I got suckered into buy a year of fusion360 for like 450 dollars
So far it has only uploaded 2 of 20 dxf files i have. Nothing works im on the brink of giving up on my plasma machine.
There is great fusion help on here. Some I wonder if they wasn’t part of designing it.
I hate you spent the money when you could have tried it for free. There is much easier to understand cam program out there it’s sheetcam. They have a trial version but you can’t do anything but basic parts. In my opinion if you struggle with 360 it is probably your best bet. You will need some sort of cad program there is cheap ones out there that will do what most need.
If you reach out on the forum with specific questions they will get answered…
@TinWhisperer he is your go to on fusion and always seems willing to help.
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Manderson
Don’t give up I knew nothing about Fusion before I decided to buy my Pro. It could be a case of I don’t know any better ( ignorance is bliss) but I have been able to do a lot with the free version. I did spend a lot of time before the machine showed up watching you tube videos and learned a ton. Good Luck
That sucks big time, but fusion isn’t the only tool available. I tried it and hated it, so I switched to librecad (free) & sheetcam ($150). For brackets & such librecad is fine. If you want to do lettering it isn’t the right tool. I’ve only done simple lettered signs directly in sheetcam.
There are other tools to combine text & graphics if that’s what you’re into. I’ve seen the name inkscape mentioned for that.
But as @Phillipw mentioned @TinWhisperer is a fusion master. If I recall he has some videos somewhere.
I think im going to cut my loss on fusion and purchase sheetcam. Is sheetcam good for both graphics and lettering together
The cad is what you are fighting. There is a way easier 2d cad. Solid edge 2d . Its free i use it and sheetcam on my table.
sheetcam is mostly just to convert dxf to gcode for the machine. It happens to do text as well, just not very creatively, but that’s been enough for me. If you want text & graphics inkscape might be the goods. You still need sheetcam to convert the inkscape dxf to the gcode that the plasma needs.
I’m been using fengrave for the little bit of graphics I’ve done, but it’s not very well suited to plasma, it was written for woodworking CNC, but I’ve used it for that and gotten it to work well enough for the graphics I’ve done.
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Sheetcam is cam only. You will need some sort of cad program as well.
SheetCAM also can t unzip files…
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I agree with @Lenness. While I was trying lots of CAD software, I liked Solid Edge. The drawing environment seemed easier and more intuitive than Fusion 360. I tried Sheet Cam, obviously for CAM and it did not seem intuitive. That is why I went back to Fusion 360. I struggle some with Fusion 360 when you think you are copying the entire element and something goes wrong. I will admit that I do not “fully constrain” my projects before trying the copy and move.
If you find Sheet Cam intuitive (they will let you try it before you buy it), buy it on the Langmuir website. My recollection was it was $10 cheaper. And then learn Solid Edge and Inkscape (both free).
Obviously, Fusion 360 does not ring everyone’s bells otherwise there would not be all of this competition in the market. Competition is what makes all of them improve.
I let my anger get the best of me when i wrote this post. Im still trying to get 360 to work for me
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dont give up its a lot to take in. we just have to slow down and learn. there really is a great group here to help.
As far as design goes depending on what direction you are taking…building complex machinery parts or making artful signs…fusion is fantastic for technical things and i use it. But i wish i had put as much effort into being able to to use inkscape as i did fusion. Inkscape allows me to do pretty much anything i want design wise and there are a ton of you tube videos to help you do anything you can google a question for. if you stick with fusion @TinWhisperer is incredibly helpful and as long as you keep calm and articulate what you are tying to do can get you through anything in fusion i think.
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There were some times that I felt like I was never going to work thru all of the learning. None of us are getting any younger.
Not that you would have the same response but my first YouTube Fusion 360 videos were by MTD Racing. He does some things, a bit fast, but it shows you what is possible with some of his actual projects. He makes it seem easy. Then I watched a few of Mike Festiva YouTube videos and he takes you step by step. Another who I really enjoy for short topics is Lars Christensen.
If you get stumped, TinWhisperer, on this forum is great to watch. Initially, I could not keep up with him because there was so much that I didn’t know. Kind of like: I didn’t know enough to be able to ask an intelligent question. Now, I watch Tin, and still miss some things but pick up some things as well.
I do like Fusion 360 now and I am now able to make it do anything I have wanted. I was 60% confident before I got some key pieces from Tin. The CAM part was really messing me up. Now I feel 94% confident (of course I stay within my lane of confidence until I need more).
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Happens to the best of us
If you wouldn’t have left that anger out, look a all the good help your already getting.
I don’t understand your point. Are you saying he got a lot of help because of the anger?
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There is lots of great videos on youtube .That can walk you threw designing and setting up the tool paths and uploading it to firecontrol to cut . Most of the videos go step by step to help you understand.
For 2 dimensional designs, Fusion360 is not needed ever. There are plenty of easy 2D CAD programs for small cost or free. I use ViaCad 2D (paid version for PC) for plasma designs, easy after a few tutorials on youtube. Yes you still need the CAM side and again with just a couple of video tutorials, Sheetcam is easy and repeatable. So for a one time cost of $200 plus I can design and send to plasma whatever I want. If you want to learn 3D then Fusion is fine to maintain with subscription.
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I’m very new to all of this and actually my first post. I started with f360 and find it a fascinating program. However it is extremely complex and difficult for most people to master, including me.
Reading on here I saw everyone talking about SheetcCam so I tried it. I was blown away how simple and efficient it is for post processing. I didn’t hesitate to purchase it and don’t regret it at all.
Some of you pro’s may scoff but I have found my go-to program for 2D design also. It is actually for laser engravers etc but I have found it incredible for my plasma designs also. Amazingly versatile. It is called Lightburn. Free for 30 days and like a lifetime license for $40 after that. I’m completely new at this and here are a few of the things I have completely designed in lightburn
and cut with my table since I got it set up a few weeks ago.
Now let’s see if I can post pictures.
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