List of CAD/CAM Software

[Washout]

I've just started messing with Fusion 360 - looking good so far although the design/modelling side is a little awkward in places due to the AutoCAD heritage (lots of hidden key press shortcuts and non-standard modifiers that probably go back to the DOS days) and my own lack of knowledge especially in organic shape modelling i.e I'm still at the lower end of the learning curve.

The included CAM looks really good with 2D and 3D both having "Adaptive/HSM" options, although along with many CAM packages its a case of setting various wide parameters and hoping the results come out the way you expect, but again that's probably due to only just starting with it.

I will have a couple of videos going up soon when I get the time to try out some of the toolpaths I've generated and see how they go.

[Ger21]

As someone who's used AutoCAD daily for nearly 20 years, I don't think there's anything in Fusion even remotely related to AutoCAD.
As for the shortcuts keys, there's a list of shortcuts on the Fusion 360 Blog.
http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/post-y...s/td-p/5831660

[CharlieRam]

I'm not sure if its been mentioned but I have just found OnShape, it is a free cloud based cad package, I have not had a chance to play with it yet but thought I'd mention it while it was stil fresh in my mind.
Cheers, Charlie

[Neale]

I've been playing with both OnShape and Fusion 360 recently. Previously I've used things like TurboCAD for 2D drawing and although I've tried using the 3D features, I've found it very difficult to use. These two new tools are a breath of fresh air. I'm sure that long-term professional users will know all this already, but if you've never tried it, the sketch-and-extrude, parameter-based approach makes things much easier to draw and much easier to modify and update. On balance, OnShape is probably the easier to use as they have worked hard at simplifying the user interface while F360 is a better established and more powerful tool. F360 also has the "sculpt" tools for more fluid shapes (might be what Washout was referring to) although I've stuck to just the straightforward geometric tools so far. It's been useful for both mechanical engineering type drawings (my new router is being drawn in F360 as it gets built) and for models for 3D printing.

It's difficult to describe the difference in approach between conventional 2D CAD and these newer applications, but it's a bit like the difference between a power-assisted old-fashioned drawing board, and the ability to scribble on the back of an envelope, add a few dimensions, and watch the 3D structure appear in all its glory. Hit a couple of buttons and 3D objects appear as a set of 2D drawings, ready for manufacture. Can't believe that applications like this are available free to the hobbyist.