Being an unrepentant capitalist, I must admit that commercial software has much to recommend it. There is money to pay programmers to develop stable and feature rich software, and market forces keep the product customer focused so the market gets the features that customers want. When Fusion 360 launched, I signed up on the AutoDesk forum to ask for a native Linux version. The AutoDesk administrator told me that despite not being too much effort given the cross platform development tools they use to make the Windows and Mac version, there would never be a Linux version because Linux users won't pay for software. That was an odd thing to tell me, given that I had long ago paid $1250 for Eagle electronic CAD software, specifically because they offered a very good native Linux version, and I paid annual maintenance fees for years after the initial "purchase." Do we ever really own software?
I wasn't impressed with the AutoDesk attitude, which was slightly less offensive than Microsoft's "Linux is cancer" public statement on open source software. Part of me was relieved. Even though I wouldn't have the advantage of the rich features and rising industry standard that Fusion 360 represented, I wouldn't be setting myself up for another proprietary software ambush. AutoDesk had done that to me before. They sold me on AutoSketch which, as an electrical engineer was all of the mechanical CAD software I'd need. Then they discontinued AutoSketch at the moment that I learned enough to be productive and unilaterally converted my license to an AutoCAD Lite license. AutoCAD Lite required a completely new learning curve, so I was forced to start over. They charged me the higher AutoCAD Lite maintenance fees while constantly nagging me to upgrade to the complicated and expensive full blown AutoCAD that I didn't want or need. None of the drawings that I created in AutoSketch could be used. There was no import or conversion to AutoCAD Lite. The hundreds of hours I spent in AutoSketch was a completely wasted effort. I got the impression that AutoDesk viewed their entry level products as marketing tools to hook new users so they could be up sold on their more expensive CAD software. It was a marketing approach that was not customer oriented. At the time, AutoCAD was still a 2D CAD package, but they had tacked on some kludge 3D features. Meanwhile, smaller and leaner software companies had introduced true 3D CAD. Many still exist but SolidWorks emerged as the big winner. AutoDesk was suddenly at the back of the pack and disappeared in the rear view mirror for a few years. Fusion 360 is their attempt to recapture the market they lost through complacency. I can't help but feel that once AutoDesk has herded the majority of the CAD market back into a near AutoDesk monopoly, they'll start putting the screws to the users again. I have no interest in AutoDesk's proprietary Fusion 360 file format that uses the files that I create to hold me hostage. I have even less interest in sharing my data on their cloud. I use FreeCAD, mostly for 3D printing. It's still not ready for prime time and doesn't have a usable CAM system so it's not a possible replacement for Fusion 360, but it's a viable CAD option for me when Fusion 360 isn't. If there was no FreeCAD, I'd use OpenSCAD long before I'd use Fusion 360. Free Open Source Software for the win. I wish there was some effective method to leverage the advantages of commercial software and FOSS. I'd like to be able to pool my financial donations with those of other users to encourage open source software developers to implement new features. On 3/22/2019 5:14 PM, Jeff Johnson wrote: > Anyone on here have opinions on Fusion 360 Cad/Cam by Autodesk? > > Using ShopCam for simple 2.5D work, VisualCam for 3 or more axis work, > using Alibre Cad for 3D Drwaing and creation as well as ProgeCad for 2D > Drawings. > > With this combo there is not much we can't handle but maintenance > agreements > and updates do get cumbersome. > > > I am worried about moving to the cloud based system but I guess it's the > future. > > > What are this groups thoughts if any? > > > Jeff Johnson > > john...@superiorroll.com > > Superior Roll & Turning > > 734-279-1831 > _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
