Fusion 360 all the way for me

Fusion360 (free)
 

Any CAD software has a learning curve.

I wanted to do stress analysis on my engine mount design.
Took me about a month to learn Fusion360 while designing and analyzing the engine mount. Now I use it for smaller or simpler things just because I know it. Disadvantage of Fusion360 in my mind is the requirement to be online and store your design online. (Yes, if you lose Internet connection it will store locally, but I have yet to figure out where.)

I have downloaded SolidWorks and briefly looked at it. Did not find it easy, but that is probably because I'm used to Fusion360.

For 3D printing I use Cura and an Ender-3 printer. (Less than $200.)

Finn

Been using Solidworks for 20 years, after switching from older 2D CAD packages (started with GenericCAD at university, then AutoCAD after that until switching to SW). Have the EAA version at home and a full version at work.

Used Fusion360 for a year at one job... Very similar to Solidworks, enough so that learning it took only a day or two.

Been following the development of OnShape for about 5 years now. They're the guys who invented Solidworks, and left to form their own company. The software is very similar, but works online like Fusion360. Design anywhere, on any browser. Recently they've added version control to parts/drawings so now they're actually usable in a production environment. The cost is about the same as Solidworks, though... About $2K per seat. I need to find an educational discount so I could try it for an extended period.

I have 25+ years of UG/NX on my resume but since retirement last year it's free Solidworks for me.

What does EAA charge for Solidworks?

Free if you are an EAA Member. Unavailable if you are not a EAA Member. It is the "Education Premium" version.

https://eaa.org/eaa/eaa-membership/e...esource-center

In my admittedly short career I've used Solidworks, AutoCAD (2D and 3D), NX, currently Creo, and Fusion 360 at home, as well as some simple 2D softwares. They all have their pros and cons. In order from favorite to least favorite I'd say:

Solidworks, Fusion 360, Creo, NX, AutoCAD

I do not find Fusion 360 particularly intuitive coming from Solidworks, but the price is right and the CAM is very powerful. I dislike the way Fusion handles mates in assemblies. I find the shortcut keys very easy in Fusion, however. I can usually figure out whatever I need to do just by playing around, except in NX and to some extent in Creo. I find that there are a bunch of frustrating bugs in Creo that they refuse to fix. And the control scheme is awful. I can (and have) rant about this for hours.

I think Solidworks is the best all around (assuming you don't need CAM) and the best for amateurs. It's easy to do some pretty advanced stuff in Solidworks. And I think Solidworks is a much more marketable skill than Fusion, however 3D modelling is more about design mentality than the particular software, in my opinion. Once you've learned how to 3D model well in any parametric software it is relatively easy to transfer that knowledge to a new software.

I designed my panel in Fusion 360 also. Worked well, and the free intro pricing was just right.

I use Alibre Design, I have a license for the Expert version, but there is a personal/hobby version that is free.

https://www.alibre.com/

Been using it for a long time now, it's one of the easier 3d modelers I've used. Very happy with it.

Are you saying the solidworks CAM function is no good? That is one of my main drivers for switching to a new SW. Saves me the cost of meshcam or similar.