The program is also integrated with CAM, letting you manufacture the final design parts needed.

To check and validate your designs, there are Simulation and Shape Optimisation features in this CAD program.

Drawing, Rendering, and 3D-Printed output are available for design validation, documentation, and prototyping. Parametric and Direct, Solid and Surface, T-spline and Mesh geometry import, creation and export are all supported within the program. The combination of CAD, CAM, FEA, and documentation leads to an easier flow of different design phases and presentation graphics without the trouble of learning separate software packages. It consists of tools that support an entire design-to-manufacture process within one Computer-Aided Design (CAD) package. The program is a fusion of CAD/CAM/CAE tools delivered in a cloud platform. 3DS Max and Cinema 4D are better at it since they can import lot of CAD data file formats out of the box.Fusion 360 is one of the better design tools which every CAD user should have in their own toolbox. You can, however, use them for creating animations for marketing material out of CAD data. You might've seen some 'hard surface design' or 'scifi concept design' stuff made in them but they're far from actual mechanical design. At least that's not what they're developed for, so even if users try to bring some engineering oriented functionality into them through plugins and all, it'll never be as efficient as a CAD software. Fusion 360 as of today is mostly being used by hobbyists, medium size companies and startups but not large firms.īlender and Maya are not at all for engineering. You can also try Creo and OnShape, which are free for students (I've never used them myself though).Ĭoming to your interests in rocket design, which comes under a broader field of Aerospace engineering, CATIA and NX are widely used in this industry for design. (You can access all Autodesk student software here⬆)Īnother Autodesk product, called Inventor is also free for students. It's jus for verifying if you actually qualify for that license. There's nothing to worry about, like selling your data. I've got myself a copy of it right after I enrolled in college so I had submitted my college ID for verification. That's why they ask for school details or some of your personal details. Fusion 360 is free for students, but Autodesk needs to verify that you're actually a student.

Free fusion 360 for students