Pick a depth. Each prompt opens in your AI pre-loaded with the lesson. Click a row to preview the prompt.
Fusion 360 is the most-used parametric CAD for hobbyists. Free personal license; cloud-saved; runs on Mac/Windows. The learning curve is real but the ceiling is high — Fusion handles real engineering work (assemblies, simulations, CAM for CNC). Most YouTube CAD tutorials use Fusion.
Fusion 360 workflow.
WHAT FUSION IS:
Autodesk's cloud-saving CAD/CAM/CAE tool.
Parametric B-rep with timeline.
Free personal license (1-year, renewable).
WORKFLOW MODEL:
1. Create a sketch on a plane (X-Y plane, or a face of an existing body)
2. Add geometric entities to the sketch (rectangles, circles, splines)
3. Add dimensions (size constraints)
4. Add geometric constraints (parallel, perpendicular, tangent)
5. Exit sketch
6. Apply a feature (extrude, revolve, sweep, loft) to turn the sketch into a 3D solid
7. Repeat: add more sketches, more features
8. Result: a fully parametric 3D model
TIMELINE:
Every feature is recorded in the timeline at the bottom.
Edit any feature later; the whole model regenerates.
Re-order features for different results.
PARAMETERS:
Set up user parameters: 'phone_thickness' = 12mm
Use them in dimensions: a phone holder uses 'phone_thickness + 2mm' for clearance
Change phone_thickness; the whole model updates
KEY FEATURES:
Extrude: take a sketch, push it straight in one direction
Revolve: take a sketch, spin it around an axis (great for bottles, cones)
Sweep: take a sketch (cross-section), follow a path
Loft: blend between multiple sketches (organic curves)
Boolean operations: combine, intersect, subtract bodies
ASSEMBLIES:
Define joints between parts: rigid (no motion), revolute (rotate), slider, etc.
Test motion virtually before printing.
CONSTRAINTS:
Sketch constraints: parallel, perpendicular, tangent, equal length, concentric
These keep the sketch 'intelligent' — change one dimension, related dims update.
EXPORT:
STL (for slicer)
STEP (for sharing with other CAD users)
3MF (newer; supports materials + colors)
PRO:
- Huge community + tutorials (YouTube full of Fusion 360 content)
- Powerful parametric capability
- Free for personal use (1-year renewable license)
- Can do simulation + CAM if needed
- Touch/iPad support
CON:
- Cloud-required for files
- Steeper learning curve than Tinkercad
- Performance varies on slower machines
- Subscription model (free for personal, paid for commercial)
LIMITATIONS:
- Personal license has restrictions (no commercial use; cloud storage limited)
- Sluggish performance on very large assemblies
- Some advanced features (generative design, simulation) require subscription
WHO USES FUSION:
- Most CNC machinists (it has CAM)
- Most hobbyist CAD users (free personal)
- Bambu Studio integration (some prints get optimized via Fusion)
- Many universities (free for students)