We checked VEX official webset, there’s two 3D softwares good for teamwork, one is Fusion 360 and another is onshape. I want to recommand my team to try both to determine which one is suitable for them.
I just wonder, could F360 and onshape share parts or assembly? I googled it, some one said it’s pretty hard, because the basic structures are different. But they all support certain format. So if any fellows here used both, it could be a great help for us! Thanks and have a great season!
Yes, sort of, but it’s not worth it. In either application, you can export something you have created to a common format, like STEP. However, you will lose all of the features. So exporting a drivetrain with many parts, many connections, and many materials with different weights and colors might result in an imported drivetrain that is a single part, no connections, with a generic material.
Going through a selection process to pick the most suitable CAD package makes sense. But then decide on one.
1 Like
Is your question ‘Can I share files between OnShape & Fusion 360’ or is your question ‘Can I share files that are within OnShape or Fusion 360 (not cross platform)?’
If your question is the former, the answer that @jrp62 stated is correct. When you make a file (assembly for example) in either of the programs, and you want to send/share it with someone that is using a different program, the best way is to export it (as a .step, .obj, or similar) but will lose the features you’re used to as they become meshes.
If your question is the latter, you are able to easily share within both platforms. There is a lot of information you can find online about the two programs & how to collaborate with them, but from my experience OnShape is easier to collaborate, but Fusion 360 is the better program.
We have more information here about CAD with Vex no matter the program you choose as well as Fusion 360 specific information here: Fusion 360 | Purdue SIGBots Wiki
The Purdue SIGBots collaborate on CAD using Autodesk Inventor (with a shared Google Drive folder) for the most part & we reccommend it for individuals but less so teams. OnShape would likely be the second choice because of how easy it is to get people onboarded & modeling, plus the program does enough for design for Vex. In the past, we have used Fusion 360, but have had issues with computer performance, and network performance although lots of members use it for personal projects.
3 Likes
Thanks jrp62, your opinion is very importrant for us. Since some of my team members already used F360, we probably gonna choose this as our CAD tool.
1 Like
Thanks BLRS, i’ll visit your Wiki and learn and then try to teach my team to use it. BTW, there’s no ‘Version Specific’ infomation here: Home · vindou/VEX-CAD-Fusion-360-Library Wiki · GitHub
which version is better for , or suitable for 2.0.0 ?
Thanks!
2 Likes
the Version Specific section will be filled as feedback of the most recent update (a few weeks ago) comes in. Until then, you can just get started with it. The contributors made a lot of great changes in 2.0
Sorry for the misunderstanding, I meant which version of F360 is recommanded .
1 Like
This could be incorrect, but I don’t think there are multiple versions of the F360 program as it is cloud based & most functionality is updated automatically.
1 Like
Fusion 360 is a cloud hybrid. It has many cloud features but requires a big install, and the client processor does the heavy lifting. It seems like the product was almost ready to be released as a desktop app when they decided it needed to be cloud-based. The cloud features were added, but they do not have the same look and feel as the client app. Although I haven’t used it in a while, there used to be issues with the client-side user ID not always matching up or synchronizing with the cloud user ID.