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Since I recently bought an Ender 3 V2 3D printer, I wanted to not only use templates from Thingiverse but also construct my own objects. The following post is about my experiences so far and my opinion about AutoDesk Fusion 360.

What is a CAD program?
For those who do not know CAD programs: These programs are used to design objects that you can later 3D print, laser, or mill. Many different programs are suitable for this. I used Fusion360 from Autodesk and tried it out.

When you first open Fusion 360, you are overwhelmed by numerous functions, which makes the program seem complicated (similar to when you use Photoshop for the first time). If you are looking for a less complicated program to design with, I can recommend TinkerCAD, which is also from AutoDesk. TinkerCAD is much more simple and can be used via a browser.

I watched a 30 minute Youtube tutorial and was then aware of the basics. I can only recommend this to any newcomer. The easiest way is to “build” the object with round and/or angular objects.

The top bar shows you the basic programs, such as flattening, extruding, drilling, and joining. A small arrow at the bottom left lets you create different objects, such as circles, cylinders, or squares. Using the Sketch button you can view the object from one axis only, which sometimes makes it easier to put writing or other things on an object.

So far I have constructed a cigarette lighter cover for the car, which was relatively simple because it was only 2 round shapes. Making flats and holes is super simple thanks to the quick menu. After a few attempts, the cover for the car fit, even if it is not yet perfect. I find it super interesting to see how self-designed things are printed.

In addition, you have to decide for yourself in the slicer whether you need supports or rafts for your constructed object or how much infill the object should be printed with. AutoDesk is free of charge for one year only for non-commercial use.

I rendered my finished file as an .STL, which took 10 minutes, despite the fact that the file was very small. This is apparently a known problem in the community.

After having designed a few objects, I think AutoDesk Fusion 360 is a great CAD program, for which there are numerous tutorials on Youtube. So you are never lost if you have a problem. For beginners like me, the program is suitable, even if it looks super complicated at first glance.