both include the ability to increase their capability by adding on specialized components. Fusion 360 vs SolidWorks: Overview/General Useīoth Fusion 360 and SolidWorks include a similar fundamental set of 3D CAD modeling tools for mechanical design. Let’s take a deeper look at these two powerful CAD software packages. They have a lot in common and share a lot of fundamental features, but they also each have some unique capabilities making them stand out. It will be the features you need for your projects that make one a better choice for you specifically. Fusion 360: Main Differences and Similaritiesīoth SolidWorks and Fusion 360 are great 3D CAD options from companies that have been in the 3D CAD industry for decades. Both Dassault and Autodesk use feedback from their user community to fix bugs, improve existing functionality and develop new tools and features.įor the absolute latest information on either of these two options, check out their websites directly.įusion 360 SolidWorks vs. So it’s possible features that are missing from one software at the time of this writing get added at a later date. As with any good software, it’s constantly being updated and improved. Guide to Sheet Metal Bending in SolidWorksīefore we get started, it’s important to note that the world of 3D CAD software is a competitive industry.Some readers may be hesitant to try 3D CAD because it looks overwhelming, but SendCutSend has put together a number of tutorials for several different CAD programs. Today we’re going to be discussing SolidWorks by Dassault Systèmes and Fusion 360 by Autodesk. In this article we want to compare two of the most popular 3D CAD software packages to help you decide which one might fit your projects best.
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The key to getting the most out of CAD is to choose the right software for you and your projects. There are a lot of benefits to using CAD software to develop your design. If you’re using some kind of CNC fabrication method (3D printing, laser cutting, CNC machining, etc.) to make your own designs then 3D is going to be a necessity for all but the most basic parts. You can clearly document a complex design to share with third party manufacturers or sell as a set of plans for others to make themselves. You’re able to test for fit and clearance between components before the parts have been made. You can visualize the scale of the project. With CAD you can quickly iterate a 3d design before the first prototype without wasting a ton of time and materials in fabrication. CAD or Computer Aided Design tools are used on nearly every level of design, from occasional hobbyists making things in their free time, to teams of engineers and designers working for billion dollar companies.