Total 3D Printing

ANYCUBIC Mega S 3D Printer

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06/19/2021 11:59 am GMT

At a Glance: 8 of the Best Fastest 3D Printers in 2021

3D printer	Max Print Speed	Build Volume	Layer Resolution	More Info
Anycubic Mega S	100 mm / s	210 x 210 x 210 mm	100 microns	Find out more
Delta WASP 2040 Pro	500 mm / s	200 x 200 x 400 mm	50 microns	Find out more
FLSUN QQ-S	300 mm / s	255 x 255 x 360 mm	50 microns	Find out more
UNIZ Slash Plus UDP	1,000 cm3 / hr	192 x 122 x 200 mm	75 microns	Find out more
Zortrax M200 Plus	200 mm / s	200mm x 200mm x 180mm	90 – 390 microns	Find out more
HP 3D Jet Fusion 5200	4115 cm3 / hour	380 x 284 x 380 mm	1,200 dpi	Find out more
Anycubic Photon Mono X	60mm / h	192 x 120mm x 245mm	10 microns	Find out more
Massivit 1800	300 mm / s	1450mm x 1110mm x 1800mm	500 mm / s	Find out more

Things to consider that will impact 3D printing speed

There are certain aspects such as the material, technology, and resolution, that will impact how quickly a 3D printer will create objects.

Technology

FDM printers, which are the most common models, usually print objects slower than resin 3D printers .

This is down to the technology that is used. FDM 3D printers have more moving parts, and the printing process is a bit more complicated as they use an extruder with three-axis and motors. This results in a slower print job.

3D printers that use resin don’t have as many moving parts, so they don’t print models quickly. The downside is the resin (SLA and DLP printers) are often more expensive.

Material

Another thing to consider with the speed of a 3D printer is the material you are using to print with.

Certain types of filament will often take longer to print with than others. While speed is important, getting a high-quality print is vital to ensure your objects come out correctly.

Certain plastics can cause a slow print, and you should weigh this up with how intricate or high-quality you want the finished object to be.

Resolution

The resolution refers to how many layers your model has.

Simply put, the more layers, the longer the print is going to take. So, objects with very few layers will print quicker. If you print an object with 50-micron layers, it will have a better resolution than one with 100-micron layers.

The resolution is directly related to the quality of the finished object because a model printed with a lesser resolution won’t take as much time, but it won’t be as intricate and detailed.

Model complexity

Finally, how complex your objects are will impact how quickly you can get them printed.

More intricate models will take longer than very basic objects that don’t have a high detail level. For example, if you are printing a miniature with many complex parts, this will take a lot longer to get a high-quality print than printing a case for a micro SD card.

8 Best Fastest 3D Printers

Anycubic Mega S

The Anycubic Mega S is the perfect 3D printer for both speed and your wallet.

As far as budget 3D printers go, this is incredibly powerful and provides rapid printing speeds of up to 100mm / s. It isn’t the quickest on our list by a long shot; however, for what you pay, it is very fast.

The Mega S also has an easy-to-use touchscreen and an intuitive user interface. You will also find an upgraded extruder, filament runout detection, and the patented microporous coating that allows you to remove the printed objects when they have cooled down easily.

There is some assembly required to get this 3D printer up and running but it isn’t too complicated.

Overall this is a very powerful 3D printer that comes packed with a range of features. The nature of the high-quality prints and rapid speeds combined with the low price makes it a superb 3D printer to get your objects created quickly.

Our Favorite

$279.99

FLSUN QQ-S-PRO Pre-assembled Delta 3d Printer

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06/19/2021 11:59 am GMT

Pros

Very quick print speeds while retaining quality
Easy removal of objects from the print bed
Filament runout detection
Available at an affordable price
Has a touch-screen and good UI

Cons

There is some assembly required with this printer

Delta WASP 2040 Pro

The Delta WASP 2040 PRO offers an excellent print speed of 500 mm / s alongside a host of other features.

This includes a print recovery mode if you encounter a power loss, being able to swap the filament head so you can work with different materials, as well as an enclosed print chamber. You can work with many different materials with this 3D printer, such as ABS. It is ideal for working with clay and ceramics.

You also benefit from WiFi capability with the Delta WASP 2040 Pro.

The pricing might put some hobbyist and casual users off, as it is a bit on the expensive side. However, it is incredibly powerful for businesses to print objects and models quickly.

Pros

Very quick speeds and prints high-quality objects
WiFi capability and can work with different materials
Power loss and filament runout sensor

Cons

This 3D printer is quite expensive

FLSUN QQ-S

The significant advantage of the FLSUN QQ-S is that it comes pre-assembled. For beginners or those who don’t want to spend hours setting up a 3D printer, this is ideal.

The noise level is another great thing about this 3D printer as it is below 50 dB. This makes it perfect for use in the home or in an office environment, while you also benefit from a very reasonable cost. If you don’t want to spend tons of money on a 3D printer but want good speeds, the FLSUN QQ-S offers this.

We had a look at the FLSUN QQ-S before, as its build volume makes it one of the best large format 3D printers. Combined with the auto-leveling system, easy-to-use software, and overall durability, it is definitely worth your consideration if you want to print objects quickly.

$369.00

Zortrax M200 Plus 3D Printer - High-Performance

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06/19/2021 12:04 pm GMT

Pros

Offers quick print speeds for a budget price
Very quiet so won’t disturb anyone when in use
Large build volume and easy to use software

Cons

Can take a while to get used to
Support options aren’t great

UNIZ Slash Plus UDP

The whole idea behind the UNIZ Slash Plus UDP was to create a commercially available 3D printer that offered fast speeds. In fact, they even created a Kickstarter campaign to get this 3D printer off the ground.

This is an SLA 3D printer that uses resin to print off your models, so it is already quicker than most FDM printers. The accuracy and precision of the objects that the UNIZ Splash Plus UDP prints are fantastic, although we would like to have seen a slightly better build volume as it is only 192 x 122 x 200 mm.

The build volume aside, this 3D printer offers remote control via WiFi, auto-calibration and it is easy to use overall.

Pros

Very fast 3D printer especially for commercial use
Has remote control and auto-calibration
Easy to use and is a resin 3D printer

Cons

Build volume could be better as it is quite small
Comes with a fairly high price tag

Zortrax M200 Plus

The Zortrax M200 Plus has the edge over several 3D printers in the same price range because it offers WiFi capability.

This very user-friendly 3D printer would be ideal for beginners who are still learning the craft but who also want to benefit from decent print speeds.

There is a filament run-out detection feature which we always like to see with a 3D printer, and you can also benefit from the decently sized build volume of 200mm x 200mm x 180mm.

The built-in camera allows you to let the Zortrax M200 Plus do its thing while you keep an eye on it remotely.

There are some issues around the lack of support for using with a Mac and the disappointing warranty, but it is a powerful and quick 3D printer for the price.

$2,599.00

ANYCUBIC Photon Mono X 3D Resin Printer

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06/19/2021 12:19 pm GMT

Pros

WiFi capability and offers a remote camera
Build volume is a good size
Very user-friendly so ideal for beginners with some money to spend

Cons

Lack of Mac support and poor warranty

HP 3D Jet Fusion 5200

We are moving onto a large, industrial-scale, quick 3D printer. The HP 3D Jet Fusion 5200 isn’t for anyone other than large businesses with a lot of money to spend. We know that it instantly knocks so many people out of buying this printer, but its incredibly print speeds are worth mentioning.

This 3D printer from HP provides print speeds of up to 4500 cm³ per hour, which is pretty awesome. The overall quality is the best you are going to get, and the build volume of 380 x 284 x 380 mm lets you print off some massive objects.

The HP 3D Jet Fusion 5200 isn’t for many people, but for large businesses with money to spend, it is tough to find a competitor for what you get with this printer.

Pros

Unreal print speeds and overall print quality
Massive build volume for large prints

Cons

Isn’t for small businesses or 3D printing hobbyists

Anycubic Photon Mono X

The Anycubic Photon Mono X is one of the latest in a long line of great 3D printers that we love from Anycubic.

The Photon Mono X provides pretty good print speeds at 60 mm / s, which, for the price, is actually really decent. We like the large build volume, too, so you aren’t restricted too much in what you can print off at once.

This is a resin-based printer, and the 4K screen combined with the double linear Z-axis makes for very intricate and accurate printed models. This 3D printer also offers WiFi connectivity.

It is best suited to smaller prints (such as miniatures or jewelry ), and if you want a high-quality, quick printer for a reasonable price, Anycubic is usually the brand to opt for.

$699.99

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06/19/2021 11:59 am GMT

Pros

Budget 3D printer with quick speeds
Ideal for jewelry and miniatures
Resin-based with 4k screen and WiFi connectivity

Cons

Isn’t ideal for larger prints

Massivit 1800

If build volume is important and you also have the money to spend, the Massivit 1800 is what you need. ‘Massivit’ is a big clue as it provides an astonishing build volume of 1450mm x 1110mm x 1800mm – that is pretty huge!

Aside from that, this 3D printer uses gel dispensing printing which gives it the edge of many FDM printers, as it contributes to a much better overall finish. This printer is used to create many different objects, such as movie props and art exhibitions.

This means it comes with a hefty price tag, but you pay for what you get. If you are lucky enough to operate the Massivit 1800, you will find it easy to use once you are accustomed to using gel dispensing printing (GDP).

Pros

Incredibly detailed prints and huge build volume
Great for large scale art exhibitions or movies
Much quicker than FDM printers

Cons

It has a huge price tag so most people won’t be able to afford it
Gel dispensing printing can take a while to get used to

Frequently Asked Questions about fastest 3D printers

Question: Is printing speed really that important?

Answer: It can be. 3D Printing is often a long and arduous process depending on the complexity of the objets you are printing. However, being able to do this quicker than usual means you can print off more objects and boost the productivity of your 3D printer.

Question: Will speed come at the expense of quality?

Answer: Not always. Some 3D printers can print really quickly but the overall quality will not be as good. However, the 3D printers we have listed here, all offer quick speeds and high-quality printed objects.

Question: How important is a 3D printer’s build volume?

Answer: Very important. The build volume is essentially how big the space that your objects can be printed onto. The bigger space, the bigger the objects that you can print.

Question: Are some materials quicker for 3D printing than others?

Answer: Yes. Certain plastics and other types of filament can slow down the printing process, whereas other materials can speed it up.

Question: Which is quicker – FDM or Resin 3D printers?

Answer: Resin 3D Printers. Many FDM printers can print pretty quickly, however, as a general rule, there are fewer moving parts and complexities with resin 3D printers, so they can print objects faster.

Question: Can I use a fast 3D printer as a beginner?

Answer: Yes. Some 3D printers are designed for industrial use and for more experienced people who have been using 3D printers for a while. However, there are many fast 3D Printers that are aimed at enthusiasts and can be operated from your home.

Which is the Best Fastest 3D Printer?

Speed isn’t everything but using a fast 3D printer that also offers high-quality, accurate, and accurate prints will save you a lot of time and money.

I am going to choose the Anycubic Mega S .

You might find this is a bit surprising because it isn’t actually the fastest on our list. However, this Anycubic 3D printer does offer quick speeds but it does it at a reasonable price. It doesn’t cost tens of thousands of dollars, and the accuracy of the printed objects is great.

With an easy-to-use UI, microporous coating to remove models quicker after they print, and filament run-out detection, the Anycubic Mega S is perfect for anyone who wants quick print speeds without the enormous price tag.

Tinkercad vs Fusion 360: Which is Right For You?

May 16, 2021 Alvin Dy 0 Comment

Autodesk has been giving 3D modelers a lot of options when it comes to software. The company has come out with a range of software that has helped people with their 3D modeling work. Two of these programs offered by Autodesk are Fusion 360 and Tinkercad.

Main Differences between Tinkercad vs Fusion 360

Here are some of the main differences between these two:

Tinkercad is ideal for 3D modeling, whereas Fusion 360 is a full computer-aided manufacturing and computer-aided design suite that does 3D modeling work
With Tinkercad, you are limited by their catalog of shapes, whereas Fusion 360 allows you to work with a full range of shapes and even allows you to create your models from scratch
Tinkercad is easy to learn, whereas Fusion 360 has some sort of a learning curve.
Tinkercad is simple to use, whereas using Fusion 360 might mean you’re spending time finding the tools that you need.
Tinkercad can feel rather limited, whereas Fusion 360 offers more tools and features

Tinkercad

Tinkercad’s biggest selling points are that it’s free to use and it’s simple. Designed by a duo that includes a former Google engineer, Tinkercad is often recommended as a 3D modeling software for kids. That’s how easy it is.

Tinkercad uses constructive solid geometry or using simple shapes and objects to form more complex models. It’s an excellent program for beginners, but you should don’t even think that more advanced users won’t be able to enjoy creating their 3D models on Tinkercad.

Tinkercad can also break down your 3D designs into brick models. These brick models are buildable, so it’s like designing LEGO pieces. This simple to use program also allows you to work in electronic circuits to your designs, as well as some pretty nifty simulation tools.

If you’re looking for inspiration, here are some of the things that the community has made using Tinkercad.

What Might Make You Look Elsewhere

Admittedly, Tinkercad is rather limited when it comes to features, especially when compared to other software such as Fusion 360.

Tinkercad: The Bottom Line

Tinkercad might look like it’s a child’s toy, but the program is pretty powerful. It allows you to transform, join, or remove simple shapes and create complicated and complex models. It’s aimed at beginners, but even expert users who’d like to do a quick 3D model can appreciate what it has to offer.

Fusion 360

Fusion 360 gives you a 3D modeling software that lives in the cloud. As such, it makes it easier for you to work with a team and collaborate on your designs. You can also work on your 3D models no matter where you are, just as long as you have an Internet connection.

What’s more, Fusion 360 also gives you computer-aided design, computer-aided manufacturing, and computer-aided engineering tools that will help you do more with this program. You get to do any job with just one platform.

When it comes to 3D modeling features, Fusion 360 has a comprehensive set of tools, including:

Assemblies
Direct modeling
Freeform modeling
Mesh modeling
Parametric modeling
PCB design
Sheet metal
Sketching
Surface modeling

What’s more, you also have generative design features at your disposal. For instance, when you’ve finished a design, Fusion 360 can suggest improvements, reduce the mass or weight, consolidate components, and even improve performance.

Fusion 360 also has simulation tools that can give you an idea of how your design would fare in real-world conditions.

These simulations mean that you don’t have to create prototypes first and then go back to designing when they don’t necessarily hold up to everyday use.

The program will be able to suggest improvements and tweaks with its generative design tools, and then the simulations will give you an idea of how it performs when subjected to heat, cold, moisture, and other conditions.

What Can Be Better

Fusion 360 doesn’t have a lot of sculpting tools, which makes it very limited when it comes to organic modeling. You will find it challenging to create artistic models on Fusion 360. If that is what you want, you can check out Rhino or Blender.

Fusion 360: The Bottom Line

Fusion 360 has a lot of tools for industrial and professional users to do what they need to do. Powerful analytical mesh and parametric tools make it ideal for industrial design. It’s also one of the best CAD and 3D modeling software for those who are looking for an easy way to collaborate on projects.

Comparing Tinkercad and Fusion 360

Both Tinkercad and Fusion 360 have their own set of pros and cons.

Tinkercad is very easy to use. If you have kids or other beginners that you would introduce to 3D printing, then Tinkercad will be the best software for them.

With Tinkercad, you can make movable parts and other designs quickly. But you might find it difficult to edit because of the absence of a history tree. Plus, the Web-based program can sometimes hang.

Fusion 360, on the other hand, has very powerful tools for a variety of workloads. This makes Fusion 360 very flexible. But it can be difficult to learn, and the sheer number of tools and features can easily overwhelm.

Are there any alternatives to both Tinkercad and Fusion 360?

If you’re not impressed with either Fusion 360 or Tinkercad, or if you just want to cover all bases before you decide on a 3D modeling software to use, then here are your best bets:

Rhino

Like Fusion 360, Rhino brings together 3D modeling, CAD, CAM, and rapid prototyping tools. The comprehensive set of features makes it ideal for use in various workloads for a lot of industries. Unlike other 3D modeling software, Rhino uses NURBS mathematical models in creating your models, which means that you have mathematically need curves and surfaces.

Blender

Blender is excellent for creating 3D prints, animation, art, interactive designs, and visual effects. As you can guess, there are a lot of tools here that help you do all these. Blender offers a wide range of 3D modeling, simulation, sculpting, rendering, video editing, camera tracking, and compositing tools.

With Blender, you can easily work with meshes, and this program can even repair corrupted meshes. This free program is a great addition for those who work with 3D models, but it can be difficult to learn and master.

SketchUp

Both Rhino and Blender may not be beginner-friendly. If you’re just starting out, you will find the user interface and ease of use that Sketchup brings to the table attractive.

Sketchup is very intuitive to use, and because of the way the tools are presented, you will have an easy time getting a handle on this software.

Sketchup, however, is powerful and flexible enough to be used in a wide variety of applications: 3D modeling, urban planning, construction, engineering, architecture, and interior design, among others.

Sketchup is known for visualizations and its extensions that allow you to get more out of this program. It’s free for personal use.

Frequently Asked Questions

In this section, we answer the questions that most of you, our readers, ask.

Question: How is Autodesk’s customer support?

Answer: One of the biggest factors in choosing a 3D modeling program is the company’s customer support. If you’re stuck with a problem or have a question to ask, having sucky customer support can break the whole experience. That is especially true if you’re working with software that is as technical as a 3D modeling program.

The good news is that Autodesk, which offers both Fusion 360 and Tinkercad has excellent customer support.

You can access a rich library of learning and support materials that teach you how to install, download, and use their software. You can also join various communities to learn from users like you.

What’s more, Autodesk has separate communities for each user group, including a design and manufacturing community, plus a construction, architecture, and engineering community.

You can also ask questions and get answers from expert users and even the company’s employees. On top of these official support channels, there are a lot of articles on the web as well as videos on YouTube that teach you how to use both Fusion 360 and Tinkercad.

Question: How much do you need to pay to use either Tinkercad or Fusion 360?

Answer: Tinkercad is free to use. All you need to do is create a personal account and start using the software.

On the other hand, Fusion 360 is free but only for non-commercial use and hobbyists. Startups can use this software free if they have been operating for less than three years and have up to 10 employees. Further, students and professors can use this program for free as well.

For the rest, Autodesk charges $60 per month or $495 per year for a subscription. You can also purchase extensions at $200 to $1,000 per month.

Fusion 360 vs Tinkercad: Which Should You Choose?

Both Fusion 360 and Tinkercad are excellent 3D modeling programs that you can access online. They each have different ways of helping you create your 3D models, so you might want to use them both.

However, forced to choose between these two, here’s what we recommend: If you’re new to 3D modeling or you just want to create something quick, then you’re good to go with Tinkercad. But if you need professional-looking models, prototypes, or parts, then Fusion 360 has the tools that you need to accomplish your tasks.

Fusion 360 vs Sketchup: Which is Right for Your Project?

Apr 29, 2021 Alvin Dy 0 Comment

When it comes to computer-aided design software, you have a world of choices. We’ve always said that the best CAD software is the one you’re using, which means these programs have all the features and functionalities you need to do your work and are easy enough for you to learn.

Suppose you are interested in learning which between Fusion 360 or SketchUp is the best for you. In that case, you should definitely continue reading as we discuss the features and functionalities of each program and then look at alternatives to both.

Finally, we delve deeper into the differences between Fusion 360 and SketchUp and which one is best for you.

Lightweight, affordable and cloud-based. Fusion 360 is more user friendly for freeform 3D modeling.

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Main Differences Between Fusion 360 vs Sketchup

Two of the more popular software being used by design professionals today are Fusion 360 and SketchUp. And here are their main differences:

Platform. While both programs have a web-based version, Fusion 360 doesn’t have a downloadable program that you can install on your computer. That means you can’t work on your designs offline.
Free versions: Both programs have a free version that gives you limited features. However, Autodesk Fusion 360 limits the number of active designs that you can have. Meanwhile, you have up to 10 gigabytes of cloud storage for your files with SketchUp.
Full versions: SketchUp Pro is much cheaper than Fusion 360’s full license.
User interface: Fusion 360 follows the lead of other CAD programs when it comes to the user interface: view modes, grid systems, design history, and a toolbar. SketchUp looks cleaner with bigger icons showing your most used tools and a top toolbar. When you select a tool, other related settings and options will pop out.
Applications: Fusion 360 is more flexible than SketchUp. Fusion 360 might be more focused on helping you create products and mechanical parts, but you can use it for many other applications. SketchUp is better suited for those in architecture, construction, and engineering.
Support: Both programs have fantastic support for their users. However, Fusion 360 has employees manning user communities, whereas SketchUp has a more user-driven user community.

What Is Fusion 360?

Autodesk Fusion 360 is a computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing software that lives in the cloud. It allows you to develop your products and designs with a team of contributors without the hassle of sending big files over e-mail, file-sharing services, and others.

Because it is a cloud-based service, you and your team can work on a design together. This program can do organic shapes, manufacturing, and mechanical design. Fusion 360 can also help you with printed circuit boards and engineering designs.

Lightweight, affordable and cloud-based. Fusion 360 is more user friendly for freeform 3D modeling.

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Features of Fusion 360 That You Should Know

One of the things that you will discover the first time you use Fusion 360 is the comprehensive range of tools you have. You have all the standard tools for modeling and design, and then you also can use Fusion 360 to create sheet metal parts and surfaces.

You have simulation tools as well, allowing you to do stress and heat analysis on your designs. If you’re more into manufacturing, you will find that Fusion 360 also has excellent tools for you to use too.

The thing with cloud-based services is that you can access it from a variety of devices, even smartphones, and tablets.

Modeling and Design Tools

With Fusion 360, you can have a wide range of tools to do your modeling and design work. You can do freeform, direct, parametric, sheet metal, surface, and mesh designs using just one software.

This video will help you discover the different modeling techniques that you can do with Fusion 360.

Rendering

Fusion 360 also allows you to see your designs with photorealistic rendering. What’s more, you don’t have to worry about slowing down your computer by letting it render in the cloud rather than using local resources.

PCB Designs

If you want to work with printed circuit boards, Fusion 360 will help you with bi-directional changes with the program’s EAGLE interoperability.

You can even do layout, telling the program where the PCB will be mounted in the design.

Assemblies and Sheet Metal

Fusion 360 has a complete range of tools to help you design sheet metal parts and even use two-dimensional drawings to create flat patterns.

You also get bottom-up, top-down, or middle-out assembly tools to give you an idea of the designs’ assembly motions.

Other Tools

Fusion 360 gives you features and tools that help you manage data, files, versions, and even cloud storage. Aside from these data management tools, you can get collaboration tools, which makes it easier to manage your teams while retaining control on who can access what.

For those who are into 3D printing, Fusion 360 gives you the chance to create and validate prototypes using additive manufacturing tools. Not only that, your tool paths are instantly updated every time you make changes to the design.

The program’s generative design tools will help you create designs ready for manufacturing while improving their characteristics, consolidating parts, and reducing weight.

You also have access to artificial intelligence and machine learning tools that can help you simulate outcomes with your design. Further, some tools can help you with costing your designs.

Lastly, Fusion 360 helps to make simulations and documentation easier. You can see how your designs will stand up to varying temperatures, stress, buckling, and other events. Meanwhile, you can have the program do the documentation every step of the way and even create animations to help you communicate what you have in mind.

See how Fusion compares to other popular software:

Pricing and Subscriptions

You can subscribe to Fusion 360 for only $42 a month or $495 for the whole year. Plus, there is a free trial available. Fusion 360 also has free licenses for personal use, but you can only use this license for 10 active documents, and the program’s functionalities are limited.

Teachers and students can use it for free for three years, while startups with up to 10 employees and earn less than $100,000 yearly can also have it for free.

If you’re only going to use it intermittently, you can pay for monthly access at $60 per month. Meanwhile, extensions can cost you an additional $200 per month or a discounted $1,600 if you pay annually. The Generative Design Extensions will set you back $1,000 a month or $8,000 a year.

What’s Good with Fusion 360

If you are a machinist, mechanical engineer, electronics engineer, or industrial designer, Fusion 360 might make the most sense. This program makes machining and designs a breeze while allowing you to do processes such as tool path generation and design revisions in just minutes rather than the usual hours it takes to finish them.

What’s more, Fusion 360 gives you combined CAD and CAM software without the prohibitive costs. According to Autodesk, Fusion 360 can help machines by:

Reducing the time to market by 60 percent
Cut costs by saving on person-hours and cycle times
Reduce the time needed to create tool paths

What Can Be Better

With all the features that Autodesk tries to pack into Fusion 360, some users complain about a feature that they need but are not offered. There may be some tools that you will miss out on using Fusion 360, so be sure to check it out with a free trial first before subscribing.

Some users complain about the constant lags and crashes when you’re working with larger files.

Fusion 360: The Bottom Line

Fusion 360 is probably one of the most feature-packed software for serious CAD and CAM professionals. It’s accessible anywhere, and you don’t need to install it on your computer. What’s more, you can access cloud resources to do your work, such as rendering and simulation.

Lightweight, affordable and cloud-based. Fusion 360 is more user friendly for freeform 3D modeling.

Buy 3D Modeling Software | Autodesk

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Pros

Excellent customer service and support
It gives you a comprehensive range of tools for you to do your work quickly and allows you to save time
Model parts the way you want
Good value for money
Makes collaboration easy

Cons

Extensions will cost you extra
issues with crashing and lag
It needs an Internet connection

What Is SketchUp?

SketchUp is a 3D modeling program utilized by professionals in interior design, mechanical engineering, landscape architecture, civil engineering, video game design, film, and architecture.

SketchUp: The Features You Like

With SketchUp, you can create 3D models and see them in 3D spaces. You can achieve high levels of detail and accuracy with ease. SketchUp is interoperable and can be used to import and export various file formats.

You can use objects to work faster and generate reports every step of the way. You have access to textures, animations, and lighting effects for excellent design presentations.

With SketchUp, you also get recommendations on your design, allowing you to get tips on how to improve your design based on the type of object you’re making or the weather. You should be able to combine 3D models with text or 2D illustrations.

SketchUp also allows you to view your objects in augmented, virtual, and mixed reality.

SketchUp Pro and SketchUp Studio

SketchUp Pro and Studio versions give you the chance to work on your designs using the company’s web-based program, as well as the ability to download them onto your computer.

These versions allow you to get a more robust set of features than Shop and experience reality headset viewing and plug-in extensions.

If you have more complex workflows, the Studio version will be a better choice. It allows you to import designs from the cloud and work on them with the program’s native toolbox. You also have real-time visualizations, photorealistic images, and animation.

Pricing

As the name suggests, SketchUp Free is free to use, and you already have access to a web-based 3D design tool, a model viewer, and up to 10 gigabytes of storage.

Sketch Shop will cost you $199 a year and comes with everything you can get for free, plus access to prebuilt 3D designs, an augmented reality viewer, and all the cloud storage you can use.

You can choose SketchUp Pro for $299 a year for professionals, and you can get the desktop program and the web-based version, along with a more robust set of tools for 3D modeling, design documentation tools, and an experience reality viewer.

SketchUp also offers SketchUp Studio for more advanced design work, and it comes with the entire range of features and functionalities that the software provides. SketchUp Studio costs $1,199 per year, but you can use promo codes to bring the price down to $799. Students and educators can get access to SketchUp Studio for only $55 a year.

Further, primary and secondary schools can get license grants to use SketchUp Pro for free.

See how Sketchup compares to AutoCAD

The Bottom Line on SketchUp

Most 3D modeling programs force you to choose between the ease of use and the range of features. Not SketchUp. This software is intuitive to use and learn while also giving you tools to create your designs fast. Indeed, even professionals will find SketchUp enough for their needs.

Pros

Probably the easiest CAD program to use
The free version is an excellent help for casual users
VR model views
Unlimited cloud storage
Access to 3D Warehouse’s library of ready-made 3D models

Cons

No lifetime plans
You might not have the tools that you’d find for applications outside of 3D modeling.

Fusion 360 vs SketchUp: A Comparison

SketchUp and Fusion 360 are two of the most widely used programs for 3D modeling and computer-aided design today for a reason. These two are among the most capable software that helps professionals do their work, with reasonable pricing and helpful support.

There are a lot of these two programs that overlap. And there are areas where one is better than the other.

When it comes to features and functionalities, Fusion 360 is more flexible with its CAD tools that let you create using all kinds of techniques such as surface, parametric, and direct modeling. Plus, it has tools for CAM, simulation, 2D designs, 3D printing, and rendering.

SketchUp has a narrower focus on 3D modeling. That, however, makes SketchUp easier to learn with a clean user interface. Yet it still offers a lot with its extensions and plug-ins complimenting its already rich native tools.

Platforms

Both Fusion 360 and SketchUp come in different versions, with discounts for students and teachers and free versions for personal use.

Overall, SketchUp offers more affordable licensing, and its free version limits the tools you can use. You’re also limited to 10 gigabytes of cloud storage.

Meanwhile, Fusion 360 limits free users to only 10 active projects, and they won’t be able to use the simulation workspace and other functionalities. Fusion 360 also is purely cloud-based, while you have a downloadable program that you can install locally with SketchUp.

User Interface

SketchUp has a cleaner user interface with a toolbar at the top of the screen, giving you all the tools you can use. Choose a tool, and it might show you a pop-up window with additional options and settings for that selected tool.

Meanwhile, Fusion 360 looks more like all other 3D CAD programs, where you work with tabs, a toolbar, view modes, a grid system, and a parts list. You also have a floating menu that gives you the tools you have recently used, your favorite ones, and some more frequently used and essential tools.

Features and Functionalities

You can safely say that Fusion 360 has many features and tools that make it more beneficial to a broader audience. However, if you look at how these two have a lot of similarities, let focus on that.

Storage

Fusion 360 automatically stores your projects on the cloud while also keeping copies of your work locally. It uses the A360 platform to share, view, and administer these files, while also having apps for Android and iOS phones.

SketchUp requires you to upload your work manually using Trimble Connect. Once you’ve uploaded your files, you can now work on them anywhere using SketchUp’s cloud platforms.

Rendering

SketchUp requires you to install extensions and plug-ins before you can do some rendering on your designs. Meanwhile, Fusion 360 has native rendering tools that are part of the program.

Fusion 360 users have a dedicated workspace for photorealistic renderings.

2D Drawing

Sometimes, all you need is to be able to do a quick two-dimensional drawing. Fusion 360 has a drafting workspace for technical drawings. For SketchUp, you will need to use the Studio or Pro versions to access LayOut, which you can use to do 2D graphics.

SketchUp without using any extension is only for 3D drawings.

Extensibility

SketchUp’s main draw is how you can get more features and tools by getting extensions and plug-ins. Fusion 360 also has the Autodesk App Store, where you can find official extensions. However, most of the extensions, while free, need a full license.

Support

Fusion 360 shines because they have a lot of channels for supporting users. They have official tutorials that allow you to learn about the program, as well as specific features. You have tons of documentation to consult. They also have the Autodesk Design Academy and user community forums.

On the other hand, SketchUp has official support that ranges from tips, troubleshooting advice, blogs, and tutorials. They also have online courses offered by the SketchUp campus.

However, SketchUp’s online user community is less of the company’s initiative. There are a lot of users that help others. Plus, third-party developers are offering extensions and plug-ins.

Are there alternatives to both Fusion 360 and SketchUp?

If you want to make sure that Fusion 360 or SketchUp is the best for you, then you should consider these programs:

SelfCAD has a free version that offers you everything you need to design a 3D model and print it. You can create complicated designs while working with an intuitive user interface. You can also save time using generators, so you don’t have to design everything from scratch.
TinkerCAD is excellent for beginners. It comes from Autodesk, and it allows you to create easy designs right on your browser. TinkerCAD uses a drag and drop user interface that makes it easier for even CAD beginners to create simple 3D models.
LibreCAD is an option if you do 2D modeling. This open-source software has a good set of tools for 2D model creation and has a thriving user community.

Your Frequently-Asked Questions

In this section, let’s answer the questions we usually get from our readers.

Question: What is CAD, anyway?

Answer: Computer-aided design is when your computer helps you to create the design that you have in mind. It’s used in a wide range of industries, allowing you to create models in the work area to visualize an idea that you have quickly.

Computers will help you create a model that gives you an idea of how tall or wide a particular object is. CAD also allows you to see the details of your design and even gives you the chance to improve your design ideas, such as seeking weak points in your design or making it more efficient, lightweight, or stronger.

More importantly, CAD allows you to bring your design ideas to life. Once you have your designs created in CAD software, you can open it in CAM software to help you know just how to make prototypes of your design.

Question: How easy is it to learn to a CAD software?

Answer: You might think it’s challenging to get familiar with and use CAD software, but it’s not. CAD software may be very technical, and it will require a lot of familiarity for you to use it properly, but it’s enjoyable to learn.

Various developers have been making CAD software more intuitive and easy to learn. Plus, these companies have been busy at work coming up with tutorials and documentation that will allow users to learn independently. If you have a particular feature that stumps you, you can get videos that teach you how to master them.

From beginners to professionals, Autodesk has 3D modeling software designed to meet your needs.

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SketchUp vs Fusion 360: The Final Word

SketchUp and Fusion 360 are both excellent programs that allow you to bring your design ideas to life. You can’t go wrong with choosing between either of them, and the better choice between these two will ultimately boil down to which one suits your needs more.

However, if you’re a more experienced CAD user with a need for software that can handle complex designs, you’re better off with Fusion 360. Sketchup, on the other hand, is ideal for beginners and those who are more into 3D modeling.

Lightweight, affordable and cloud-based. Fusion 360 is more user friendly for freeform 3D modeling.

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Fusion 360 vs Rhino: Which is Best Fit For Your Needs

Apr 6, 2021 Alvin Dy 0 Comment

When it comes to CAD programs, you certainly have a choice from a variety of software that can do an excellent job with fair pricing and helpful support. Two of the most affordable CAD and 3D modeling programs out there are Autodesk Fusion 360 and Rhino 3D. What are the differences between these two?

Main Differences Between Fusion 360 vs Rhino

The main differences between Fusion 360 vs Rhino are:

Fusion 360 is cloud-based, whereas Rhino 3D needs to be installed on your computer.
Fusion 360 excels when you need to collaborate, whereas Rhino 3D is easier to learn.
Fusion 360 is better suited for 2D drawings and 3D models, whereas Rhino 3D does a better job at 3D modeling.
Fusion 360 makes it easy to do simple animations on your models, whereas Rhino 3D only lets you manipulate the angle of the camera and the lighting.
Fusion 360 has a free trial available, whereas Rhino 3D doesn’t offer a free trial.
Fusion 360 is more affordable for short-term projects with its $500 subscription fee, whereas you can save with Rhino 3D in the long run because you pay $1,000 to use the program outright.

While these two programs differ on these points, both are excellent options for those who are looking for an easy way to flesh out their design ideas. Learn what each of these programs can do and figure out which one is perfect for you. Go ahead, grab a comfortable chair and continue reading!

Lightweight, affordable and cloud-based. Fusion 360 is more user friendly for freeform 3D modeling.

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What Is Fusion 360?

Fusion 360 is a different type of CAD software in that it lives in the cloud instead of needing to be installed on your machine. As such, it delivers its features and functionalities where you need them.

With Fusion 360, you can design products to make sure that they fit to form. You can also revise your designs faster and easier.

Fusion 360 also allows you to know if it is feasible to manufacture your design.

3D modeling

Fusion 360 gives you a comprehensive range of tools for 3D modeling. These tools allow you to easily create a 3D model and see if it will fit the overall design. Some of the 3D modeling tools you can use are:

Sketching: These tools allow you to create and revise your sketches with specific dimensions and constraints. You also get a variety of tools that can help you create sketches easily.
Direct modeling: You can repair or edit objects created with other programs and save them in other file formats.
Surface modeling: You can now create complex surfaces that can help patch, repair, or design various shapes and geometry
Parametric modeling: This allows you to change the shape and geometry of a model just by changing the dimension values.
Mesh modeling: Create, edit, and repair mesh models.
Freeform modeling: Gives you the freedom to design complex models and then edit them just by using pushing or pulling gestures.
Rendering: You can create realistic-looking models.
PCB design: This gives you an easy way to see how your electronics designs work.
Sheet metal: You can now create sheet metal parts

Other Features

People might know Fusion 360 as a precise modeling software for both 2D and 3D designs. But it can do so much more, such as:

Prepare your models for CNC machining
Simulate how loads affect your design
Render your models
Prototyping

Fusion 360 supports computer-aided manufacturing, so if CNC machining is your thing, you’d appreciate the features that it has. You can use Fusion 360 and then add the attributes of your tools to the ones provided by the program. You can even see how the CNC machine would create the object you’re designing so you’d be able to avoid costly problems in production.

If you like to see how your models would look like, you can render it too. You can assign a particular material to your design, including wood, metal, marble, or glass. You can make your models look photorealistic.

Another feature of Fusion 360 is the animation. This program allows you to do some keyframe animation, so you can see how your designs move.

You can also try load simulation, where you can see how different weights would affect your design, where the stress points are, and get a better understanding of how your design will perform.

Other than 3D modeling, Fusion 360 allows you to program your computer numerical control machines. You can now create with difference axis milling, mill turning, probing, and other tools.

Electronics is also a breeze with Fusion 360. It allows you t to work with different tools that can simplify PCB layouts and schematic designs, among other things.

Other industries and tasks that Fusion 360 will be helpful in are additive manufacturing, generative design, simulation, and documentation.

Collaboration

Fusion 360 also makes data management and collaboration a whole lot easier. So you can work in teams without the hassle of sending files from one person to another and waiting on the others to finish their work.

You have a way to securely view the designs your team is working on. All changes are centralized, and you can leave comments on each design for everyone to see.

What’s more, all projects and their comments are viewable with only a browser, a smartphone, or tablet.

Extensions

Autodesk offers different extensions for:

Machining
Generative Design
Nesting and Fabrication
Additive Builds

These extensions allow you to get the latest tools you need for the job. Because these are essentially add-ons, you will not be paying too much for the main Fusion 360 program.

These extensions cost $200 per month, except for generative design extensions that cost $1,000 a month.

This lengthy video will show you what you can do with Autodesk Fusion 360.

Pricing

Autodesk Fusion 360 has two pricing packages that you can get. There’s the monthly package where you only pay around $60 per month to use Fusion 360.

There’s also the yearly subscription that costs $495, which cuts the monthly fee to only $42. Autodesk offers a free trial that lasts 30 days. Students, teachers, startups, and other professionals may qualify to use the free version of this program.

What You’d Like About Fusion 360

For design, engineering, and other technical design needs, you really can’t go wrong with Fusion 360. You have all the tools that you’d want and need to create your models. What’s more, you can collaborate with a team when you’re working on a project.

One of the things that are often praised about this software is the amazing support that comes with it. People are raving about the responsive and helpful customer service. What’s more, it has a thriving online community, available documentation, video tutorials, and others.

What Might Be Better

Some users, even expert CAD developers, find this difficult to learn. The difficulty means that you’d need a lot of time to learn this software. If you’re serious about 3D modeling and would see yourself using Fusion 360, it is worth investing the time to learn it.

Fusion 360: The Bottom Line

Autodesk Fusion 360 is an excellent 3D computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing tool that can easily help your design people collaborate on a project.

It offers you all of the tools you need to do your work and is backed by a lively and helpful online community that creates content and tutorials that can help you learn this somewhat challenging program.

The company provides a lot of help, as well. Outstanding customer service is one of its strongest selling points. The helpful customer service and resources are good, as some users report that Fusion 360 is not easy to learn, but others say that it’s easy to use.

Pricing starts at $60 per month for every user, or you can save with an annual subscription at $500. There are free versions for students and a free trial for those who want to see if Fusion 360 is perfect for them.

Lightweight, affordable and cloud-based. Fusion 360 is more user friendly for freeform 3D modeling.

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Pros

Easy to learn and helpful customer support
You can easily create a prototype without taking too long
You get the tools to create the designs you want

Cons

Might not have all the functions or features that you can get from competitors
You’re somewhat limited by the speed of your Internet connection because it’s cloud-based
Mac users might have a hard time using this program
Compared to AutoCAD and Inventor, this is not an easy product to use

See how Fusion 360 compares to other software alternatives:

What Is Rhino 3D?

Rhino 3D is one of the better computer-aided design software that can help you create industrial, architectural, and jewelry designs with ease. You can quickly create prototypes and help you visualize your ideas in no time.

Rhino 3D is ideal for those professional designers who like to design using the NURBS mathematical model. You can use it for additive manufacturing, reverse engineering, rapid prototyping, CAD, and CAM. What you get from Rhino is a mathematically accurate design, allowing you to get smoother and more precise freeform drawings and curves.

What Can You Get from Rhino 3D?

Rhino 3D has a user interface that allows you to see all the tools you need and work most easily. You get a dockable or floating command area and a list of recent commands you used, among other things. You also have construction aids that can help make your design time a whole lot faster.

Rhino’s set of model creation tools allow you to work with points, curves, surfaces, solids, and meshes. Plus, the program gives you the refinements and enhancements you need to do your best work.

You also get editing tools that allow you to delete, join, trim, merge, split, extend, chamfer, fillet, and other ways to directly manipulate an object. You can also transform your objects, along with other ways to manipulate your models.

Highlights of Rhino’s Many Features

Rhino boasts of many features that it’s going to take a long time to list down. But what follows here is a short rundown of the most important ones you should know:

Free-form tools: Rhino gives you a range of free-from tools to make 3D modeling easier. Before Rhino, these tools were only available in programs that were so much more expensive. You now have access to tools that lets you create everything you can think of.
Accurate rendering: Rhino’s formidable set of tools helps you create accurate models so you can come to create prototypes and designs for manufacturing, cost analysis, and engineering.
Cross-platform compatibility: This allows you to use Rhino to work on designs and models from other CAM, illustration, and animation software. You can also work with meshes.
Easy to learn: There are no steep learning curves with Rhino, which allows you to start working on your designs even if it’s your first time using a CAD program.

Rhino Pricing

Rhino costs $995 for a single-user license. However, if you are using an older version of the software, you only need to spend $595 to upgrade to the latest one.

For the academe, pricing is deeply discounted to only $195. You can also pay only $95 to upgrade for a single-user license.

What You Will Like About Rhino 3D

Rhino is very easy to learn and use. It’s not a subscription product, so you pay to use a particular version of the product forever. It has a command-line where you have another way to interact with the models you are creating.

Rhino is simple too. You can start with a simple and straightforward sketch and then manipulate it to your liking. But what makes Rhino more appealing is the fact that you can create add-ons to get more out of the program.

You will also love the clean user interface that you can personalize according to your liking. Rhino is primarily a surface modeling program, but it’s flexible enough for use in other designs. It’s compatible with STL, STEP, Solidworks, AutoCAD, IGES, DXF, SketchUp, and OBJ files, among others.

What You Should Know About Rhino 3D

Don’t get us wrong. Rhino 3D is very easy to use, and learning how to use it is a very straightforward process. However, it offers a lot of tools. The range and variety of the tools being offered will mean that it will take you some time to master this program.

What’s more, you buy the license to a particular version of Rhino 3D. You might need to pay for the next version.

The Bottom Line: Rhino 3D

It’s easy to recommend Rhino 3D to people who are looking for an easy-to-use, accurate, and fast 3D design program. Interior designers, jewelry makers, and other industries that need image renderings, prototypes, and packaging can rely on Rhino 3D to help them deliver their ideas into something visual.

Pros

Extensible with add-ons
Affordable one-time fee
Easy to use and learn
Excellent customer service and online community

Cons

It’s easy to be overwhelmed because of the sheer number of tools
Some extensions might not integrate properly with the main program

Which One Should You Use: Rhino 3D or Autodesk Fusion 360?

Both Rhino and Fusion 360 are capable and powerful programs that can help you create 3D models. But which one is perfect for you?

Fusion 360 lives on the cloud, allowing you to access the program and your designs from anywhere if you have a browser and an Internet connection. Rhino 3D is installed on your machine, which makes it less portable than Fusion 360. You’d be limited to working on your computer to create your designs.

Fusion 360 is excellent when you create both 2D and 3D models. Rhino 3D can be used for 2D models, but most of its features are for accurate and precise 3D modeling.

What Kind of Tools Do They Offer?

Fusion 360 gives you tools that allow you to do parametric, polygonal, and surface modeling. You will need to combine these tools to get the results you need. Rhino 3D is based on non-uniform rational B-splines or NURBS modeling.

If you do a lot of animation, you might be better off using Fusion 360 with its keyframe animation features. Rhino 3D has very limited animation tools, where you can only move the lighting or the view of your models. Rendering an animation on Rhino 3D can take a lot longer than on Fusion 360.

Image rendering on Fusion 360, you just drag and drop the patch icon over your model to change its properties. You can set the material, quality, and environment from a flyout toolbar.

With Rhino 3D, you will get color images with bumps, textures, transparency, and light. You can add the light, choose a material for your objects, and then repeat the process to get the look you want.

Fusion 360 is preferred by those who work with electronics, mechanical design, furniture making, and aerospace design. Rhino is more for those who like industrial and architectural designs. You can also use it to create jewelry and accessories.

Pricing

You can use Fusion 360 for free if you’re a teacher or student, a hobbyist, or a small non-profit business with yearly revenues of less than $100,000. If not, you can use it by subscribing to the product for around $500 a year.

Rhino 3D doesn’t have a free version or a free trial. You’d need to pay $995 to use the program for life.

So, Which One Should You Choose?

When it comes to tools and features, it seems that Rhino 3D is on an equal footing with Fusion 360. So your decision on which one to choose will largely depend on what you prefer.

You should go with Fusion 360 if you’re part of a design team and you need to collaborate on a project. The online environment will help facilitate teamwork while reading and keeping track of all the notes and comments on the design.

Go with Rhino 3D if you want a more accurate model and you like software that you don’t have to pay for year after year. What’s more, Rhino 3D is for those who work on architectural and industrial design.

Meanwhile, Fusion 360 is great for working with furniture, electronics, mechanical, and aerospace models.

What is the NURBS mathematical model?

Non-uniform rational B-splines or NURBS are a way to present 3D geometry using numbers. This mathematical representation can easily describe shapes such as curves, arcs, lines, and circles.

Why should you use NURBS for computer-aided modeling?

You can create your models using NURBS, and rest assured they can be opened and accessed by a variety of rendering, animation, engineering, and modeling programs.
The mathematical representation is very precise, so you can work with both standard shapes and free-form objects.
NURBS is taught at many colleges and universities, so finding talent is easy.

Are there alternatives to both Fusion 360 vs Rhino 3D?

From beginners to professionals, Autodesk has 3D modeling software designed to meet your needs.

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You might have a variety of reasons for not wanting to use either Rhino 3D or Fusion 360. Lucky for you, you have an option to choose from quite a few programs that you can use as an alternative to Fusion 360 and Rhino 3D. Here are some of them and why you should consider using them.

SolidWorks

Just like its name, this program has been a solid contender in the CAD/CAM space. Its forte is 3D modeling and engineering design. SolidWorks allows you to document all individual parts and create new ones that you can use for your object. If you need to animate or render your designs, there are extensions and add-ons that you can use.

Simulations are excellent, and you can create really detailed models with SolidWorks.

This program offers a lot of features, more than Fusion 360. These features might add more complexities, especially when you’re learning. It doesn’t have a sculpt mode.

However, SolidWorks can be expensive with tiered pricing starting at around $4,000 and can reach around $18,000 for businesses to use.

More information and download it here.
Price: $3,995, with discounts for educators and students

Read our full Fusion 360 vs Solidworks Comparison

Onshape

If you’re trying to find another cloud-based solution, then you should look at Onshape. This program is also 100-percent accessible online but allows for stress-free collaboration. Onshape is perfect for beginners too. The features it offers focus on CAD. That is to say that if you need to do some CAE or CAM work, then you should look elsewhere.

Beginners will also love it that there’s a ton of content available for learning Onshape. Combine those resources with the innate simplicity of Onshape, and you’d be learning CAd in no time.

Onshape costs $1,500 annually, but students and teachers can use it for free.

More information and download it here.
Price:$1,995

SketchUp

SketchUp holds the distinction of having been once owned and developed by the search giant Google. Sketchup is free to use. You only pay when you want to use plugins. There’s also a professional application that supports STL export.

You will like SketchUp if your work is focused on CAD, but you might want to use another program to do 3D printing or CNC machining.

Read our full Sketchup vs Fusion 360 Comparison.

More information and download it here.
Price: $299 annually, but there is a free version

Creo

Creo gives you all the necessary features of an excellent CAD program and continues to update the range of functionalities that you can get with it.

Creo offers parametric modeling, animations, rendering, augmented reality, and ergonomic simulations. After you have designed your model, you can get a list of materials you’re going to need to create the product.

Creo also gives you the chance to do some advanced analyses and simulations on your models.

Like SolidWorks, Creo might be a pricier alternative, especially for Rhino 3D. You can get a basic license for $2,200, but more expensive packages include more tools for simulations and machining.

What’s more, the user interface can be very confusing. This program might be more ideal for industry professionals than the at-home hobbyist.

More information and download it here.
Price: $2,200

SolveSpace

If you’re a Linux user, then you’re probably out of luck with both Fusion 360 and Rhino 3D. However, give SolveSpace a try.

This program is for Linux users and offers a wide range of tools for you to do some serious CAM and 3D modeling. But it’s also available for Mac and Windows. What’s more, it’s open-source and free to use.

It’s also very straightforward, and learning how to use SolveSpace should be as easy, if not easier, than learning Rhino 3D.

Features-wise, you won’t miss anything by using SolveSpace, even if you’ve been using Rhino or Fusion 360. You get parametric 3D modeling, 2D sketching, STL repair, and Boolean operations. You can prepare G-code and export it into a variety of file types.

However, you might want to consider another program if you need to do some simulations or stress tests. This free program can also have performance drawbacks when doing boolean operations and complicated drawings.

More information and download it here.
Price: Free

Frequently Asked Questions

In this section, we answer our readers’ most-asked questions.

Question: What are the main differences between CAD and CAM?

Answer: Computer-aided design is when you use a computer to make 2D drawings and 3D models. It’s when you showcase your part’s geometry.

On the other hand, computer-aided manufacturing is when you use computers to control machine tools when making the parts you designed. CAM is more closely associated with turning your design and ideas into real-world products.

To make this easier to understand, you will create models with your CAD software and then use that model to instruct machines on how to create the CAD-generated model you have.

Fusion 360 vs Rhino 3D: Final Thoughts

Sometimes, two programs are both excellent, that it’s difficult to make a clear recommendation and tell people to use one over the other. Fusion 360 and Rhino 3D are two of these programs.

But now that you know what each one offers, what they’re good at, and which users can benefit more from what they’re offering, you can decide for yourself which one is perfect for your needs.

You can’t go wrong with either Rhino 3D or Fusion 360.

Lightweight, affordable and cloud-based. Fusion 360 is more user friendly for freeform 3D modeling.

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