I like Fusion360, it's very good, I recently switched to DesignSpark mechanical, really like it, perfect for 3d printing.
Gary, why did you switch from Fusion 360? How is the DesigSpark better? Took me quite a while to learn, more or less, Fusion. I wonder if it is worth it to change.
JT, Mostly it's the license game Autodesk plays that turns me off, there are many ways in which F360 is better, but DSM is a good always free alternative with no restrictions. DSM doesn't have CAM but it does have STL output for easy 3d printing workflow. You can go between F360 and DSM fairly easily as far as learning curve. Couple things I wish DSM would add is; 1) DXF import, it does accept SketchUp files and other 3d file formats. 2) Some free addons like Gears (F360 gear generator is amazing) 3) Image scaling, the ability to scale a 2D image by drawing a line and telling it what the dim is. Cheers Gary
I had looked at DSM before my above post and I noticed that you need to register online first and I thought that that's exactly how Fusion started and once it was established they changed it to what it is today.
True, you register for the download, requires an internet connection to run but its been many years like this with no changes. I tried using FreeCad (even the RealThunder mod) but the learning curve was very frustrating (maybe someday when it's more mature), went back to F360 and then Design spark and it's so much easier for me. There is another program I've been watching, it's Plasticity and looks really promising it's in beta right now free download but when it's full release should be cheap one time purchase. I really wish Shapr3D had a cheap hobby option I would be using that! But the free version is too cut down, the export files are garbage. Cheers Gary
