[email protected]www.imaginit.com 800.356.9050 WHITEPAPER Autodesk Inventor vs. Fusion 360 Table of Contents ■ Feature Comparison ■ Interface ■ File Types ■ Conclusion ■ About the Author: Jason Swiercz Lately we have been receiving a lot of questions about whether users would be better off using Autodesk Inventor or Fusion 360 and what the similarities and differences are between the two programs. When comparing the features and capabilities of both softwares, you will notice a lot of overlap between the two products, which may be leading to these questions. This whitepaper will cover the features of the two products to help you decide which will better fit your needs. Feature Comparison
Lately we have been receiving a lot of questions about whether users would be better off using Autodesk Inventor or Fusion 360 and what the similarities and differences are between the two programs. When comparing the features and capabilities of both softwares, you will notice a lot of overlap between the two products, which may be leading to these questions. This whitepaper will cover the features of the two products to help you decide which will better fit your needs.
After looking at the chart, you may notice that Inventor is the more robust of the two softwares. In my experience working with these programs, I have grown to like each individually for different reasons.
■ When it comes to solid modeling, I would default to Inventor because of workflow and familiarity with the product. Also the ability to work with iParts and iAssemblies is a plus.
■ If I have to mesh model or use freeform modeling, there are a few features in Fusion 360 that gives it the leg up on Inventor.
■ Under the analysis category, both programs perform equally.
■ When comparing simulation capabilities, Fusion 360 is much stronger out of the box. Inventor has the capability to work well with other simulation softwares such as Simulation Mechanical and Nastran In-CAD but are add-ons that are not included with Inventor.
■ When working on projects with large assemblies I would recommend Inventor.
■ Inventor also has a more developed drawing section than Fusion 360 does.
■ The Collaborate and Manage section is tricky. Out of the box I feel that Fusion 360 performs better. Inventor comes with Vault basic, and if Vault is implemented, then I feel Inventor becomes the better option for document management.
InterfaceTo get a more in-depth look at Fusion 360’s Interface, search (Autodesk Fusion 360 Interface) in the manufacturing section of IMAGINiT’s ProductivityNOW Portal. Additionally, you will find other articles on Fusion and a surplus of topics on Inventor. At first glance these programs look very different, but after working with the two products, they have many similarities in layout. Program commands for both products will be found along the top of the window. Fusion 360 commands are in the “Toolbar”, which is broken into different workgroups that can be cycled through with the dark gray icon on the far left. Inventor has a “Ribbon”, and can be cycled through with tabs along the top. Fusion 360 has a browser along the left that displays bodies, components, assemblies, and subassemblies. You will find a timeline along the bottom that displays the active component or bodies features. Inventor also has a browser along the left but is slightly different. The browser displays features in a part file, and parts and subassemblies in an assembly file. Both programs have a view cube, navigation bar, and marking menu.
File TypesOne area where you will see a major difference between these two programs is in the file types that are used and created. Inventor has four main file types, a part file (.ipt), assembly file (.iam), presentation file (.ipn), and a drawing file (.dwg). Fusion has a modeling file (.f3d), a toolpath file for cam (.cam360), and a drawing file. Because of the different file types between the softwares, it creates a different workflow when working with individual models and assemblies. Personally, I like the Inventor workflow better, especially when working with large assemblies. Another major difference is how we work with these files and reuse them in an assembly. The Inventor program is installed on your computer and the files are typically saved on the hard drive or on a server. It then uses Windows explorer to create folder structures (unless using Vault). Fusion 360 is cloud-based and stores all the files in the cloud which makes it very easy for file collaboration with other team members. In addition, Fusion 360 keeps a history of file versions. All of this data is readily available through the data panel icon at the top left corner of the window. This is one area I feel Fusion 360 outperforms Inventor.
ConclusionIn summary, there are a lot of areas where the two products overlap, which is why many people are pondering which product would work best for them. The chart shows that Inventor has significantly more features, but has also been available for much longer and is more expensive. Current pricing for a one year subscription of Inventor is $1,890 and Fusion 360 is $300. Since it was released, Fusion 360 has been expanding every year, and I feel Autodesk will continue this development for years to come. For the price point, Fusion 360 and all its capabilities presents an amazing deal. The best advice I can give to someone looking at both of these products, is to try them both and see which one best fits their needs. Take everything into account from product capabilities, price point, and whether you want a PC based or cloud-based CAD platform.
About IMAGINiT TechnologiesIMAGINiT Technologies, a Rand Worldwide Company, is a provider of enterprise solutions to the engineering community, including the building, manufacturing, civil and mapping industries. With over 25 years of experience, and more than 40 offices throughout North America, we provide the expertise, training and support to help companies realize the full power of design technology, maximize ROI and gain competitive advantage.
IMAGINiT is a leading provider of Autodesk software solutions and the largest North American Autodesk Authorized Training Center (ATC) partner. All of our locations are supported by a vast pool of engineering resources focused on developing real-life business solutions for our local clients.
About the Author: Jason Swiercz – Manufacturing Applications Expert, IMAGINiTAs an applications expert at IMAGINiT Technologies, Jason works on implementations, pre sales assignments and training classes for a variety of Autodesk software. In addition, Jason has extensive knowledge in AutoCAD, 3Ds Max, Revit, Vault, and is professionally certified in Inventor. Jason has a broad range of knowledge in both the Architectural and Engineering industries which were gained over the years by obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture and working in the tradeshow industry. During his 6 years in the trade show industry, Jason worked as a detailer, lead engineer, and engineering manager where he gained knowledge in structural design, manufacturing, estimating, scheduling, department processes, and management skills
