Fusion 360

Fusion 360 is a 3D design software, much like Solidworks. However, Fusion 360 has a few distinct advantages over Solidworks, including seamless integration with Autodesk Eagle and easy 3D printing stl generation.

Since it can be pretty daunting to learn how to use design programs Autodesk provides multiple ways for a new user to find the help that they need. One particularly impressive section in their help page is dedicated to self paced learning:

https://help.autodesk.com/view/fusion360/ENU/courses/

Autodesk put together an assortment of materials to help a new user learn Fusion 360. With a mix of self paced courses that provide files for the user, tutorials that walk you through a specific process, and lecture videos that can help the user understand the program in a relatable way Autodesk has provided multiple lessons in the following courses:

• Getting started for absolute beginners

• Transitioning from another CAD/CAM system

• Mechanical assemblies

• Generative design

• Product design and development

• Test, validate, and explore alternatives

• Creating toolpaths and programs (CAM)

• Fusion 360 Academy

Each lesson in a course has an accompanying short video with options for captions, playback speed, and video quality as well as an indicator for whether the current lesson is more for beginners or intermediate users. These courses are a great option for someone who wants to get a general feel for how Fusion 360 works.

One of the biggest differences between Solidworks and Fusion 360 is how assemblies work. Solidworks has individual part files that get combined into an assembly file. Fusion 360 allows parts to be created in the same workspace as the assembly, which makes it easy to reference components off of pre-existing parts. This video illustrates this difference well: