AUTODESK FUSION FOR DESIGN FOR MANUFACTURING (DFM)

Optimise designs and lower costs with Design for Manufacturing (DFM)

Bridge the gap between design and manufacturing by fostering a collaborative approach that leads to more efficient, cost-effective and higher-quality products.

Design beautifully and manufacture efficiently (video: 1:49 min)

Design beautifully and manufacture efficiently

Incorporating DFM principles (US Site) into the design process reduces errors, production time and costs.  Autodesk Fusion allows engineers to consider manufacturing processes, materials and constraints during the design phase to ensure that the final product can be produced efficiently, cost-effectively and with high quality.

Transform workflows by connecting design and manufacturing

Reduce product and production defects

Utilise product design insights, simulation and visualisation tools to minimise rework and troubleshoot product defects early in the design process.

 

Collaborate with ease

Involve entire teams, individual stakeholders and project vendors when you need to get meaningful feedback on design decisions.

 

Deliver products timely and sustainably

Apply key DFM insights to help reduce material waste, consolidate the number of assembly parts and get production cost estimates. 

 

"The simulation extension has helped us test structural loads to ensure compliance, as well as design for manufacturability for injection-molded products."

– Tyler Berryman, Product Design Engineer, Brash Inc.

Fusion has everything you need to design for manufacture

Simplified Collaboration

Seamlessly collaborate with cloud-based data ensuring teams work on the same data. Web browser access grants entry for extended teams and captures design conversations.

 

Integrated CAD/CAM

Move seamlessly between design and manufacturing workspaces to optimise designs for ease of manufacturing and improve the utilisation of resources.

 

Extensive Simulations

Fusion simulation environment tests your design under real-world conditions prior to production, minimising the risk of manufacturing failures or design flaws.

 

3D Parametric Modelling

Our parametric design capabilities (US Site) allow for swift, efficient design changes, with an automatic design history update that accommodates manufacturing needs.

 

Generative Design

Leverage AI to generate various design solutions based on set parameters, choosing the one that’s most cost-effective and easy to manufacture.

 

Unified PCB design

Quickly design circuits, visualise your electronic product's 3D model aspects and test how the PCB fits within the design assembly with ECAD and MCAD integration.

 

Data Management

Track different versions and manage all design data in one place. Maintaining design integrity and avoiding confusion during manufacturing.

 

Sustainability and DFMA

Optimise material utilisation and simplify the design of a products to improve ease of manufacturing and efficiency of assembly.

 

Driving sustainable outcomes in design and manufacturing

Is your organisation considering a move towards more sustainable outcomes? Or perhaps you want to persuade them to do so? This e-book explores various aspects of such an undertaking and examines a wide range of approaches.

Plans and pricing for every business

Flexible purchasing options to meet your current and future needs.

All plans and pricing

THE ESSENTIALS

Fusion

Go from design to manufacturing faster with the only all-in-one cloud CAD, CAM, CAE and PCB product development platform.

 

 /year

 

Subscribe

EXPAND YOUR CAPABILITIES

Fusion Design Extension

Automate and simplify the design of features natively aware of the manufacturing process.

 

 /year

Try for free

EXPAND YOUR CAPABILITIES

Fusion Simulation Extension

Predict part quality and performance using a wide selection of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) capabilities. 

 

 /year

Try for free

EXPAND YOUR CAPABILITIES

Fusion Signal Integrity Extension

Improve the signal reliability of smart products with PCB electromagnetic analysis.

 

 /year

Try for free

KEY FEATURES

Fusion

A subscription to Fusion includes:

 

CAM

  • 2D and 2.5D machining
  • 3-axis machining
  • Multi-axis positional
  • Turning
  • Turn-mill
  • Workpiece coordinate probing
  • Toolpath simulation
  • Machine animation

Additive (plastics)

  • Create toolpaths for fused filament fabrication
  • Associative programming
  • Part orientation
  • Library of 3D print hardware, including Ultimaker, EOS and Renishaw
  • Manual part orientation
  • Standard and customised print parameters
  • Infill patterns for hollow parts
  • Toolpath and build simulation
  • NC code export

CAD

  • Sketching
  • Direct modelling
  • Surface modelling
  • Parametric modelling
  • Mesh modelling
  • Freeform modelling
  • Rendering
  • PCB design integration
  • Sheet metal design
  • Assembly modelling

Simulation

  • Static stress
  • Modal frequency
  • Thermal and thermal stress
  • Buckling
  • Non-linear stress

Data management and collaboration

  • User management
  • Administrative tools
  • File export
  • Version control
  • Cloud storage
  • AnyCAD 3rd party file open
  • Public/private sharing
  • Commenting and markups

 

KEY FEATURES

Fusion Design Extension

All features in Fusion plus:

 

Product design

  • Plastic rules based on material choice
  • Plastic design tools (boss, snap-fit, draft angle and ribs/web creation)
  • customisable presets for common values
  • Geometric patterning to customise size and distribution gradients
  • Organic mesh conversion (solid, surface or T-spline bodies)
  • Volumetric latticing (solid or closed mesh)
  • Design advice

KEY FEATURES

Fusion Simulation Extension

All features in Fusion plus:

 

Simulation

  • Plastic injection moulding simulation
  • Non-linear static stress
  • Electronics cooling
  • Quasi-static event simulation
  • Dynamic event simulation
  • Modal frequencies
  • Shape optimisation
  • Structural buckling
  • Thermal (steady state)
  • Thermal stress

 

KEY FEATURES

Fusion Signal Integrity Extension

All features in Fusion plus:

 

Signal Integrity

  • Simple input parameters and configuration
  • PCB Impedance matching
  • Predict signal delays, trace length, impedance and coupling
  • Visual violation flagging with colour-coded overlay on your 2D PCB design

 

Frequently asked questions (FAQ's)

What is Design for manufacturing or Design for manufacturability?

Design for manufacturing (US Site), also referred to as design for manufacturability or DFM, is the process of incorporating restrictions that may be present from intended manufacturing methods into the product/part models during the initial design stages. This helps reduce the need for rework when a product is ready to be manufactured.

 

An example of applying DFM is when designing a part of which the intent is to manufacture using injection moulding. Design restrictions such as undercuts, parting lines and mould cavity filling need to be considered prior to a mould being built. If these are not addressed prior to mould building, the potential is high for issues like parts stuck in the mould cavity, poor part quality and very expensive tooling. 

How does Fusion aid with Design for Manufacturing (DFM)?

Fusion and its extensions offer integrated CAD/CAM/CAE, parametric modelling, design simulation, generative design and toolpath generation, making it an efficient tool for DFM (US Site). Using one or a combination of its features allows engineers to design parts smartly, reducing post-process rework that can result in longer time to market and more money spent.

Can Fusion create toolpaths and machine programmes for various manufacturing processes?

Fusion can generate toolpaths for different manufacturing processes and create machine programmes for CNC machines, ensuring a smooth transition from design to manufacturing. The Fusion Machining Extension adds additional tooling methods for more advanced machines. 

What is the role of generative design in DFM in Fusion?

Generative design uses AI to create various design solutions based on set parameters, helping to choose a cost-effective and manufacturable design. When looking to optimise your part for manufacturability, generative design with Fusion can include your manufacturing method of choice into its outcomes. As a result, it will produce outcomes that account for manufacturing method-specific restrictions in the CAD geometry, allowing potential for a quicker design-to-production workflow for the user. 

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