Switching from Sketchup to Fusion360?

[ednadolski]

Has anyone tried this switch?   What was your experience like -- steep learning curve, or not all that bad?  Any particular caveats?

The annual $ub$cripton for SketchUp is now about $350/yr, which seems absurd considering that the program generally kinda sucks. While F360 still costs somewhat more at $475/yr., it at least seems like it should be a more capable tool.  Plus, F360 has the personal use/free version, which quite possibly could suffice for what I do, even if only for a while.   By mainly I am trying to decide if a switch is worth undertaking WRT the time needed to climb the learning curve.

Another consideration is, how easy (or hard) is it, to import existing .skp files into F360?

Thanks,
Ed

[pjm20]

I would highly recommend the Solidworks hobby license that is $48 a year. Fusion 360 is just as capable, but Solidworks fits my eye better as a mechanical designer (plus having 6+ years of experience helps). The learning curve for a "professional" software package is there, all it takes is practice. I'm sure that there are some tutorials online you can use to practice with that will get you the skills you need quickly.

[JeffB]

I would highly recommend the Solidworks hobby license that is $48 a year. Fusion 360 is just as capable, but Solidworks fits my eye better as a mechanical designer (plus having 6+ years of experience helps). The learning curve for a "professional" software package is there, all it takes is practice. I'm sure that there are some tutorials online you can use to practice with that will get you the skills you need quickly.

I purchased a one year (subscription) Makers license for Solidworks (the 3DExperience) and it was $68 for the year. 

I also now have a professional license for SW2025 (a story I'm not going to share).

I can't recommend the Maker's license subscription enough.   Solidworks is a fantastic solid modeling package.  It's relatively intuitive after a few simple onboard tutorials, which is how I initially learned most of what I use now.  Went for SW sanctioned training, but got next to nothing new out of it.  I've been a SW user since 2005.

Jeff

[Lemosteam]

Solidworks is a Dassault software and its genes come from Dassault’s Catia, one of the finest user friendly software I have ever used as a professional Cad designer.

[nickelplate759]

I actually knew (professionally) one of the founders of Solidworks (before Dassault Systemes bought them).     Interesting character.  Professionally very demanding (and a bit of a terror), but perfectly nice in a social setting.

I had told my wife several stories about his temper and occasional verbal abuse.   She met him at a wedding, found him absolutely charming, and asked me if I were certain it was the same person.

[JeffB]

I actually knew (professionally) one of the founders of Solidworks (before Dassault Systemes bought them).     Interesting character.  Professionally very demanding (and a bit of a terror), but perfectly nice in a social setting.

Sounds like a Steve Jobs type... 

Jeff

[robert3985]

I did the switch from Sketchup to Fusion 3D about halfway through last year because of my commitment to my upcoming N-scale details effort.

Although I did design several parts over the past few years using Sketchup, it had some major problems when designing highly detailed parts that needed to be reduced for printing, since I was drawing them at 1:1, then reducing them to N-scale for supporting and slicing.

I don't in any way consider myself to be "expert" at CAD or 3D modeling, but after much research, using free versions and seeing what others were using...then going to YouTube and seeing the tutorials that are available, I decided on Fusion 360, and am completely happy with it for my applications...mainly creating 3D models of small mechanical parts, with a foray into car kits which are in the works.

First, I made sure that my computer was sufficient for both my slicer software, which is the subscription version of Lychee Slicer, and for Fusion 360, upgrading my CPU to the maximum my four year old Asus gaming MoBo would recognize and increasing my DDR4, from 16GB, to 64GB, which has cured my periodic crashing problem I was having when using Lychee Slicer's Planar Cutting Tool to modify objects.

There are several very good tutorials on YouTube, and along with upgrading my CPU and memory, I also added a second monitor, so I can easily multitask, watching the tutorial on my right monitor and pausing it when I want when doing the tutorial on my left monitor.  This has greatly sped up my learning process, and since I don't sit at my computer on a daily basis doing 3D modeling, it also helps when I have to refresh my memory when attacking a new project.

So, in my experience, dropping Sketchup completely, and going with Fusion 360 was a very good choice, although for more organic types of 3D modeling, there are other apps that are more comprehensive, which I may be using in the future when I start making N-scale critters and people.

Hope this helps out a bit in your decision.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore 

[pjm20]

I purchased a one year (subscription) Makers license for Solidworks (the 3DExperience) and it was $68 for the year. 

I also now have a professional license for SW2025 (a story I'm not going to share).

I can't recommend the Maker's license subscription enough.   Solidworks is a fantastic solid modeling package.  It's relatively intuitive after a few simple onboard tutorials, which is how I initially learned most of what I use now.  Went for SW sanctioned training, but got next to nothing new out of it.  I've been a SW user since 2005.

Jeff

It must have just went up, I got my license on Black Friday for $24 for the year.

[JeffB]

It must have just went up, I got my license on Black Friday for $24 for the year.

Or it could be a different license...  There were a few to choose from IIRC.

I purchased mine back in February of this year.  I have it on my laptop so I can do CAD work when I travel.

Jeff

[Sumner]

I started with non-commercial Sketchup about 5-6 years ago and used it for designing my track plan.  Worked well for that for my needs since I'm all flex track and hand-laid turnouts and crossings.  Never tried to use it for 3D modeling and haven't used it for maybe 3-4 years.

Heard about Fusion and decided to give it a try.  Watched and then used this video...

.... and designed a lot of items with basically what I learned in that one video.  As time went on I picked up more skill, commands by watching more YouTube's (lots out there).  At this point I've designed a lot and have a lot up on thingiverse (180 designs but many of those are multiple prints) and on my website.  I probably only use about 20 commands out of over 1000 from what I read.

I'm non-commercial so use the 'free' version.  At this point if I had to pay yearly I would as I'm that hooked.  I'd then unfortunately have to change my policy of putting up everything for free.  A few people do help with my yearly website costs with donations (thanks, appreciated) but even those aren't covered so I'd have to figure out a way to pay for it.

I see it often knocked because people believe you have to do everything on the cloud which isn't true.  They do have some requirements to protect their product and I don't blame them as they are providing a product that is also their livelihood.  You can work off-line for some time but sooner or later it is going to need to reconnect to their server.  To create a STL file for printing you have to be connected and the file is also created on their end not on your end. 

Other than that I save/export all my designs that I create on my computer.  They are saved on my computer in seconds using the export instead of the save option.  When I go back to work on the file I retrieve it from my computer like you would with any file.  I save to my computer often, sometimes every few minutes (a little paranoid about saving my work when making changes).  I take one other step and that is I also save a JPEG image of the design at the same time I save the design.  Only takes a couple seconds to do that and when I'm looking to a design and maybe a particular step  in designing it I find looking at an image is usually far faster than reloading the design at various steps.

Personally I highly recommend it, especially to anyone who is non-commercial and wants to use a great CAD program free.  If you are commercial it is probably also a good move but I can't compare it to the other commercial options as I haven't used them.

As far as Fusion 360 and .skp files that could possibly be a problem.  On my free version I don't see that as one of the options to open.  Try googling this ...

Fusion 360 and .skp files

... and see where that takes you.  I did see there about converting those to stl. and bringing that into Fusion.  I've had no luck trying to conveniently work with a STL file with Fusion.

For a comparison of Fusion vs. Solidworks maybe try ( HERE )

When I go to that one comment I see is 'Solidworks -- More feature-deep with a wider range of tools'.  I wouldn't let that deter you.  I can't image anything for our needs of designing anything from an engine shell to a building that Fusion can't handle along with projects much more complex than that.  I also wouldn't let the reference to 'cloud based' bother you as I mentioned further above you can save and retrieve all of your designs to and from your computer.

Sumner

[JeffB]

For a comparison of Fusion vs. Solidworks maybe try ( HERE )
Sumner

That certainly makes Fusion360 look like the better option for hobbyists that don't have experience with SolidWorks... 

I guess the only reason to choose a SW maker's subscription over a Fusion360 subscription is based on cost (if a Fusion360 sub is really $350/yr).

Jeff

[Scottl]

This thread prompted me to look at F360 and Solidworks.  F360 is clearly the advanced/full version of Tinkercad and it has a lot of sophistication that was easy to use right away.  Solidworks did as well, but from my perspective as a maker, neither had a distinct advantage over the other.  Paying $48US for a hobby licence is more that I can justify, so the free F360 version is what I will go with for the occasions I need something advanced. 

I also spent a lot of time last week working with Blender (free) and I can say it offers features that none of the CAD-based systems do.  It is highly organic and allows generating 3D designs that are non-dimensioned with ease.  It offers a lot of random and physics-based approaches that are useful for some tasks.  For instance, I was able to produce a river-rock wall with irregular stones in a mortar matrix with ease in Blender.  I don't see any way to do this in the CAD programs.  Like Tinkercad, Blender can produce dimensioned drawings with comparative ease, but both lack the sophistication of CAD software.  But if you are like me and don't come from a CAD background, they offer free and flexible solutions.

[Sumner]

....
I guess the only reason to choose a SW maker's subscription over a Fusion360 subscription is based on cost (if a Fusion360 sub is really $350/yr).

Jeff

You need to renew your hobby version of Fusion every 3 years at no cost.  I think I've done that twice now.  It hasn't been a big deal and did do it a couple months ago in minutes.  I have the following link saved for when I do need to renew....

https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/How-to-renew-your-hobbyist-enthusiast-license-for-Fusion-360.html

Sumner

[JeffB]

I also spent a lot of time last week working with Blender (free) and I can say it offers features that none of the CAD-based systems do.  It is highly organic and allows generating 3D designs that are non-dimensioned with ease.  It offers a lot of random and physics-based approaches that are useful for some tasks.  For instance, I was able to produce a river-rock wall with irregular stones in a mortar matrix with ease in Blender.  I don't see any way to do this in the CAD programs.  Like Tinkercad, Blender can produce dimensioned drawings with comparative ease, but both lack the sophistication of CAD software.  But if you are like me and don't come from a CAD background, they offer free and flexible solutions.

From what I've seen and know of Blender, it's a lot better for designing things that have random surface texture (like stone or brick).  You can do that with SW, but it's a lot more labor intensive and not as random, though maybe I've missed a feature that allows for that.

SW is more of an engineering based software than an artistic one... 

Ultimately...  Use what you feel most comfortable with and work offers you the most flexibility for your design needs.  Most of my designs center around mechanical applications, so SW works best for me.  But I can definitely see the need for Blender or something like it (there's a paid for professional software out there but the name escapes me).

Jeff

[garethashenden]

This may not matter to most people, but it matters to me. Fusion360 has a Mac app and Solidworks is Windows only. Cad software is demanding enough that I’m not going to run it in a virtual windows system, that would be painful.