10 Pro-Level Fusion 360 CAD & CAM Tips!

[@moltenaluminium]

I've bitten the bullet. I've ditched F360 due to their changes, and have been learning and contributing to FreeCAD

[@Eggsr2bcrushed]

its still cheap as dirt, not sure what all the home gamers are smoking.

[@zunuf]

@Barry Manilowa It's 300 per year or cheaper with discounts. There's a huge difference between changing what people who pay them nothing have access to, versus upsetting paying customers and businesses with an insane 12x price increase.

[@bradcollette2967]

@@zunuf For many people the wake-up call is how vulnerable they are when they build their business dependent on closed-source software. There's no guarantee that the vendor won't eliminate an important feature or price you out of the market because your interests aren't aligned with theirs. Software vendors can drop support for older equipment, change their programming APIs, or alter their workflow in ways that have significant impact.

[@Eggsr2bcrushed]

@@bradcollette2967 RMS has entered the chat

[@bradcollette2967]

@@Eggsr2bcrushed I'm not really sure what that means. If it's a reference to Stallman, I've never been much of a fan. I don't have a problem with closed-source software but I think a company would be foolish to allow themselves to become dependent without thinking about it. Negotiate a contract. Demand that source code be put in escrow and released if they eliminate crucial features. There are ways to ensure your investment is protected. By the way, why such a Fusion Fan-Boy? Got a dog in the hunt?

[@DavidClunie]

Could you make a video on the gutting of fusion 360 by autodesk since you have the perspective of going from hobby to full on professional business and why you are going (I'm assuming) to continue to support them? Also who's to say they might but clamp down further and force you and others professionals into paying more by introducing a upgraded premium license and restricting features based on tiers of support?

[@jtenkely]

Nothing is stopping them. It's called Capitalism.

[@BlackSmokeDMax]

Some of that has been true for for a while. For instance, manufacturing extensions are a form of that.

[@JamesEsau]

@@jtenkely You're right, there is nothing stopping them. There's also nothing that says we have to play their games. This is a prime example of why subscription software sucks. They can literally change their mind at any time and you can't do anything about it

[@Eggsr2bcrushed]

Every CAM software I know of has multiple tiers in the license and all of them cost an order of magnitude more than Fusion. Nothing in this world is free.

[@wildin13]

I would hardly say making a handful of changes to fusions FREE personal software is "gutting" fusion 360... Free software comes and goes and what they're asking for (in my opinion) is WAY below the average asking price.

[@alamoone4465]

Impressive!!! I use to program, setup and run CNC machines over 25 to 30 years ago my 1st machine was a paper tape reader moved to a 3.5 floppy disk and then to rewrite CDs. Then I got rifited after almost 15 years of prototyping. Now I do mechanical engineering. It was the best job I ever had. I put experiments into outer space that were successful. I made prototype medical devices and equipment and other things I can't talk about. I also did model making, injection molding, metallurgy ,Mig, Tig, plasma, and complete wood working, to many other skills to list. That was the most fulfilling job that I ever had. The rest of my career has been boring in comparison, however it pays the bills. I just found your site after watching someone make a V8 block out of billet aluminum. Thanks for the videos I'm also going to subscribe.

[@dividingbyzerofpv6748]

Just in time for the changes to personal use that looks like it will strip rapid moves. What's next, cloud credits for STL creation?

[@ThomasWren]

I believe STL creation is also being removed from the personal version.

[@jodyolivent8481]

@@ThomasWren you are thinking of .stp or STEP files.

[@BradyBegeman]

They’ll annihilate the goodwill they’ve established to convert a few people to paid subscriptions, and then release a new, stripped down product that has a free version in a couple years with the same development path. First they add features to the free version to build goodwill, then start taking them away to convert. The only option is for real, considered development of open source tools to compete.

[@OsUltraBug]

@@BradyBegeman Do you not realize that they are not interested in converting people who use the free to paying costumers? Autodesk is one of the few companies in CAD, CAM and Rendering Software industry that provides ANY free software at all. They make money from companies that buy subscriptions at the hundreds or thousands at the time for their employees and benefit from large volume discounts. I've used Solidworks in college and at my current company we use a variety of Autodesk software (although almost no Fusion 360, I mostly use Inventor) and I didn't even get to choose. They have 1500 people in engineering and we all have access to at least 7 different Autodesk programs. Do you really think that the "hobbyist" guy that uses the free option is all that important?

[@sevendaysworth]

@@jodyolivent8481 he's looking into the future when STL will be removed in 2022 ;)

[@iexcedo6918]

I've used Mastercam for over 10 years. I used fusion 360 about 3 days ago just to mess around and do a quick job. Long story short I purchased the license of fusion 360 to use at my workplace.

[@BGraves]

MasterCAM is primitive

[@dejanbrice8774]

Autodesk has practically stopped my hobby currently, I designed and built my own cnc machine over nearly a year as I don't earn much money, I don't make money from using their software, I just enjoy making things and helping friends out with problems. So now I'm down on no simulation to check my CAM, I have to load a new file for every single tool change even though I use collets and have to do it manually so its clearly not an automatic tool changer, I have so many files well into the hundreds of active ones which I switch back and forth here and there for ideas and previous dimensions I need. I've absolutely loved using F360, very easy to use and simple but clearly I as someone who works from my little shed, making nothing but fun things for myself and pushing my own knowledge to make complex projects Is being termed a non-hobbyist as I have a machine capable apparently of more than what a hobbyist should have. I can't afford a huge hit of money for their software, I only use the CAD/CAM with simulation and that's it. It would be nice to see them listen and acknowledge the massive community of like minded people with such requirements and rethink their clear decision to force out the very people who provided for years the testing and finding the niche problems. I'm really struggling with FreeCad as it's incredibly hard work but I fear this may be the only option without having such massive headache from f360.

[@martinmarriott3607]

Dejan Brice I believe you are confusing two different “simulations”. It is my understanding that there is no change to toolpath simulation. What is being removed is the simulation workspace ie stress and strain analysis.

[@dejanbrice8774]

@@martinmarriott3607 I really hope that may be the case, without it It's going to be such a wish and prayer job as I make many mistakes even with the simulation!

[@JamesEsau]

@@dejanbrice8774 I know it would be a bit of a hurdle, but solidworks has a free hobbyist license that you would probably qualify for. It does require yearly activation which they could revoke at any point but currently it seems to be a better option than fusion which seems oblivious to the vast number of users they have that are somewhere between the "I have it on my computer but never use it" people that they're okay with giving it away to, and the "I make so much money off this that I can afford to pay $1000 per year for software that's super buggy and crashes on a regular basis" people

[@Eggsr2bcrushed]

>builds a cnc machine that had to cost thousands >cant afford 400 a year for software

[@dejanbrice8774]

@@Eggsr2bcrushed Can you not read what I said or do you enjoy trying to start arguments? For the record, total price finished was just under £1500. So swivel.

[@JustinAlexanderBell]

Are they ever going to implement NPT threads in modeling?

[@BlackSmokeDMax]

I have asked in the autodesk forums, i believe it is on the list, just not a super high priority, sadly.

[@lustenaderj]

Female NPT threads are in the hole creation menu - hole tap type called "taper tapped". Still not implemented for the male threads, though.

[@automan1223]

Thank you so much John for the last CAM trick ! spend way too much time chasing lines for contour selection !!! Very cool !!!

[@neilmetcalfe8442]

Great video, thank you. Can you tell me why your Tool Orientation options look different than my version of fusion. Is it something I have to turn on or is it part of the manufacture extension?

[@StahlFirearmsNo2]

Is there a chance I could send you a car part and you could 3D scan inside and outside for me so I can get a panel CNC milled to fit it perfectly?

[@calebm5656]

Cool Tips! Thanks John!

[@ROBRENZ]

Great stuff John! ATB, Robin

[@ericswakon]

keep up the videos John - gonna jump on the comments bandwagon and suggest a video helping people understand what they are losing with the changes to the "personal" version of Fusion 360 and reminding them what they still get. What the capabilities/limitations would be using "personal" on a machine like a tormach would be helpful.

[@ScottMoyse]

Check out Lars' video on the subject. That sums it up well.

[@ericswakon]

@@ScottMoyse thanks, Ive seen it and it does sum it up on a high level. I would still like to get a more in depth breakdown of some of the limitations of things that are being brushed over by many... specifically, rapid feed limitations. What does that mean for tormach owners for example. Does this limit the adaptive toolpath itself or just linking moves between operations? NYCCNC has a history of clearly exploring topics and explaining any limitations.

[@ScottMoyse]

@@ericswakon any where you see a GO in the code currently, will be replaced with G1 @ the programmed cutting feed. So in low feed scenarios, is likely that where full retraction and repositioning at rapid was faster previously, stay down and reposition at the non-engagement feedrate will be faster... As long as you control can read all the points without data starving.

[@ScottMoyse]

@@ericswakon I'm also sure the community will figure out some ways of working around it. I have some ideas but I won't be sharing them publicly 😁.

[@bostedtap8399]

Thanks for sharing.

[@lgmn-cnc]

Thanks John! A lot of very helpful things!

[@TommiHonkonen]

I always use section for internal lathe programming. Not that I really program but learn.

[@FriedrichKegel]

Another Tip: If you need to select often edges within the CAM environment. Try to Alt+click, hold and drag away from an edge. You end up directly in the contour modification mode. Saves you one extra click - but can be many at one part ;)

[@VId_Kok]

Very useful tips! Thanks!

[@blob_87]

Let's talk about that "Align to view" and other (new?) options in the tool orientation menu...

That one would have been useful today. Had to create 8 planes for my Z-planes. Strange enough I'm convinced that I've seen someone show it and how /why to use it

[@uzkanda]

John, it is time to move to next CAD/CAM software, fusion has lost it's good will among us. You need to make a FF about that, while people can export their work from fusion cloud.

[@zachbrown7272]

What's the alternative? MasterCAM costs 300x as much and Onshape is just as expensive. This is coming from an Onshape user, Fusion is the best bet for hobbyists even now. $16 a month isn't that bad for what you're getting.

[@uzkanda]

Not sure where are you getting 16 USD, here it costs 61 EUR, or 7% of average monthly salary. But you are right about been the cheapest PRO solution.

[@zachbrown7272]

@@The_Foolish_Fool you can't get a solidworks license from EAA if you're commercial though. Even licenses that can be used for commercial stuff are $25 a month if you buy a year from autodesk.

[@jtenkely]

Fusion has lost YOUR good will? How about them giving away incredibly powerful software for FREE and allowing you to ride the learning curve with zero investment on your part, unlike many other professional software packages. Where does YOUR good will apply? You just got used to getting a TON of value for free and are now offended that Autodesk feel they should be compensated for what they've built.

[@sevendaysworth]

He used to do videos on Alibre Design. Still a viable solution that offers perpetual licensing :)

[@OakwoodMachineWorks]

Globally editing tool numbers.... I owe you at least one beer!

[@Eggsr2bcrushed]

you can bulk renumber tools in a similar way as well

[@jodyolivent8481]

I owe you and your team for that tip @7:00

[@archades54]

Can you do a video on 4th axis rotary milling with FreeCAD, or any FreeCAD vids? I'd love to see them work with a decent CNC Mill/lathe. I have a 3axis CNC router and want to get into 4th axis work. Your vids are great for Fusion360 but hope you see how many hobbyists just got screwed and consider FreeCAD stuff. Thanks.

[@haley8004]

Less interested now that I know this stuff isn't available without a subscription anymore. :(

[@johnmorack7619]

ok so its less than 500.00 a year. i kmow they are playing games BUT tell me where you can find software anywhere near F360 for what they are asking? I have MasterCam too and just for the privilege of tech support is 1200 a year for cam and 1200 for wire edm. i had hobby f360 for a few months and bought a subscription right away. you can't tell me in the last 7 years its been free to hobbists that they havent profited from it way more than the 500 a year??????

[@wildin13]

@@johnmorack7619 I also use Mastercam professionaly, all day every working day. I genuinely think that, given the price difference, its a real contender. So cheap you cant just ignore it! Plus do you actually need to pay to do ANYTHING that he's just shown us? Its still free isn't it. Only if you want the extra features...

[@Eggsr2bcrushed]

REEEEEEEE give me professional software for freeeeeeeee

[@4DModding]

Same as

[@cedriceveleigh]

I wish Onshape had functional and affordable CAM functionality.

[@ScottMoyse]

Come on John!!! You missed out the Bonus Pro-Tip - Orbit like a Pro with a 3DConnexion SpaceMouse!

[@incyberideas]

got one

[@muthusubramanian7042]

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[@drummerhammar]

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[@drummerhammar]

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[@kobacljuti6751]

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