Compared SolidWorks to Fusion 360 for a month on actual job drawings

Fusion 360 handled the assembly constraints way better for the HVAC duct layout I was doing, but SolidWorks still won on speed for simple 2D detail sheets. Has anyone else found one program just clicks better for certain types of drafting work?

3 comments

3 Comments

joel_martinez8h ago

Man, I feel you on the pretzel thing. I tried Fusion for a duct layout once and it kept trying to route everything through this tiny corner like it was solving a puzzle nobody asked for. I mean, the parametric modeling is nice for tweaking things later, but it's way too opinionated for simple drafting. SolidWorks might be clunky on the assembly side sometimes, but at least it lets you just draw what you need without fighting the software. Honestly, I think a lot of these programs are designed by engineers who never had to actually finish a job on a deadline.

kaih3615h ago

I tried Fusion and my ductwork looked like a pretzel made by a toddler.

the_thea12h ago

Did you match the airflow numbers or just wing it? Fusion is pretty picky about static pressure and duct sizing. If you don't punch in the exact specs it will route everything through the longest path possible. The software is powerful but it has zero common sense, so if you don't hold its hand it will make a mess. You really have to fight it sometimes to get clean, simple runs.