Fusion subscriptions

[Tom O]

This was in my mailbox today.

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[td] Dear Tom Osselton, At Autodesk, we are committed to providing pricing transparency to help you make informed budget decisions. Currently, Autodesk offers a 10% discount on multi-year subscriptions when you renew or switch eligible subscriptions to multi-year. This option provides predictable pricing, long-term savings, and the flexibility to pay annually rather than paying for the entire three-year period upfront.* Beginning January 7, 2025, renewal discounts will change.** While the annual subscription renewal discount will no longer be available, multi-year subscriptions will continue to offer savings with a 5% discount. To maximize your savings before the renewal discount pricing change, we encourage you to consider renewing or switching eligible subscriptions to a multi-year plan now. By continuing your subscriptions, you will also gain access to the latest features and enhancements in our Autodesk products and account management features. Here are just a few of the examples of new features launched over the last year to help users and admins maximize value across their Autodesk products. Enhanced Visibility: Easily access key data on seat usage, support cases, payment notifications, renewals, alerts for unverified and inactive users, and new assigned date reporting. Increased Flexibility: Updated policies allow modern mobile device usage, remove device installation limits, and help users remain compliant. Streamlined Navigation: Perform key tasks faster with intuitive navigation, new content on account homepages, self-serve access to collaboration hubs, and searchable user lists. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your Autodesk representative or Partner for assistance. Thank you for being a valued Autodesk customer. We look forward to continuing to support your success with innovative solutions and dedicated service. Sincerely, The Autodesk Team​ ​

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[Mike R]

5% discount - may as well offer a free cookie instead for what that's worth. I was looking at a 50% discount offered for 1 year yesterday when I was in it, but the thought of renewing at $915+ in the future years has me holding off.
Fusion needs to figure out hobbiest pricing if they want me to part with my money....

 

[DavidR8]

I ponied up for the 50% off but I won't renew for the $900+ annual.
In the year I have it I will test out different CAM software because that's what I actually need more.

 

[PeterT]

@DavidR8 you mean if you get a different CAM there would be no sense continuing with F360 - you would go with different CAD package?

 

[Upnorth]

I think fusion should offer a hobbyist version that is consistent. As is this is what you get for this price. We won't hobble it in the future or grossly increase the price. Some people have also recently had issues with auto renews.

I do have a subscription to Fusion 360 and have had it for a few years now. I would have difficulty with the current renewal price ($900+) mentioned by David. I really don't use it nearly enough to justify it. Luckily I have a legacy license so my price is fixed at $400 per year for life.

 

[Tomc938]

I'm curious:

I've been using the free version of Fusion for the last number of years. Other than the 10 editable document limit - which is easy to work with - I don't seem to bump up against any ways that Fusion is hobbled. Mind you, most of my work is simple prototyping and testing type of work.

What are the limitations you guys are running up against that make you want to 1) pay $400+ a year to get full version, or 2) look to other software?

 

[Tom O]

I have Fusion and My Son said a few years ago when we got the mill we need Bobcad it was put in his name @ $5,000 then to my dismay I had to buy a seat to use it on another computer. I may have to take another look at it.

 

[DavidR8]

@DavidR8 you mean if you get a different CAM there would be no sense continuing with F360 - you would go with different CAD package?

Yes, I have and really like Alibre Atom but its CAM add-in is very limited.
I’m attempting to learn FreeCAD which has a CAM workbench.

 

[Mike R]

For me the main reasons to pay for Fusion would be the following (all CAM related):
1. ability to use more than 1 tool in a CAM program. Currently I need to create each toolpath as a program separately and then either load them sequentially or manually edit them together. just a nuisance, like them killing rapids and converting them to G1 moves instead.
2. Possibly more toolpath options although I'm not sure if 4th axis stuff is available with the regular paid subscription or if that is something that needs to be paid on top of the subscription.
as noted though, I haven't paid as those items are not enough to bother me to part with $400+ , but if I read between the lines, I'd be betting on Fusion not only changing the pricing come January, but also the available "free" features or cracking down on "commercial" use and locking down accounts they deem commercial use.

 

[PeterT]

we need Bobcad it was put in his name @ $5,000 then to my dismay I had to buy a seat to use it on another computer.

That sucks. I've read more than a few comments about some of their licensing & sales practices. Fortunately I haven't graduated to CAM yet.
Are you using Bobcad for both CAD & CAM or just the CAM side? What can Bobcad do that Fusion cannot?

 

[Tom O]

I believe Bobcad is full 4th axis where Fusion gives you partial without paying as far as I know I’ll have to check it out to make sure. I’ve never used the 4th but my Son made a sprocket that turned out great.

 

[Arbutus]

My $0.02...


Its not $400+. its $900+.

And, no - the 4th and 5th axis machining is about $1500/year on top of the $915/year.

I paid $725 for the discounted subscription a few weeks ago. Why? basically because I have been using Fusion since 2016 and I have an enormous legacy of detailed and complex designs which would be impossible to move into another CAD system. Autodesk also announced that users who have cancelled their subscriptions will have a year to access their archived data - then its gone.

I use F360 every day. 2D, 3D, 3 axis CNC, additive manufacturing and eCAD from schematic to production.

So if I put it in perspective, I'm bitching about the no-choice pricing, but for under $100/month thats a LOT of value, even for a 'hobbyist' engineer. An evening at the movie theater last week was $66 and I don't remember the movie.

I have to say though, that I am utterly amazed by how capable these systems are these days. For example, I designed this 4 layer board from scratch and had it ready for production within 24 hours. I sent the Gerbers to a PCB production house and had a quote for $75 CAD delivered, with the boards expected 4 days later. The 3D board design is fully integrated with the rest of F360, so the geometry and other data (heat transfer, mass, etc) are all available for other parts of the program. Amazing!

 

[DavidR8]

My $0.02...


Its not $400+. its $900+.

And, no - the 4th and 5th axis machining is about $1500/year on top of the $915/year.

I paid $725 for the discounted subscription a few weeks ago. Why? basically because I have been using Fusion since 2016 and I have an enormous legacy of detailed and complex designs which would be impossible to move into another CAD system. Autodesk also announced that users who have cancelled their subscriptions will have a year to access their archived data - then its gone.

I use F360 every day. 2D, 3D, 3 axis CNC, additive manufacturing and eCAD from schematic to production.

So if I put it in perspective, I'm bitching about the no-choice pricing, but for under $100/month thats a LOT of value, even for a 'hobbyist' engineer. An evening at the movie theater last week was $66 and I don't remember the movie.

I have to say though, that I am utterly amazed by how capable these systems are these days. For example, I designed this 4 layer board from scratch and had it ready for production within 24 hours. I sent the Gerbers to a PCB production house and had a quote for $75 CAD delivered, with the boards expected 4 days later. The 3D board design is fully integrated with the rest of F360, so the geometry and other data (heat transfer, mass, etc) are all available for other parts of the program. Amazing!


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I have to agree that Fusion does represent good value.

 

[Tomc938]

For me the main reasons to pay for Fusion would be the following (all CAM related):
1. ability to use more than 1 tool in a CAM program. Currently I need to create each toolpath as a program separately and then either load them sequentially or manually edit them together. just a nuisance, like them killing rapids and converting them to G1 moves instead.
2. Possibly more toolpath options although I'm not sure if 4th axis stuff is available with the regular paid subscription or if that is something that needs to be paid on top of the subscription.
as noted though, I haven't paid as those items are not enough to bother me to part with $400+ , but if I read between the lines, I'd be betting on Fusion not only changing the pricing come January, but also the available "free" features or cracking down on "commercial" use and locking down accounts they deem commercial use.

That makes sense to me. I just CAD and 3D print, so don't run up against those issues.

I for one am grateful Fusion lets guys like me use the power of their software for nothing.

 

[Upnorth]

For me the main reasons to pay for Fusion would be the following (all CAM related):
1. ability to use more than 1 tool in a CAM program. Currently I need to create each toolpath as a program separately and then either load them sequentially or manually edit them together. just a nuisance, like them killing rapids and converting them to G1 moves instead.
2. Possibly more toolpath options although I'm not sure if 4th axis stuff is available with the regular paid subscription or if that is something that needs to be paid on top of the subscription.
as noted though, I haven't paid as those items are not enough to bother me to part with $400+ , but if I read between the lines, I'd be betting on Fusion not only changing the pricing come January, but also the available "free" features or cracking down on "commercial" use and locking down accounts they deem commercial use.

There is some 4th axis available with a regular subscription. Fusion will let me do something called a rotary pattern. So basically rotary indexing. For anything that requires simultaneous movement of the rotary axis with another I would have to buy a very expensive extension. There is a pull down window called multi axis and it's all extensions. In the 3D menu there are a few things that require purchasing an extension.