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A review of the key differences in design workflow between Tinkercad and SOLIDWORKS, and how to get started using Fusion after having experience using SOLIDWORKS.
Type:
Tutorial
Length:
4 min.
Transcript
00:03
There are several key differences to be aware of when you transition from using Tinkercad to Fusion, as well as a few similarities.
00:11
Both Tinkercad and Fusion keep your data in the cloud, and they allow you to collaborate with other users.
00:18
However, Fusion provides more sophisticated management options for design collaboration,
00:24
as well as more tools for working on your designs.
00:28
It also gives you more control over design versioning.
00:31
Fusion saves a new version of the file every time you save,
00:35
so you never have to worry about losing your work or overwriting a file that you were working on with a colleague.
00:41
You are free to make as many changes as you want,
00:43
and you can always go back to any saved version at any point.
00:48
Fusion is a sketch-based CAD program that also lets you create basic primitives,
00:53
which are the same 3D objects that you can create in Tinkercad.
00:57
The difference is that you do not have to group them together to add or remove geometry.
01:03
Fusion uses features.
01:06
A feature is a tool that allows you to add, subtract, or modify geometry in some way.
01:13
For example, if you want to make a box with a rounded edge,
01:16
in Tinkercad, you create that box basic shape and then adjust the roundness slider.
01:22
But in Fusion, you can make the shape in a number of different ways.
01:26
For example, you can start by sketching a rectangle in 2D, then extrude it into 3D and use the fillet feature to round the corners.
01:35
This may sound like more work, but when you start creating complex geometry, you will need that extra level of control.
01:42
And when you need to make specific changes,
01:44
Fusion provides a step-by-step history of each feature and sketch that you make in the Timeline.
01:50
You can also perform free form modeling in Fusion.
01:54
This divides up bodies into points and lines and lets you push and pull these bodies to make very complicated and organic geometry.
02:02
This allows you to create complex shapes in just a few minutes.
02:07
Because Tinkercad was initially designed with 3D printing in mind, it does have some limitations.
02:13
But in Fusion, a design can be 3D printed or manufactured using some other method like machining, injection molding,
02:21
or really any way that you can produce a part.
02:24
Fusion allows you to create basic parts, but you can also put together complex assemblies with motion, make photorealistic renders,
02:32
animate them, make detailed 2D engineering drawings, simulate them to make sure they are strong enough,
02:38
and even program a computer-controlled machine to cut them.
02:42
There are of course, utilities you can use to send it right to a 3D printer
02:47
as well as just save a file as an STL or an OBJ, like you would do in Tinkercad.
02:53
An important similarity between Fusion and Tinkercad is that both products use workspaces.
02:60
In Tinkercad, you use workspaces to prepare the model for different downstream workflows.
03:05
However, all of this modeling is still done in the main workspace
03:09
where you have access to the group and adjusting tools and the content on the panel.
03:14
Well, in Fusion, you access the workspaces and all the tools from the Toolbar.
03:20
When you click the current workspace, you can select a different workspace to activate it.
03:25
As soon as you do, all the related tools for that workspace become available, organized into tabs across the top of the toolbar.
03:33
Take some time to explore Fusion and everything it has to offer.
03:37
Once you learn to navigate the interface and what the tools do, you can create your own 3D designs in no time.
Video transcript
00:03
There are several key differences to be aware of when you transition from using Tinkercad to Fusion, as well as a few similarities.
00:11
Both Tinkercad and Fusion keep your data in the cloud, and they allow you to collaborate with other users.
00:18
However, Fusion provides more sophisticated management options for design collaboration,
00:24
as well as more tools for working on your designs.
00:28
It also gives you more control over design versioning.
00:31
Fusion saves a new version of the file every time you save,
00:35
so you never have to worry about losing your work or overwriting a file that you were working on with a colleague.
00:41
You are free to make as many changes as you want,
00:43
and you can always go back to any saved version at any point.
00:48
Fusion is a sketch-based CAD program that also lets you create basic primitives,
00:53
which are the same 3D objects that you can create in Tinkercad.
00:57
The difference is that you do not have to group them together to add or remove geometry.
01:03
Fusion uses features.
01:06
A feature is a tool that allows you to add, subtract, or modify geometry in some way.
01:13
For example, if you want to make a box with a rounded edge,
01:16
in Tinkercad, you create that box basic shape and then adjust the roundness slider.
01:22
But in Fusion, you can make the shape in a number of different ways.
01:26
For example, you can start by sketching a rectangle in 2D, then extrude it into 3D and use the fillet feature to round the corners.
01:35
This may sound like more work, but when you start creating complex geometry, you will need that extra level of control.
01:42
And when you need to make specific changes,
01:44
Fusion provides a step-by-step history of each feature and sketch that you make in the Timeline.
01:50
You can also perform free form modeling in Fusion.
01:54
This divides up bodies into points and lines and lets you push and pull these bodies to make very complicated and organic geometry.
02:02
This allows you to create complex shapes in just a few minutes.
02:07
Because Tinkercad was initially designed with 3D printing in mind, it does have some limitations.
02:13
But in Fusion, a design can be 3D printed or manufactured using some other method like machining, injection molding,
02:21
or really any way that you can produce a part.
02:24
Fusion allows you to create basic parts, but you can also put together complex assemblies with motion, make photorealistic renders,
02:32
animate them, make detailed 2D engineering drawings, simulate them to make sure they are strong enough,
02:38
and even program a computer-controlled machine to cut them.
02:42
There are of course, utilities you can use to send it right to a 3D printer
02:47
as well as just save a file as an STL or an OBJ, like you would do in Tinkercad.
02:53
An important similarity between Fusion and Tinkercad is that both products use workspaces.
02:60
In Tinkercad, you use workspaces to prepare the model for different downstream workflows.
03:05
However, all of this modeling is still done in the main workspace
03:09
where you have access to the group and adjusting tools and the content on the panel.
03:14
Well, in Fusion, you access the workspaces and all the tools from the Toolbar.
03:20
When you click the current workspace, you can select a different workspace to activate it.
03:25
As soon as you do, all the related tools for that workspace become available, organized into tabs across the top of the toolbar.
03:33
Take some time to explore Fusion and everything it has to offer.
03:37
Once you learn to navigate the interface and what the tools do, you can create your own 3D designs in no time.
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