Personal Use Fusion 360: What's Changing and Why You Should Care

The world of computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) is about to undergo significant changes with the latest updates to Autodesk's Fusion 360. As of October 1, several features will be removed or drastically cut back, affecting both personal and commercial users alike.

Firstly, support for simulation, generative design, and custom extensions has been completely eliminated. This means that users can no longer utilize these advanced tools to optimize their designs or create complex models.

CAM support has also taken a hit, with multi-axis milling, probing, automatic tool changes, and rapid feeds being removed from the software. While 2, 2.5, and 3-axis CAM capabilities will remain, this is still a significant setback for users who rely heavily on these features.

Another notable change is that rendering can no longer be done in the cloud. Users will now have to rely on local computing resources to generate images of their designs. This may not seem like a major issue, but it could lead to increased processing times and reduced overall performance.

Two-dimensional (2D) drawings will also see some changes, with single-sheet limitations and reduced export options. For example, users can no longer create multi-page drawings or export them in DXF, DWG, or PDF formats.

Perhaps the most significant change for makers and designers is the removal of STEP, SAT, and IGES file type exports. This means that users can no longer easily share their designs with others who may not use Fusion 360. However, STL files will still be available for export.

To make matters worse, project storage has been limited to just 10 active and editable documents. While this might seem like a relatively small restriction, it could cause problems for users who work on multiple projects simultaneously.

Despite these changes, Autodesk is still offering a free-to-use non-commercial license for Fusion 360, which includes design and manufacturing capabilities. However, there are some significant 'buts' to consider, including the limitations mentioned above.

The reaction from the Fusion 360 community has been overwhelmingly negative, with many users expressing frustration and disappointment at the changes. While change can be difficult to accept, it's an inevitable part of life.

In conclusion, the latest updates to Fusion 360's personal use license have significant implications for users. While some features will remain available, others have been removed or cut back in a way that may make the software less appealing to certain users. As always, it's essential to stay informed and adapt to changing circumstances in order to continue producing high-quality work.

Personal use fusion 360