Autodesk killing more products

[RCaffin]

Fascinating.
A lot of my design work is done on the PC running the CNC machine while I sit there monitoring the CNC, as the CNC only uses about 5% of the CPU. But that computer is NOT on the net and never will be. Stability, NDAs and security are factors.

Fortunately, I run Mach3 0.062, an ESS fully updated (by USB key), and AutoSketch V10. CNC programming is done in Notepad. This includes 4-axis simultaneous work.
Curiously, this all works very well.

Cheers
Roger

[daniellyall]

You have a offline catch you select what files or folders are to be in the catch you also have the how many everdays you have set for being offline if you lose the net and what you worked on yesterday will be there even 30 days ago will be there.

They are taking steps so users can still get at there files.

A year or so ago you would off been stuffed if a file was outside of 30 days.

precisionmetal Good idea you never know what amazon or the DOD will do to the servers.

[RCaffin]

I will not be held captive by any overseas company - ever.

Cheers
Roger

[handlewanker]

Hmmmmm, Rog that sounds like a marriage of inconvenience even if they want to cater for all your needs.

I remember way back when.....I once loaded Win 95 to a 486 with 24 3-1/2" discettes......they would all have fitted onto a flash drive, but the flash drives (HDD) then were whirling discs the size of a shoe box.

If you were the inventor type and came up with a brilliant idea the last thing you'd want is for the World to know how it works even if you had cast iron guarantees only you had access to it.

I suppose if you did have your Fusion created files on a flash drive, then it would be practical to only be able to open them with a Fusion program resident on your computer........for as long as you were renting the Fusion Cad/Cam program, so everyone is happy.

When you stop subscibing to Fusion you get blacked out......but it's feasible that if you went to another Cad/Cam service they would have something that could read them too......but what's the use of that.....you'd need Fusion to make any design or tool path changes so you're back to square one without a paddle.
Ian.

[precisionmetal]

You could always save out your sketches as DXF and your solids as STEP or IGES files. All is not lost, if you jump ship.

[jwatte]

If you were the inventor type and came up with a brilliant idea the last thing you'd want is for the World to know how it works

I hear that very often, but I've never found it to be true. (I'm not saying it can never be true; I'm just saying I haven't seen a case where it is so.)
Anything that is simple, has already been invented by someone someplace; probably several times over.
Anything that has actual value requires significant amounts of human collaboration and work to bring to fruition.
The real value is in knowing which ideas to actually double down on, and then in the ability to bring enough effort to bear to actually build something that delivers value to the world, and then in being able to actually tell the world about how great it is and why the world should pay attention and how it will save time, money, and effort by using it.
The biggest risk to your idea is that you won't find enough people to help you make it come true, and that you won't be able to convince enough of the world that it's actually worthwhile once you have something complete. Both of those risks go down the more you tell the world about your great idea. (And often specifics helps, because claims without proof or substance, are typically dismissed as hype and lies, which hurts your ability to overcome natural resistance to change/adoption.)

[handlewanker]

Hi, to invent something that has big financial potential needs to be patented or design protected etc............you can always deal with an agency that will take your idea and put it to the market to get the best exposure......they have strict terms for confidentially agreements that cover you.

Going it alone means you need to be the inventor, patent holder, financier, manufacturer marketer and your own sales team all in one......and advertising to get it in the eyes of the World is just the tip of the financial ice berg.

Of course it's understood right from the beginning that the less you put into the equation the less you get out...........but it's better to get 10% of a million bucks than spend a million bucks to earn 10 cents.

Imagine spending 10 grand to patent a device and then nobody took up on the idea......the patent would run out and need reviving and that is just the smallest step along the way.
Ian.

[derek]

I have 2 big problems with fusion 360. The fact that they force you to save to their cloud and that you don't own a copy of the software. I work with Rhino. I have archives on MY server going back many years. Even if I stop using Rhino tomorrow and never update again I can still open and convert those files. Good luck with that when using fusion. I really like the software and I recommend it all the time to hobbyists
but as a business letting another business hold my files in their cloud bothers me.

[ger21]

You can save your files to your PC from Fusion any time you want, and you can export .iges and .step files too. Yes, a copy is saved to the cloud, but you can have your own backup copies.

[dharmic]

You can save your files to your PC from Fusion any time you want, and you can export .iges and .step files too. Yes, a copy is saved to the cloud, but you can have your own backup copies.

They don't exactly make it easy, though, do they - taking a local snapshot of an assembly with a dozen parts is always a bit of an ordeal...

[derek]

You can save your files to your PC from Fusion any time you want, and you can export .iges and .step files too. Yes, a copy is saved to the cloud, but you can have your own backup copies.

You can export it to your local storage but it can't be directed to save locally. Save and save as will only let you navigate to the cloud. Right now I have my local NAS do hourly version saves to another drive so I can go back a few versions easily. I also backup to a NAS at my house nightly so I have off site protection. I really like fusion for sure but I think ultimately their plan will be to charge you for access to the files that you should already own.

Derek

[jwatte]

hourly version saves to another drive so I can go back a few versions easily

I get the desire to have "your own" copy of the files. I have the same desire!
However, when it comes to "going back versions," that's actually an area where Fusion shines. It saves each version for you, in the cloud, and you can easily back up or extract an old version to a new design.
That being said, I've made my peace with it. I still think it's totally possible all my previous data will someday not be readable, and that's unfortunate, but then I look at how often I go back to ancient data right now, which is never.

[handlewanker]

So, the short answer is....who wants to use Win 95 when Win 10 is on the table......provided the files saved with Win 85 are still able to open with Win 10 .....all's well.

If cloud access is going to be the only way to access your files that are created with some software that is also on the cloud........provided the cost is not humungous then so be it.

Security would be guaranteed by the cloud the same way as you have security with PAYPAL when buying on line.

Provided all the files saved under Win95 are still able to open with Win 10....all's well.

I get the pitts when I try to load an older program and I get the message that it can't be opened ......this is the case with Photoshop 4 (and 7 too) of which I have a genuine copy and the handbook that runs on my laptop with Win XP but won't load with Win 10 on my PC.

I also get the pitts when Win 10 announces right at the start of a session that an upgrade is in process "DO NOT TURN OFF YOUR COMPUTER"........and several hours later it's OK to go........nothing has changed for me and the upgrade is something I'll never see......If I never see the results of the upgrade why do they mess with the program if it's running OK before?

That would be one area where being cloud based would be useful instead of periodic intrusions with my daily browsing.

I've got (had) a small black box on my TV called FetchTV that came with my Broadband package.....it's something like Foxtell and for $10 a month gives you access to down load videos for about $5 a time.

I got rid of Foxtell because the program content was getting crap and when Fetch TV discontinued access to UTUBE and most of the movie library was old I binned the black box too and cancelled the subscription.

There's no hope for the occasional small time user with the cloud as you're just one of the thousands of subscribers that will have to pay or no access.

This is like having to pay a door fee to get into your local shopping centre even if you only want to meet with someone for coffee.

I believe that was tried once in a shopping centre with credit card access only at the entrance........no funds in your credit card and you don't get into the centre.....one way to keep out the scruff.

Back in the late 80's our firm went from data base terminal access in the office to PC's on each desk.......the cloud is going back to just terminal access.
Ian.

[precisionmetal]

Everyone in this thread has completely valid comments: some positive and also some very valid criticisms. However... With Fusion360 we (all of us that use it) have full 3d CAD and CAM .. for $300/yr. That is so trivial for its capability, I personally am very pleased.

Would I like the processing/display of imported DXF files be handled better? Yes. Would it be great if I could have the program simultaneously save files to their cloud AND to my local computer? Sure. But... it's $300/yr! (and many are using it for free) Try and find ANY CAD and/or CAM program with Fusion's capabilities at any price. I would be very surprised if anything exists.

And it my case, I am thrilled that Autodesk decided to make Fusion available on Mac. My iMac NEVER crashes. It NEVER tells me it's in the middle of an upgrade. And... I can run CAD and CAM on it. HUGE positive for me, since I have been forced to always have PC hardware for the last 25+ years just to run CAD/CAM.

(my apologies to "lapuser", as the OP was not specifically about Fusion 360 at all)


PM

[davek0974]

Everyone in this thread has completely valid comments: some positive and also some very valid criticisms. However... With Fusion360 we (all of us that use it) have full 3d CAD and CAM .. for $300/yr. That is so trivial for its capability, I personally am very pleased.

Would I like the processing/display of imported DXF files be handled better? Yes. Would it be great if I could have the program simultaneously save files to their cloud AND to my local computer? Sure. But... it's $300/yr! (and many are using it for free) Try and find ANY CAD and/or CAM program with Fusion's capabilities at any price. I would be very surprised if anything exists.

One of things that is worrying me is.....who says it will still be $300/year when all the new ideas and bugs are fixed by beta testing it on us free-users??

I could maybe just about do the UK equivalent of $300 per year but as someone who never did any 3d or good CAM stuff before, what options do i have??

I dislike any "rental" software - my accounts program used to be £49 per year - that was ok, until they they went broke and the program locked everyone out of their data, it took many days to get a new app up and running, that was not even cloud as the cloud didn't exist back then so data was local but in a format unusable by anything else.

[vmax549]

Hi Dave that is teh WHOLE idea behind teh new format. Get you hooked on teh pruduct then REEL you in . autodesk has been doing the same thing for over 30 years now with features teh users help develope THEN all of a sudden teh features are pulled from teh next update and become Pay for Use and you either PAY for it or loose it.

Fusion360 will not be any different.

(;-) TP

[davek0974]

Hi Dave that is teh WHOLE idea behind teh new format. Get you hooked on teh pruduct then REEL you in . autodesk has been doing the same thing for over 30 years now with features teh users help develope THEN all of a sudden teh features are pulled from teh next update and become Pay for Use and you either PAY for it or loose it.

Fusion360 will not be any different.

(;-) TP

Hiya,

I can see that coming

Sort of leaves me up sh1t creek really.

[daniellyall]

If you wont to know where your cached files are https://knowledge.autodesk.com/suppo...usion-360.html

If you cached all of your files you can get at them even when your account gets locked up

[handlewanker]

Hi....I would like to see a Cad/Cam program like Fusion that you buy a one time licence for and you get it on your PC for ever.

At that moment in time it does everything you want it to.........when an upgrade is offered....note OFFERED, not informed that an upgrade is going to be the next wonder thingo you never have a use for but must have........ it would be your choice to pay the asking price to get something that the previous version lacked

If you don't have an issue with the original version ...no need to upgrade......you could go on forever with the original version in that manner.

I suppose it would be too simple to suggest that a simple or basic version of Fusion that was adequate for general needs without the bells and whistles a full blown version would carry could be a start out program......subsequent upgrades or feature add ons could then be purchased for whatever their value was ascertained.....for your needs.

In that case, I would like to see Fusion as a Cad package per se because that's all I need to envisage an idea I want to design and like the format........if i want to go to a Cam result then perhaps a Cam program is available.....apart from Fusion..... that would be in a simple form and more user friendly.

All of that would not apply if you're using it for commercial activities as opposed to hobby interests...........but you still need to get the wheels turning for hobby use if not at a continuous competitive rate.
Ian.

[daniellyall]

You can get that now

Vectric is a one time pay