Autodesk Fusion 360 July Updates Available Now

The July product update for Autodesk Fusion 360 is now available for download, and the company says this latest update is focused on fabrication workflows.

Curtis Chan, the Fusion 360 Technical Evangelist, says this “tweaked interface” now combines solid and t-splines modeling into a single toolbar, among other upgrades.

“Close on the heels of our June upgrade, the latest update demonstrates how quickly we’re innovating in the cloud-based CAD space. Notably, we’ve improved collaboration and added a new ‘Make’ pane in the toolbar, which provides access to new fabrication tools, including a new integration with Protolabs’ quoting service,” says Claire Collins, the PR Manager for Fusion 360.

Following its launch a couple of years ago, Fusion 360 is now one of the most interesting CAD systems for high-end users as the development process has been very public. Fusion 360 is dependent on the cloud and uses the power of centralized data management and computation to enable teams to work together. What began as an experiment in direct modeling is now rapidly growing and maturing.

A cloud-based 3D CAD/CAM tool for product development, Fusion 360 combines industrial and mechanical design, collaboration, and machining tools into a single package. Autodesk says Fusion 360 is natively written for both Mac and PC, and it allows users to download a free trial of the sculpting and modeling tools to explore form and finishes.

This latest update includes the ability to create toolpaths for programming singe turret lathes, support for ISO standard turning tools, new turning setup with support for setting turning setting, new turning toolpath types, the ability to preview turning toolpaths in web and mobile clients, turning simulations and post support.

Add to that an improved load time for cloud libraries, the addition of the new “Make” pane in the toolbar to provide rapid access to fabrication tools, easier access to the Britehub quoting service and the new Protolabs quoting service, and you have a a rather expansive update.

Other improvements include team collaboration features like notifications which appear when design uploads have completed and automatic notification on data upload to projects, Chan says the updates also allow for users to create a Fusion 360 document from content on their desktop and without requiring upload and translation in the cloud.

There have also been continued improvements to the data panel tools to manage data, the ability to promote versions of a design from within Fusion 360 using the Data Panel, and the functionality to move items between folders, deactivate a project and leave a project have been added as well.

You can review the full array of updates and changes on the Fusion 360 YouTube channel here.

Do you use Autodesk Fusion 360 as part of your work process? Let us know in the Fusion 360 July Update forum thread on 3DPB.com.