Autodesk Fusion Extensions and Licensing

Fusion Core

The core functionality of Autodesk Fusion is included within the standard Fusion license. This includes cloud storage for models using CAM, CAE, PCB and PDM.

This gives you access to core functionality through the Concept, Design and Manufacturing processes available within Fusion, including Solid, Surface, Sheet Metal modelling, Rendering, Manufacturing and File sharing through Cloud storage.

Further functionality is accessed through the extensions which enhance each of their respective workflows.

Fusion Flex Tokens

Fusion extensions are available as a part of an annual or 3-year subscription, giving full access throughout the duration of your subscription. For less frequent users, Flex tokens are a great way to access this functionality on a day to day basis. This is a pay as you go method where you only pay for the amount of use you need. You can purchase a set number of tokens which are used for daily access to the desired functionality.

The number of tokens used for each extensions varies. A full and up to date pricing sheet can be found here: Autodesk Flex | Estimate Tokens with Flex Rate Sheet. In this blog we have broken these down by Extension.

Fusion Manufacturing (10 Flex Tokens per day)

The Manufacturing Extension adds most of its functionality to the Manufacture workspace within Fusion. This covers ability within the Subtractive, Additive and Fabrication workflows.

Subtractive

The subtractive area contains most of the features introduced through the Manufacturing Extension. This includes multi-axis toolpath options, 4- and 5-axis strategies, toolpath modifications and hole recognition.

Additive

Using the Manufacturing Extensions within additive manufacturing unlocks some powerful functionality. This includes the ability to calculate ideal part orientations, material-based optimisations and build simulations for counteracting deformations during printing.

Fabrication

Nesting and fabrication workflows are included in the Manufacturing Extension, allowing for material management, determining grain directions, and nesting entire assemblies for material optimisation.

Fusion Manage Extension

Fusion Manage v Fusion Manage Extension

There are two license types available for Fusion Manage; Fusion Manage and Fusion Manage Extension. Put simply, Manage Extension extends the capability of Fusion by adding a PLM process to files within Fusion. Fusion Manage is a self-contained PLM system which allows a lot more configuration.

If you would like to learn more about the different between the two, check out this blog: Fusion Manage vs Fusion Manage Extension

Fusion Manage Functionality

The Fusion Manage Extension allows the creation of items against your Fusion designs. This is used as part of Change Management control, allowing external users to engage in the approval process. This comes with the ability to assign and track items based on uniquely assigned numbers, and track revisions and item specific properties: Autodesk Fusion Manage Extension.

Fusion Simulation (Flex Tokens are dependent on Study Types)

For more information on the flex token option for Autodesk Fusion Simulation: Flex rates for pay-per-result cloud services

Simulation Options

Fusion includes a wide range of simulation types which could be performed against designs. These range from FEA studies against existing designs, through Generative designs for conceptual models, to analysing the manufacturability of your models.

FEA studies include non-linear static stress, structural buckling, event simulation, modal frequencies and thermal studies.

Manufacturability options include injection mold simulation and shape optimisation.

Simulation Extension

While each of these study types can be calculated individually by paying credits per study, the Simulation Extensions allows unlimited access to these studies.

Fusion Design (4 Flex Tokens per day)

Most of the functionality introduced through the Fusion Design Extension is added to the Plastic toolset of the design workspace. However, there are a few tools which are accessible throughout Fusion’s design workspace.

Plastic Modelling

The introduction of Plastic Rules for standardising and enforcing features sizes within a design includes a uniform thickness, draft angles, materials and nominal radius. This extension also includes Plastic Design tools such as Boss, Lip, Snap-fit and Seat reation.

Design Enhancements

Design enhancements include organic Mesh conversion used for converting Mesh model imports into usable 3D solids. Also included is Geometric Patterning for the creation of non-standard, or variable patterns in the model. This allows the use of custom shapes to either add or subtract material from individual faces within the model.

Fusion Signal Integrity (10 Flex Tokens per day)

The Signal Integrity extension expands functionality in the Electronics design environment. This environment focuses on PCB design and simulation.

The Signal Integrity Extension include PCB Trace Impedance matching, Visual Violation flagging, Automatic Calculations, Coupling and Differential Pair Coupling.

Fusion Personas

A huge number of Fusion users require more than one extensions. These users predominantly fit within two main personas for which Autodesk have introduced specific license types. Using this license type ends up more cost effective than purchasing separate extensions.

For Manufacturing

For Design

Fusion Team

With the cloud-based nature of Autodesk Fusion, many users can engage within the design and manufacturing workflow. They do not all require access to a full license of Fusion. Users who need read-only access to files will only require an Autodesk account and access to the appropriate teams or projects.

If a user requires the ability to collaborate, manage or engage with the design workflow, without needed access to a full Fusion installation, there is a Fusion Team license available. This will give modification options within the Web version of Fusion, which will allow users to comment/redline on existing files, participate in data management, assign user access or share files from Fusion.

*Flex tokens are correct at the time of writing, please use the following link to verify current pricing. Autodesk Flex | Estimate Tokens with Flex Rate Sheet