It’s time for a showdown between Fusion 360 and Blender. Find out everything there is to know about the similarities and differences between these two programs.
Many enthusiasts may have to examine multiple 3D libraries to find a good 3D model for 3D printing. But what if you’ve exhausted all of the STL files available online? What if the 3D model you downloaded doesn’t quite meet your needs?
That’s when CAD and 3D modeling software, a 3D printing hobbyist’s greatest friend, comes in handy. In other words, these programs allow you to design 3D things and export them as STL files for printing. This article will look at two top-rated and strong apps: Fusion 360 and Blender.
Fusion 360 is a new and more focused program. The software was built by Autodesk in 2012 and released to the public in 2013. Fusion 360 is a comprehensive engineering platform, although its design and CAD skills are its most prominent features. Fusion 360 is one of the best 3D printing tools available, and it’s trendy among hobbyist manufacturers, even though it can’t construct games or edit videos.
Blender, on the other hand, is an open-source 3D computer graphics suite created in 1998. It’s made for making 3D artwork, visual effects, animations, video games, and 3D printable models. Its open-source status implies that its source code is freely published and customizable, which has resulted in the significant acceptance of the software among hobbyists.
These two robust applications may appear to be diverse at first glance. Still, they both offer advanced capabilities for producing 3D models, which is where the comparison comes in helpful. So, without further ado, let’s look at how they stack up.
Fusion 360 vs Blender: Which is Best for 3D Modelling Newbies?
Hardware & Software Requirements
Because CAD and 3D modeling applications consume a significant amount of computing power, it’s always a good idea to double-check the recommended system requirements and platforms.
Fusion 360 (2022)
Windows 10, macOS Big Sur 11.x, Catalina 10.15, and Mojave v10.14 are the system requirements.
Hardware requirements: 64-bit processor with 6 or more cores running at 3.0 GHz or higher, 8 GB RAM, and a dedicated GPU with 4 GB or more.
Blender
Windows 10/11, macOS 10.13 (Intel), 11.0 (Apple Silicon), and Linux are all supported.
Hardware requirements: 64-bit eight-core CPU, 32 GB RAM, dedicated GPU with 8 GB or more Internet connection:
Fusion 360 vs Blender: Which is Best for 3D Modelling Newbies?
Connection to the internet: UI & Layout Requirements
Fusion 360
Fusion 360 is easier to use than Blender and has a less crowded user interface. It employs the traditional ribbon-style menu found in CAD, with huge drop-down menus containing 90% of the tools you’ll ever need for 3D creation. Fusion 360 includes an innovative fast menu called the Marking menu that can be accessed by the mouse. The toolbar is also entirely customizable.
Fusion 360’s UI is more fundamental than Blender’s and has a smoother learning curve.
Blender
Blender’s user interface has a lot of capabilities and toolsets, which might be intimidating for beginning users. Blender recommends a 2560 x 1440 monitor because you’ll frequently find yourself moving through many viewports that share your screen real estate.
Once you’ve gotten the hang of it, which may take some time, you may start experimenting with shortcut keys to speed up your process. By default, the ‘A’ key on the keyboard selects everything in the 3D Viewport, whereas clicking the ‘H’ key hides all selected assets.
Blender also lets you tweak the keyboard and mouse shortcuts, making it your own.
Blender and Fusion 360 were created for different purposes. Even though their approach to this capability is different, they’re nonetheless known for their capacity to build 3D models. As a result, let’s take a closer look at how they compare in terms of 3D modeling.
Fusion 360 vs Blender: Which is Best for 3D Modelling Newbies?
Modeling in three dimensions
Fusion 360
Fusion 360’s 3D modeling, on the other hand, feels exact. This is ideal for developing functional parts for 3D printing that require precise dimensions. Fusion 360’s sketching capabilities are powerful, allowing you to quickly cycle through several design iterations.
The parametric modeling capabilities of Fusion 360’s Design History feature are one of its most compelling features. Every tool and action you take on a model is saved on a timeline. The user can go back in time and change individual parameters from previous activities or erase the model entirely. This is highly handy for rapid design iterations and prototyping.
Blender
Blender’s 3D modeling tools have an obviously organic feel to them. Blender’s sculpting of natural shapes is very smooth, which is why many 3D artists and digital animators favor it. With remarkable fluidity, you may alter the geometry by warping and deforming individual sections of the object.
Add-ons can make a 3D artist’s life considerably more manageable in Blender by providing additional capability. Depending on your computer’s processing power, various specialized third-party applications, such as tree-generating add-ons, can build detailed models in a matter of seconds.
Fusion 360 vs Blender: Which is Best for 3D Modelling Newbies?
Additional Capabilities
Blender and Fusion 360 have much more to offer than 3D modeling.
Fusion 360
Fusion 360 is similarly versatile, less so than Blender, and geared primarily toward engineering, development, and production. Fusion 360 requires internet access to validate licenses and store projects in Autodesk’s cloud.
Fusion provides effective collaboration options for remote teams, including version control and Autodesk’s exceptionally smooth cloud computing engines, in addition to the previously stated CAM and CAE modules.
Blender
Blender is multifunctional software that covers a large part of a 3D artist’s workflow by definition. UV editing, rigging, rendering engines (built-in and third-party), texture painting, and more are all included. It also functions as a video editor, combining all the stages required to create entire animations.
Blender is not only free and open-source, but it also works offline (after being downloaded). However, some add-ons may require an internet connection for added functionality.
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Fusion 360 vs Blender: Which is Best for 3D Modelling Newbies?
Applications & Use Cases
Given that we’ve just gone through the capabilities and functions of each program, it should be very obvious what Blender and Fusion 360 are best suited for in terms of applications. So, to illustrate what we’ve been talking about, let’s look at some professional use cases of these software solutions.
Fusion 360
VOLVE is a British design and engineering start-up that created a lightweight drone frame using Fusion’s design optimization techniques. The team was able to lower the total mass of the structure by two times by utilizing Fusion 360, which is critical for any flying object. Fusion 360’s use case is significantly more “physical” in comparison.
Blender
Let’s start with Blender. You’ve probably heard of or seen Next Gen, a Netflix science fiction animated film. It’s one of the most well-known Blender-animated films. While it’s not uncommon for mainstream studios to employ Blender during their production, Next Gen was created entirely with it.
Fusion 360 vs Blender: Which is Best for 3D Modelling Newbies?
Support from the company and the community
Source: stockexchange.blender.com
Blender and Fusion 360 are professional-grade software with a steep learning curve and an especially complex troubleshooting process. This is when the help of the firm and the community comes in helpful.
Fusion 360
Fusion 360 is supported by an international software firm. Thus there is a wealth of online help and free learning resources. The Fusion 360 Getting Started manual is a detailed reference for individuals just starting with 3D design.
Blender
Blender has a sizable community surrounding it, complete with a wealth of information and user-based assistance. If you have an issue, there’s a good possibility that someone else had had it before you, solved it, and documented it thoroughly.
Furthermore, because it’s open-source, third-party developers continually create fantastic add-ons to improve your experience and increase the software’s capabilities.
Users can also discuss tips and difficulties on the forum on Autodesk’s website. Fusion also has community and third-party add-ons; however, they are far fewer than Blender.
Fusion 360 vs Blender: Which is Best for 3D Modelling Newbies?
Licensing & Pricing
When it comes to getting started in a new field, the cost of the software (or the lack thereof) might be a deciding factor. This is especially true for CAD and 3D modeling platforms, which can be expensive compared to the professional applications they support.
Fusion 360
Fusion 360 (2022) is subscription-based CAD software that is very user-friendly. A full license costs $60 per month ($495 per year) and includes all 3D design features and specific CAM and simulation (CAE) modules. Extensions (such as machining or additive construction) must be purchased individually.
Hobbyists can try it out for free, but it has limited functionality and is exclusively for personal use. Full educational licenses are offered for students and educators as is familiar with Autodesk products. An exclusive start-up license is also available for small businesses that qualify.
Blender
Blender 3.0, on the other hand, is free to download and use, even for commercial applications, thanks to the GNU General Public License. However, this does not imply that the software is simple. Instead, it is a high-end professional tool utilized by firms such as Meta (previously Facebook) and Ubisoft.
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Fusion 360 vs Blender: Which is Best for 3D Modelling Newbies?
Last Thoughts
Blender and Fusion 360 are excellent tools with different purposes. Both are (basically) free and perfectly capable as 3D modeling software, depending on how you use them. Thus there is no direct competition here.
Blender is one of the most excellent modeling packages accessible if you’re interested in digital animation, VFX, game creation, and 3D printing. It comes with a multitude of tutorials and community assistance. And, even though the user interface takes some getting accustomed to, it’s a fantastic program.
Fusion 360 is ideal for quick and easy modeling for 3D printing. In a couple of minutes, you’ll be able to create your own designs. Autodesk releases frequent updates, and the program is better suited to product design.
Blender is recommended by many 3D printing aficionados for creative or organic-looking prints, whereas Fusion 360 is recommended for functional prints. After all, they’re both free for us hobbyists, so we suggest you try them both!
Happy 3D printing!
