Overview
Fusion 360 collapsed a set of separate disciplines into one program. Parametric solid modelling driven by a timeline of features, direct editing when the history gets in the way, freeform surface sculpting, sheet metal, assemblies with joints and motion, structural and thermal simulation, rendering, drawing production and toolpath generation for milling, turning and cutting. A part designed at the top of that list gets machine code at the bottom of it without being exported anywhere.
The design is normally tied to a cloud service, and the build here is configured to run locally: projects save to disk, the libraries are on disk, and the application does not require a sign-in or a network connection at launch. Everything that does not fundamentally need a server is available offline, which is the whole reason to use this build rather than the standard one.
Modelling
The parametric workflow is sketch, constrain, feature, repeat, with the timeline at the bottom recording every step so any of it can be revisited. Sketches are fully constrained with dimensions and relations, and a well constrained sketch is what makes a model survive being changed later. Features cover extrude, revolve, sweep, loft, shell, rib, thread, draft and the pattern and mirror operations.
The sculpting environment is a separate way of working for shapes that are not defined by dimensions: a subdivision surface that is pushed and pulled into form and then converted to a solid. Sheet metal has proper flanges, bends and relief with an automatic flat pattern that accounts for the bend allowance. Direct editing is there for imported geometry with no history to work with.
Assemblies, simulation and drawings
Assemblies are built with joints rather than mates, defining how components move relative to each other, and the motion can be driven and animated to check clearance and travel. Contact sets stop parts passing through each other. Components can be created in place or brought in, and the whole assembly stays associative.
Simulation covers static stress, modal frequency, thermal, thermal stress, buckling, shape optimisation and event simulation, with a meshing step that mostly looks after itself. It is not a replacement for a dedicated analysis package on a critical part, but for finding out whether a bracket is obviously too thin it is more than adequate. Drawings are produced from the model with associative views, dimensions, tolerances, sections, details and a parts list that fills itself from the assembly.
Manufacturing
The manufacturing workspace generates toolpaths from the model geometry: two and three axis milling with adaptive clearing, contouring, pocketing and boring, multi axis positioning and simultaneous strategies, turning, and the profile cutting strategies for waterjet, plasma and laser. Tool libraries hold real tools with real feeds and speeds, and the stock simulation shows what the material looks like at any point in the program.
Post processors for a very wide range of controllers are included, and they are editable, which matters because every machine has its quirks. A toolpath is associative to the model, so a design change regenerates the program rather than requiring it to be rebuilt. There is also the additive path for producing a print job from the same file.
What you get
- Parametric modelling with a full feature timeline and direct editing
- Freeform subdivision sculpting converting to solids
- Sheet metal with bends, relief and automatic flat patterns
- Assemblies built with joints, driven motion and contact sets
- Static stress, modal, thermal, buckling and shape optimisation simulation
- Associative drawings with sections, details, tolerances and automatic parts lists
- Milling, turning and profile cutting toolpaths with stock simulation
- Editable post processors for a wide range of machine controllers
- Local project storage with no sign-in or network requirement
Inside the archive
- Fusion 360 application, offline installer
- Manufacturing post processor library
- Material and appearance libraries stored locally
- Tool library with feeds and speeds
- Language packs for the interface list shown above
- Install notes covering the offline configuration
System requirements
| Operating system | Windows 10 version 21H2 or Windows 11, 64-bit |
|---|---|
| Processor | Quad core, 1.7 GHz or faster |
| Memory | 8 GB minimum, 16 GB for large assemblies and simulation |
| Graphics | DirectX 11 capable card with 2 GB VRAM, 4 GB recommended |
| Storage | 10 GB free on an SSD plus project space |
| Display | 1920 by 1080 or higher |
Installing it
- Unpack to a local drive.
- Turn off real time protection for the install.
- Run setup as administrator and let it finish without launching the application.
- On first run choose the local project folder when asked where projects should live.
- No sign-in appears. If a network prompt is offered, decline it and the application continues offline.
Mirrors
| Route | Region | Note | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct, primary | Europe | No wait, resumable | Online |
| Direct, secondary | North America | No wait, resumable | Online |
| Torrent magnet | Global | Recommended above 3 GB | Online |
Release history
- Adaptive clearing toolpath calculation made faster on deep pockets
- Fixed sheet metal flat pattern on flanges with mixed bend radii
- Local project storage path made configurable at first run
- Simulation meshing improved on thin walled parts
- Drawing parts list now updates on component rename
- Post processor library expanded
- Joint motion limits fixed on nested assemblies
Questions about this release
Does it need an account?
No. This build is configured to run locally, with projects on disk and no sign-in at launch.
Where do my projects save?
To the local folder you choose on first run. Nothing is uploaded anywhere.
Is the manufacturing workspace complete?
Milling, turning and profile cutting are all present with the post processor library. The multi axis simultaneous strategies are included.
Can it open files from other CAD packages?
Yes, the common exchange formats and several native formats import. Imported geometry has no history, so use direct editing on it.
Comments
Projects saving locally is the whole reason I use this build. Works exactly as described.
Adaptive clearing is noticeably quicker to calculate now. Deep pocket job went from four minutes to under one.
Comments are read before they appear. If a build stops working, say so here and it gets rebuilt rather than quietly left up.
Designed a fixture and posted the program for our mill in the same afternoon. No account screen anywhere.