I Found A Much Better CAD Software than Fusion 360 (Never going back)

In this video, I tell you why I'm done using Fusion 360 for 3D printing. I give some background on how I started using Fusion 360 after trying out several other CAD software's like Blender and shapr3d. Then I will discuss the new software I'm going to mainly be using from now on..... plasticity.

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[CleverLittleMaker]

I see where you are coming from with this video and while I totally understand the people who are objecting to your presentation of Plasticity as a full replacement for Fusion 360, I understand what you mean. You're like me - wanting a good INTUITIVE 3d modeler to use for your 3d printing projects. Yes, parametric is a wonderful tool to go back and revise things, but some of us love Direct Modeling so much and are so fast with it that the negative of being unable to go back in time and tweak a parameter are outweighed by just the sheer quickness we can model with Direct Modeling. I have been searching and waiting for something like Plasticity for literally YEARS. The combination of direct modeling with precision, low price for OWNERSHIP of the software (not a effing subscription), and rapid improvement (and responsiveness!) of the author make it a winner *for me*. It doesn't need to be a full CAD/CAM package *for my situation*. I can just model it up in Plasticity, export, and do all the analysis/kinematics/etc. I want in another package like FreeCad (also waiting impatiently for FreeCAD 1.0 to release, fixing the main problem with that software: the dreaded topology naming bug). Anyway, carry on with the making and showing! I'm subscribing to your channel. :)

[mururoa]

For beginners who aren't sure if they need parametric or not, consider this example: I recently had to design an accessory part for industrial machinery. This part needed to exist in 15 different lengths. Depending on the length of the part, it needed to have a different number of threaded holes. Instead of creating 15 different models, I created only 1 and assigned variables to some of the dimensions, and I entered a simple formula based on those dimensions for some of the features like the number of holes. When my design was ready, I only needed to enter all 15 lengths in a data table and the software generated all 15 variants of the same part for me, computing and drawing the correct number of holes in the right places. If I needed to make a change, it was automatically applied to all variants. That's the power of parametric.

[ChristopherPhillipsDev]

The lack of parametric modeling for anything that requires prototyping is a big deal breaker.

[cookiejarseattle]

I’m an engineer. Non parametric is absolutely no go.

[nebula]

If you don't want to watch everything. The software is plasticity and the price was the reason why he switched. The Video starts from 6:07

[rayly]

Very bold title. Plasticity was developed for hard surface artists and is not a full CAD Software like Fusion 360. No CAM, parametric modeling or FEM analysis. Which software is better just boils down to your individual usecase.

[TheGravespawn]

Former Autodesk employee here:

They will not fix it. They will patch the critical stuff, but their interest is in their tokens and credits to get you paying per use. The price ONLY goes up, as well. It's a big thing in every all-hands meeting about how they want to project the profits, and talk about how they feel each iteration is worth more money because they acquired some developer and rolled their software's functions into fusion. Autodesk is BIG on acquisitions.

Honestly, they're just like every other big tech company in that they do not give a shit about you, the consumer. I encourage everyone to use literally anything else but their software, because price will only drop if demand drops, since supply is not actually a thing with subscription based software.

[enjoying]

FreeCAD is now pretty good full parametric real cad and does milling gcode and printing all while being free

[alexp]

A perfect example of comparing apples with oranges

[NackDSP]

Fusion360: You're making $1, 000 per year, pay us $680.00. F no way.

[benjaminford]

I got RhinoCAD 8, its not cheap but its super powerful with the grasshopper toolset and I own it forever with one purchase.

[fluiditynz]

I've been using OPENSCAD for about 12 years now. It's purely script which means you can edit separate parts of your objects, reuse code etc very easily. Only complaint I have with it that it doesn't have 3D fileting. Despite that though, I use it for everything. Scripted vases, cogs, home and work related stuff and for friends. Latest one is a hydrofoil mast where I did 3D fileting between a foil section and a plate by unioning a series of scripted resized foil sections in pairs to create the mathematical curves I wanted. If you're good at scripting it's a great choice and it's free. If I;m designing something I start with measuring up the environment it's fitting in to, record these in comments and then start implementing.

[TexasBeekeeper]

I'm a CAD designer of about 25 years.
I'd be willing to bet that Plasticity eventually goes parametric (Just like FreeCAD used to not be, but is now).

A tip for your viewers:
You can get a solidworks makers license if paid up front for a year, for $48 for the year. If you pay monthly, it would be $15 per month, so it's worth paying up front. You do have a similar stipulation on how much you can make per year. I believe it's $2, 000, so there is that.

Solidworks is pretty good. I'm a CATIA user and love it, but solidworks is a capable software that has a huge user base and I do have the maker's license that I use at home and for designing things to 3D print.

I'll definitely keep my eye on plasticity and see how it develops over the years.
Thanks for sharing

[whathaveidone]

I swapped to onshape and have zero complaints so far.

[SebastiaanSwinkels]

F360 has been in a downward spiral for years. The price keeps going up, new features are being locked into "extensions" that cost multiple times that of the software itself, stability and performance are afterthoughts at best, etc. If at any point Solidworks makes its way to the mac, I'm ditching Fusion without even thinking twice.

[HarveyFoFi]

How does Fusion 360 know the user sold over $1000? is that on the honor system?

[Powdah]

Shapr is parametric now and feels like that sweet spot between almost fully featured CAD software for product designers and hobbyists wanting to design and print things at home. Definitely worth the price.

[alexvikingo]

i try plasticity for 1min and i dont see import option for SVG files, for me usless

[stevesloan]

Originally I learned 3d studio Max 3.1, completely from two hugely thick bibles, plus a smaller book for character studio.
Back in 1998 we relied on excellent manuals, with a small written tutorial section.
Now we have amazingly connected communities, that can give you answers to extremely specific questions.
So written tutorials are still king, but from that you can create a community greater than the parts that make it up.

🇦🇺🤜🏼🤛🏼😑🍀😊☮️😂

[iajhy]

I'm investing in Rhino. I've started recently and found it really amazing for industrial design in general. With Grasshopper, it's unbeatable! Also, perpetual licenses are really important to me, so it was no brainer.