Alternatives to Fusion360  

RE: Alternatives to Fusion360

One of the biggest challenges for me was to find the correct workflows through the different workbenches. I can recommend the video tutorials of MangoJelly

Secoundt challenge is the so called topological naming problem - the effects are described on post in front of mine by Thejiral

For me: I found my tool.

Best regards, Clemens

RE: Alternatives to Fusion360

In FreeCAD, the issue (Topological naming problem ) is being worked on.  The issue is that when you make certain changes, the mapping goes all to hell and you have to remap the items to the correct faces or where they are attached.

If you go into the sketch or item and select the Data > Map Mode, you can select the correct face to attach the sketch or item to.  I was working on a vary large project and as things changed, this was a common issue as changes were requested.  Once I learned this, I extended the time of the growth of my bald spot by not pulling out my hair.  🙂

There is a FreeCAD fork that is supposed to have this fixed and is supposed to be fixed in the near future in FreeCAD. 

RE:

Thanks everyone for explaining the issue and actually also telling me that it has a name 😉
Now, it also makes much more sense to me. I am torn if I should try out that fork or rather wait for FreeCAD itself getthing a hold of it. Maybe I have a look into Data>Map Mode first but I think this is still rather bothersome and only a partial solution. 

There is another issue which I think is not related to topological naming but rather that distances change directions if you move other parts too much or in the wrong way. This can completely mess up your sketches beyond easy repair if you change some underlying dimensions. These may also be non-reversible, even if you press undo the messed up situation will persist. What I mean is you make a restraint that something is 20 mm right of a point. If that point moves the wrong way this restraint might change to 20 mm left of that point. Is that just how parametric designs work, that there is no directionality or is it FreeCad? Or is there an option I missed out?

RE: Alternatives to Fusion360

I loved the concept of OpenSCAD

If you like to program to make your models, CadQuery might be worth a look. It is a Python library so you have a widely used language to work with. It doesn't have a GUI but you can use your favorite IDE or text editor. Then you just need a viewer that will reload the model when the file changes. On Windows I just use File Explorer preview. It will show previews of STL files if Microsoft's 3D Viewer is the default app for STL files.

RE: Alternatives to Fusion360

I do understand your issues.

I am using Version 21.1 now and have less issue than with 20.  I make sure that you have upgraded.

I find that when making major changes to sketches, do them slowly if you are dragging them.  May have to work with each section of the sketch as needed.

RE: Alternatives to Fusion360

I made a mistake when I said that there isn't a GUI. They have CQ-editor. I had tried to install it in the past but it always failed, I was trying to install into an existing virtual environment then. I decided to give CadQuery another try, been using OpenSCAD, and I was successful installing CQ-editor using a pre-built installer. It installs CQ-editor in a folder with it's own conda Python installation and it worked.

https://github.com/CadQuery/CQ-editor/releases/tag/nightly

RE: Alternatives to Fusion360

You could give Solid Edge Community Edition a go.  It is free for hobbyist purposes with no serious limitations and is not cloud connected, although you do need to create a Siemens account to download it.

Personally I'm not a huge fan of the interface but probably still worth a try.  It is quite capable.

RE: Alternatives to Fusion360

I use the Solid Edge community edition.   Works well for me.  Free for makers.  Not free for business use.   It has a yearly release/update.   The key is this is well supported by professional development.    It takes time to learn as all the CAD systems do.    It has 3D printing support features also.  Even functional threads.   Saves to .step, .stl and many others. 

CAD/CAM was my profession for 40 years. In my oprinion, start with a high end system, you will grow into it soon.  

Posted by: @frio

You could give Solid Edge Community Edition a go.  It is free for hobbyist purposes with no serious limitations and is not cloud connected, although you do need to create a Siemens account to download it.

Personally I'm not a huge fan of the interface but probably still worth a try.  It is quite capable.

RE: Alternatives to Fusion360

I find I tend to use Blender and OpenSCAD.   Since I used to use blender to do animation, it was sort of comfortable for me to design parts in it.   It has become more friendly to 3d printing needs too.  Of course it's not going to be as good as a CAD/CAM tool that is meant fore creating parts for manufacture, but it has the advantage that if you design non mechanical parts that like characters etc it has a ton of tools for that too.   I do like OpenSCAD for parametric things, and I want to learn to use it more.

RE: Alternatives to Fusion360

I have not done it myself but a friend of mine has recommended using FreeCAD to do some of his drawings and Blender to do some of the more complicated curves.  I do know he designs stuff for his plane in FreeCAD and Blender as well as online flight simulator.

With FreeCAD, it is learning the correct work benches and work flow to ensure things work. 

RE: Alternatives to Fusion360

I tried freecad before, I found it to be a bit buggy.   I only tend towards Blender because I'm familiar with it from my animation days.   I think many folks use a combination of tools.  I know this was the case when I was doing animation.  Blender is pretty amazing for being completely free.   The problem I find is that documentation out there often lags behind the current release.

RE: Alternatives to Fusion360

Posted by: @netpackrat

I have been using this software for about a year and a half and I have been reasonably happy with it.

Posted by: @zab

I have been using Alibre Atom3D  for a number of years now.  It's low cost to purchase (currently $149) and once you own it, you own it.  Resides on your PC so you don't need to be online to use.  Uses sketches similar to Fusion to create objects for 3d printing.  Doesn't do everything that Fusion does, but for my purposes it has worked very well.  They have 'professional' versions but they cost considerably more.  With Atom they usually put out updates once or twice a year but an annual update license is only $50.  If you don't want to buy the lifetime license they also now have the option to pay a monthly fee which includes any updates while your license is still valid.  In either case, all the files stay on your computer and not on the cloud.

 

FWIW, I cannot recommend this software anymore, for reasons having nothing to do with the software itself, but rather the company that makes it.  I work a late shift, and don't get home until the wee hours of the morning.  This morning, some a-hole salesman from Alibre called my phone as I was trying to sleep, to tell me about whatever upgrade deal they are currently offering.  This was the second time this has happened since I purchased the software last year.  I have never purchased any other software where the company has felt the need to harass me by phone to purchase upgrades.  The entire $%*&^&* point of the Alibre software was that you buy it and there is no ongoing BS, subscription, etc. 

RE: Alternatives to Fusion360

While freecad still is pretty buggy, if you know your way around it is actually quite usable. So far I always was able to realize my projects with it, but I admit it is way harder to learn currently, since there are a lot of kinks that have to be ironed out.

RE: Alternatives to Fusion360

Since using FreeCAD 0.21.1 I have to say that this is a great step forward. It makes more and more fun to use.

Best regards, Clemens

RE:

@Clemens:

Wie sagt man so schön: einem geschenkten Gaul schaut man nicht ins Maul 👍 

Wenn man sich etwas in die Materie hineinlebt, kommt man mit FreeCad ziemlich gut zurecht.

Schöne Grüsse,

Karl

RE: Alternatives to Fusion360

I like DesignSpark Mechanical. I have used Fusion 360 but it's too expensive if you want all the features. I tried FreeCAD but it has a greater learning curve and some bugs. DesignSpark mechanical has a FREE version and two paid versions but the Engineer level offers PCB making too. The Creator package is only $11.99 a month or $136 per year. In fact it is the first and ONLY subscription I have ever purchased.

https://www.rs-online.com/designspark/mechanical-software

RE: Alternatives to Fusion360

I looked at Design Mechanical and seeing the limitations on the free version was a zero for me.  I cannot afford the monthly or annual payment for something that isn't making me money and I have made money using FreeCAD.

For PCB's I use pcb-rnd and looking at KiCAD.

I find that FreeCAD 21.1 is pretty stable compared to what 20 was.  There is also RealThunder which fixes some of the FreeCAD issues but has other issues.

For simple projects, FreeCAD is quick to learn.  More complicated, yes, it is much harder.  But I found it easier to learn than AutoCAD and many of the procedures are similar to Inventor which many at work use.  I know that we spent lots of money to send people on AutoCAD and Inventor courses so they are not easy either but much more expensive.  Much of the problems with FreeCAD is knowing what limitations are with what workbenches due to different developers.

RE: Alternatives to Fusion360

I don't have extra money but DesignSpark is something I used from V4 (when it was FREE) on so I am used to it and I like it. It is the *only* software in my life I have ever subscribed to as I hate subscriptions. I will look at the latest version of FreeCAD as I was very interested in it years ago and also had the RealThunder versions on my pc. I have too many PCB software apps to count so I am good there. 🙂

Posted by: @robin_13

I looked at Design Mechanical and seeing the limitations on the free version was a zero for me.  I cannot afford the monthly or annual payment for something that isn't making me money and I have made money using FreeCAD.

For PCB's I use pcb-rnd and looking at KiCAD.

I find that FreeCAD 21.1 is pretty stable compared to what 20 was.  There is also RealThunder which fixes some of the FreeCAD issues but has other issues.

For simple projects, FreeCAD is quick to learn.  More complicated, yes, it is much harder.  But I found it easier to learn than AutoCAD and many of the procedures are similar to Inventor which many at work use.  I know that we spent lots of money to send people on AutoCAD and Inventor courses so they are not easy either but much more expensive.  Much of the problems with FreeCAD is knowing what limitations are with what workbenches due to different developers.

 

 

 

RE:

SketchUp (formerly Google Sketchup) is a 3D modeling computer program suitable for a variety of drawing applications such as architecture, interior design, civil and mechanical...

FreeCAD is a universal parametric 3D CAD modeler. Development is completely open source (LGPL license).

SOLIDWORKS is the leading 3D CAD software for design, analysis and product data management.

BRL-CAD is a powerful cross-platform open source solid modeling system that includes interactive geometry editing, high-performance ray tracing for rendering and geometry.

Onshape is the first all-cloud 3D CAD system. It runs on web browsers and any mobile device.3D Orchard is a free online platform for crowdsourced design. It includes free built-in CAD tools and everything you need to turn your ideas into real products.

______________________