{"slug": "fusion-360", "name": "Fusion 360", "category": "media", "category_name": "Media and creative", "description": "", "recommenders": 4, "commenters": 18, "warners": 2, "score": 4.688, "rising": 1.35, "first": "2025-11-02", "latest": "2026-10-11", "why": "I learned to CAD on Fusion 360 with no formal education and it just worked.", "why_is_quote": true, "has_verdict": false, "sentiment": {"recommend": 4, "neutral": 9, "compare": 3, "warn": 2}, "spark": [0, 0, 2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0], "listed": true, "loved": [], "caveat": "", "short_quote": "I learned to CAD on Fusion 360 with no formal education and it just worked.", "icon": true, "domain": null, "github_repo": "github.com/runfusion/fusion", "official_url": "https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/overview", "pricing": "", "aliases": ["Fusion 360", "Fusion", "Fusion360"], "verdict": null, "praise": [{"label": "", "summary": "", "quotes": [{"id": 795972051, "item_id": 49748253, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49748253", "by": "KomoD", "date": "2026-09-17", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Authelia, Immich, Jellyfin, Fusion, qBittorrent, Memos and Gitea.", "excerpt": "Authelia, Immich, Jellyfin, Fusion, qBittorrent, Memos and Gitea. I think that's all of them.", "context": "self-hoster", "use_case": "RSS reader", "switched_from": "", "story": "Ask HN: What self-hosted apps do you use daily?"}, {"id": 786294032, "item_id": 49143377, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49143377", "by": "fho", "date": "2026-08-02", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I learned to CAD on Fusion 360 with no formal education and it just worked.", "excerpt": "Version 10-12 is 10-ish years ago. They switched to yearmonth (e.g. 2604) release names long ago. Let's just say things changed since then. There is also a difference between intuitive and familiar. I learned to CAD on Fusion 360 with no formal education and it just worked. I can use FreeCAD sufficiently well to be productive (it really has become better over the years). I tried OnShape and just started working. I li", "context": "self-taught CAD user", "use_case": "CAD", "switched_from": "", "story": "Show HN: I'm a 15 Year Old Wannabe Engineer, This Is a Cycloidal Gearbox I Built"}, {"id": 749095682, "item_id": 46818480, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46818480", "by": "SethTro", "date": "2026-01-29", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "For metal milling I find Fusion 360 is necessary.", "excerpt": "I've used kiri:moto for several simple CNC projects! This probably won't scroll to the correct place on the page but there's some images of my project at https://hcc.haus/propmania/#2024-palm-torches and https://static.cloudygo.com/static/Prop%20Making/2024%20Palm%20Torch%20-%20Complete%20Blank.jpg I used it instead of the terrible closed source Easel App for a CARVEY hobby CNC. For metal milling I find Fusion 360 is", "context": "", "use_case": "metal milling CAM", "switched_from": "", "story": "Grid: Forever free, local-first, browser-based 3D printing/CNC/laser slicer"}, {"id": 747510320, "item_id": 46719395, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46719395", "by": "bborud", "date": "2026-01-22", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "learning how to do constraint based and parametric designs in Fusion 360", "excerpt": "I would encourage people who have never designed physical objects before to try to only print things they have designed themselves as an exercise. For perhaps a year or so. If you have never designed physical objects before it is really challenging at first. The learning curve is pretty steep and, at least in my case, I discovered that I didn't have a mental language for thinking about functional 3D and mechanical de", "context": "software engineer, hobbyist 3D printing and CNC", "use_case": "3D printing CAD design", "switched_from": "", "story": "A Year of 3D Printing"}]}], "caveats": [{"label": "", "summary": "", "quotes": [{"id": 800024689, "item_id": 50001543, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50001543", "by": "bitexploder", "date": "2026-10-08", "stance": "warn", "quote": "I am never touching Fusion again.", "excerpt": "I have been using these models to make 3d models with build123d \u2014 they are great at it. I am never touching Fusion again. Astra is current a bit better than Opus 5.5.", "context": "", "use_case": "3D modeling", "switched_from": "", "story": "Claude Haiku 5.5"}, {"id": 748825378, "item_id": 46801586, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46801586", "by": "givc", "date": "2026-01-28", "stance": "warn", "quote": "I struggled a lot with OnShape and Fusion360 trying to do this because there were too many polygons.", "excerpt": "I used OpenSCAD to create a map of Manhattan. It shows the live location of subway trains. It was surprisingly easy, I struggled a lot with OnShape and Fusion360 trying to do this because there were too many polygons. I found that starting with an SVG and extruding from there is perfect in OpenSCAD, but I\u2019m sure I\u2019m underutilizing it a lot. I wrote a bit about it here if you\u2019re curious https://hackaday.io/project/202", "context": "", "use_case": "3D modeling", "switched_from": "", "story": "3D-Printed Mathematical Lampshades"}]}], "who": [{"by": "seesthruya", "context": "Fusion user", "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50040926", "date": "2026-10-11"}, {"by": "KomoD", "context": "self-hoster", "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49748253", "date": "2026-09-17"}, {"by": "geerlingguy", "context": "edits 4K ProRes and H.265 footage", "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49434312", "date": "2026-08-25"}, {"by": "fho", "context": "self-taught CAD user", "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49143377", "date": "2026-08-02"}, {"by": "sgt", "context": "occasional CAD user", "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47527770", "date": "2026-03-26"}, {"by": "bborud", "context": "software engineer, hobbyist 3D printing and CNC", "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46719395", "date": "2026-01-22"}, {"by": "Ccecil", "context": "hardware mindset", "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46338630", "date": "2025-12-20"}, {"by": "axegon_", "context": "hobbyist", "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46072919", "date": "2025-11-27"}], "tags": [], "use_cases": ["cad", "3d modeling", "rss reader", "visual effects compositing", "3d parametric design", "metal milling cam"], "compared": [{"slug": "freecad", "name": "FreeCAD", "co": 6, "switched_from": 1, "switched_to": 1}, {"slug": "onshape", "name": "Onshape", "co": 4, "switched_from": 0, "switched_to": 0}, {"slug": "build123d", "name": "build123d", "co": 2, "switched_from": 0, "switched_to": 1}, {"slug": "openscad", "name": "OpenSCAD", "co": 4, "switched_from": 0, "switched_to": 0}, {"slug": "siemens-nx", "name": "Siemens NX", "co": 2, "switched_from": 0, "switched_to": 0}, {"slug": "tixl", "name": "TiXL", "co": 2, "switched_from": 0, "switched_to": 0}, {"slug": "solidworks", "name": "SolidWorks", "co": 2, "switched_from": 0, "switched_to": 0}, {"slug": "blender", "name": "Blender", "co": 2, "switched_from": 0, "switched_to": 0}], "makers": [{"id": 786862800, "item_id": 49178925, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49178925", "by": "eclipxe", "date": "2026-08-04", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I built Fusion (software factory) on top of Pi", "excerpt": "I built Fusion (software factory) on top of Pi and have been thrilled with it https://github.com/Runfusion/Fusion", "context": "", "use_case": "software factory on Pi", "switched_from": "", "story": "Pi's Minimalism Is Its Advantage"}], "threads": [{"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49984349", "title": "OpenSCAD the Programmers Solid 3D CAD Modeller", "mentions": 2}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46030021", "title": "Ask HN: What tools do you pay for today that feel overpriced or frustrating?", "mentions": 2}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49996437", "title": "Claude Haiku 5.5", "mentions": 1}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49746527", "title": "Ask HN: What self-hosted apps do you use daily?", "mentions": 1}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49433292", "title": "Apple introduces M6 and M5 Ultra", "mentions": 1}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49301215", "title": "Show HN: LuaCAD \u2013 Parametric CAD Scripted in Lua", "mentions": 1}], "sentiment_by_month": {"2025-11": {"neutral": 2, "compare": 1}, "2025-12": {"neutral": 2}, "2026-01": {"recommend": 2, "compare": 1, "warn": 1}, "2026-02": {}, "2026-03": {"neutral": 1}, "2026-04": {}, "2026-05": {}, "2026-06": {}, "2026-07": {}, "2026-08": {"recommend": 1, "neutral": 2, "compare": 1}, "2026-09": {"recommend": 1}, "2026-10": {"warn": 1, "neutral": 2}}, "quotes": [{"id": 800654817, "item_id": 50040926, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50040926", "by": "seesthruya", "date": "2026-10-11", "stance": "neutral", "quote": "I'm a Fusion user that keeps bouncing off FreeCAD", "excerpt": "I love what I see so far with FluidCAD! I'm a Fusion user that keeps bouncing off FreeCAD, and I have dabbled with build123d. Very interested to see where this project goes as it seems to be great combination of gui-driven and code-driven cad.", "context": "Fusion user", "use_case": "CAD", "switched_from": "", "story": "OpenSCAD the Programmers Solid 3D CAD Modeller"}, {"id": 800568834, "item_id": 50035552, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50035552", "by": "TacticalCoder", "date": "2026-10-10", "stance": "neutral", "quote": "many people like Fusion (for example)", "excerpt": "OpenSCAD is amazing for those who know nothing about 3D but know about programming. I bought a 3D printer (which is basically simpler and more reliable than a 2D inkjet printer by now: it's send the file, put the filament, and 3D print and it just works) recently and already fixed shitload of stuff around the house with 3D printed parts. I even did \"print in place\" pieces where you add a pause a a certain layer, inse", "context": "", "use_case": "", "switched_from": "", "story": "OpenSCAD the Programmers Solid 3D CAD Modeller"}, {"id": 800024689, "item_id": 50001543, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50001543", "by": "bitexploder", "date": "2026-10-08", "stance": "warn", "quote": "I am never touching Fusion again.", "excerpt": "I have been using these models to make 3d models with build123d \u2014 they are great at it. I am never touching Fusion again. Astra is current a bit better than Opus 5.5.", "context": "", "use_case": "3D modeling", "switched_from": "", "story": "Claude Haiku 5.5"}, {"id": 795972051, "item_id": 49748253, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49748253", "by": "KomoD", "date": "2026-09-17", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Authelia, Immich, Jellyfin, Fusion, qBittorrent, Memos and Gitea.", "excerpt": "Authelia, Immich, Jellyfin, Fusion, qBittorrent, Memos and Gitea. I think that's all of them.", "context": "self-hoster", "use_case": "RSS reader", "switched_from": "", "story": "Ask HN: What self-hosted apps do you use daily?"}, {"id": 790948994, "item_id": 49434312, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49434312", "by": "geerlingguy", "date": "2026-08-25", "stance": "neutral", "quote": "I use both the base M4 Mac mini and an M4 MacBook Air for Final Cut Pro, Photoshop, and Fusion", "excerpt": "I use both the base M4 Mac mini and an M4 MacBook Air for Final Cut Pro, Photoshop, and Fusion, and while they're not as almost-always-perfectly-smooth as my Mac Studio, they're about 100x better than the experience I used to have on my old Intel MacBook Pros in the 2010s. I edit 4K ProRes and H.265 footage, sometimes with multicam (up to 4 streams) and color adjustments, titles, etc. It's only after stacking 3-5 eff", "context": "edits 4K ProRes and H.265 footage", "use_case": "visual effects compositing", "switched_from": "", "story": "Apple introduces M6 and M5 Ultra"}, {"id": 789030497, "item_id": 49314406, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49314406", "by": "adius", "date": "2026-08-15", "stance": "compare", "quote": "I've tried to get into Solidworks, Fusion, and FreeCAD several times, but every time I come back to programmatic CAD", "excerpt": "I've tried to get into Solidworks, Fusion, and FreeCAD several times, but every time I come back to programmatic CAD. It just better matches how I think about 3D design I guess. Also, I love that there can't be any hidden state or constraints -everything is fully defined by your code and fully visible. Just give it a try, I guess, and see if it works for your use cases!", "context": "", "use_case": "3D parametric design", "switched_from": "", "story": "Show HN: LuaCAD \u2013 Parametric CAD Scripted in Lua"}, {"id": 787363619, "item_id": 49210226, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49210226", "by": "neomantra", "date": "2026-08-07", "stance": "neutral", "quote": "I'm now learning the Forms feature in Fusion360", "excerpt": "I'm making a LED Camel Totem for Burning Man. I had the idea to make a Koons-style balloon animal. I explored this idea with ChatGPT, asking it to make some reference images. I also asked for some prompt generation. I have weak sketching abilities (it's on my list to improve), so this is how I \"storyboard\". To be cheeky, I asked Claude to make balloon simulator from which I could eventually drop into Fusion360 to muc", "context": "", "use_case": "3D modeling", "switched_from": "", "story": "Generative \"AI\": The Guitar Hero of Creativity"}, {"id": 786294032, "item_id": 49143377, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49143377", "by": "fho", "date": "2026-08-02", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I learned to CAD on Fusion 360 with no formal education and it just worked.", "excerpt": "Version 10-12 is 10-ish years ago. They switched to yearmonth (e.g. 2604) release names long ago. Let's just say things changed since then. There is also a difference between intuitive and familiar. I learned to CAD on Fusion 360 with no formal education and it just worked. I can use FreeCAD sufficiently well to be productive (it really has become better over the years). I tried OnShape and just started working. I li", "context": "self-taught CAD user", "use_case": "CAD", "switched_from": "", "story": "Show HN: I'm a 15 Year Old Wannabe Engineer, This Is a Cycloidal Gearbox I Built"}, {"id": 760444321, "item_id": 47527770, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47527770", "by": "sgt", "date": "2026-03-26", "stance": "neutral", "quote": "So I returned to Fusion 360 (for the time being).", "excerpt": "I like FreeCAD but I use it so rarely that I forget how to use it by the time I need it again. So I returned to Fusion 360 (for the time being). Maybe this new FreeCAD version is easier to use?", "context": "occasional CAD user", "use_case": "CAD", "switched_from": "FreeCAD", "story": "FreeCAD Version 1.1 Released"}, {"id": 749095682, "item_id": 46818480, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46818480", "by": "SethTro", "date": "2026-01-29", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "For metal milling I find Fusion 360 is necessary.", "excerpt": "I've used kiri:moto for several simple CNC projects! This probably won't scroll to the correct place on the page but there's some images of my project at https://hcc.haus/propmania/#2024-palm-torches and https://static.cloudygo.com/static/Prop%20Making/2024%20Palm%20Torch%20-%20Complete%20Blank.jpg I used it instead of the terrible closed source Easel App for a CARVEY hobby CNC. For metal milling I find Fusion 360 is", "context": "", "use_case": "metal milling CAM", "switched_from": "", "story": "Grid: Forever free, local-first, browser-based 3D printing/CNC/laser slicer"}, {"id": 748825378, "item_id": 46801586, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46801586", "by": "givc", "date": "2026-01-28", "stance": "warn", "quote": "I struggled a lot with OnShape and Fusion360 trying to do this because there were too many polygons.", "excerpt": "I used OpenSCAD to create a map of Manhattan. It shows the live location of subway trains. It was surprisingly easy, I struggled a lot with OnShape and Fusion360 trying to do this because there were too many polygons. I found that starting with an SVG and extruding from there is perfect in OpenSCAD, but I\u2019m sure I\u2019m underutilizing it a lot. I wrote a bit about it here if you\u2019re curious https://hackaday.io/project/202", "context": "", "use_case": "3D modeling", "switched_from": "", "story": "3D-Printed Mathematical Lampshades"}, {"id": 748601713, "item_id": 46787607, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46787607", "by": "ge96", "date": "2026-01-27", "stance": "compare", "quote": "time I grow up and use something like Fusion360 seems like or onshape", "excerpt": "SketchUp was my go to for a while but I'm done with parametric personally, trying to fix meshes for 3D printing... time I grow up and use something like Fusion360 seems like or onshape. Still it was good/simple enough for non-round shapes in SketchUp except they have some kind of memory leak/bug at least for the 2017 version. But I guess quit being cheap and buy a modern copy on my part. Edit: oh I guess sketchup is ", "context": "3D printing hobbyist", "use_case": "3D modeling", "switched_from": "", "story": "Parametric CAD in Rust"}, {"id": 747510320, "item_id": 46719395, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46719395", "by": "bborud", "date": "2026-01-22", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "learning how to do constraint based and parametric designs in Fusion 360", "excerpt": "I would encourage people who have never designed physical objects before to try to only print things they have designed themselves as an exercise. For perhaps a year or so. If you have never designed physical objects before it is really challenging at first. The learning curve is pretty steep and, at least in my case, I discovered that I didn't have a mental language for thinking about functional 3D and mechanical de", "context": "software engineer, hobbyist 3D printing and CNC", "use_case": "3D printing CAD design", "switched_from": "", "story": "A Year of 3D Printing"}, {"id": 743190882, "item_id": 46449430, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46449430", "by": "neoCrimeLabs", "date": "2025-12-31", "stance": "neutral", "quote": "As a Nuke, Fusion, and formerly MagicMusicVisuals user", "excerpt": "As a Nuke, Fusion, and formerly MagicMusicVisuals user, I am excited to give TiXL a try. Love node based workflows, but find Blender too heavy for most of my needs. I'm surprised I have not run across it yet. Thanks @nateb2022 for sharing it here!", "context": "", "use_case": "node-based compositing", "switched_from": "", "story": "Tixl: Open-source realtime motion graphics"}, {"id": 741418081, "item_id": 46338630, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46338630", "by": "Ccecil", "date": "2025-12-20", "stance": "neutral", "quote": "I personally do better with CAD software such as fusion or freecad", "excerpt": "If you are a programmer OpenSCAD is likely for you. It certainly has benefits in things that are repeating patterns (gears and such)...and if your mind is good at visualizing things in \"code\" things will likely go a lot faster. I personally do better with CAD software such as fusion or freecad since my mind doesn't work in the code realm since I have more of a hardware mindset. Translating the picture in my head to c", "context": "hardware mindset", "use_case": "CAD modeling", "switched_from": "", "story": "OpenSCAD is kinda neat"}, {"id": 737198544, "item_id": 46074909, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46074909", "by": "abrugsch", "date": "2025-11-27", "stance": "compare", "quote": "Autodesk make it unreasonably hard to renew it, instead dark-patterning you into upgrading to the paid tier.", "excerpt": "Can you not use the \"free for hobbyists\" license? Autodesk make it unreasonably hard to renew it, instead dark-patterning you into upgrading to the paid tier. (Unless of course you need paid tier features) I agree on the easy to use front though. I'm trying to move to freecad but it hasn't had its blender moment yet.", "context": "", "use_case": "CAD for hobby projects", "switched_from": "", "story": "Ask HN: What tools do you pay for today that feel overpriced or frustrating?"}, {"id": 737166704, "item_id": 46072919, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46072919", "by": "axegon_", "date": "2025-11-27", "stance": "neutral", "quote": "No other cad software comes even close to being as easy and as flexible though so I'm accepting it for the time being.", "excerpt": "Fusion 360: the price I'm paying for effectively hobby projects(and ones I occasionally publish for free if I feel someone would benefit from them) is absurd. No other cad software comes even close to being as easy and as flexible though so I'm accepting it for the time being.", "context": "hobbyist", "use_case": "hobby CAD projects", "switched_from": "", "story": "Ask HN: What tools do you pay for today that feel overpriced or frustrating?"}, {"id": 732731234, "item_id": 45795702, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45795702", "by": "kikkia", "date": "2025-11-02", "stance": "neutral", "quote": "I do miss Fusion360 and League with friends", "excerpt": "Going on 2 years of linux only, between Debian and Endevour, other than linux nvidia drivers crapping themselves basically every update its been awesome. I do miss Fusion360 and League with friends, but its been overall very good and I recommend it to anyone on the fence. Break free.", "context": "", "use_case": "CAD", "switched_from": "", "story": "Linux gamers on Steam cross over the 3% mark"}]}