Autodesk announced recently that Netfabb, its 3D printing application, will be added to the Fusion 360 family. This increases the capability and breadth of the Fusion 360 products and, once again, signifies Autodesk’s commitment to making Fusion 360 the all-around product creation platform, encompassing design, simulation, electrical design and manufacturing. While traditional manufacturing was assured by the inclusion of subtractive manufacturing applications in the Fusion 360 box, so to speak, adding Netfabb extends Fusions 360’s ability to handle additive manufacturing.
Netfabb claimed to have 80,000 users at the time of its acquisition by Autodesk in 2015. All Netfabb users will be provided with Fusion 360’s Additive Build Extension and the upcoming Additive Simulation Extension for free. They will also receive Fusion 360 Team and HSMWorks, according to the Autodesk announcement.
Giving away Fusion 360 to Netfabb users is right out of Autodesk’s playbook, which bundles new products with established products—a strategy that led to the widespread use of Inventor by AutoCAD users. Netfabb users will now have Fusion 360 on the shelf. They can reach for it when they need to make and modify 3D models or machine them. For free. So, why keep paying for SOLIDWORKS or some other modeling software?
The fact that Autodesk chose not to provide Inventor to Netfabb users is significant. Autodesk continues its migration from desktop applications like Inventor—it’s now somewhat dowdy MCAD application—first introduced in the last century (1999), toward modern cloud- and subscription-based software.
While Fusion 360’s Additive Build Extension and Additive Simulation Extension will be made available to Netfabb users at no additional charge, the full Fusion 360 software package will cost an additional $30 per month or $249 per year. If you want to do advanced 3D packing and add lattices, you will need Netfabb Premium or Ultimate. You can get Fusion 360 with Netfabb Premium for $4,415 per year. For prices on Netfabb Ultimate and Netfabb Simulation, you must fill out a form and then a salesperson will contact you. Don’t you hate that?
What Is Netfabb?
Netfabb is a 3D printing application that will read CAD models and create a 3D-printable models. This conversion is hardly foolproof, but Netfabb is expert at fixing its faults. Netfabb will also add supports, change orientation to the most parts in the vat … and so many other things that it could be considered the Swiss Army knife of STL—the most common format for 3D printing parts. Netfabb has been the standard among 3D printing service bureaus for all its abilities, which far exceed the rudimentary “export STL” function used by CAD programs.
Netfabb has been a stand-alone desk-top based application. Autodesk also offers a cloud-based service, Netfabb Online, that lets users check and repair STL files. Netfabb has been part of Autodesk’s portfolio since Autodesk made a “strategic investment” in the German FIT Technology Group in 2015.
It was a deal consummated by Autodesk’s Samir Hanna, who has since left Autodesk to start a San Francisco manufacturing startup, Oqton. At the time, Autodesk was hot to get what it considered to be the new way of manufacturing, writing “The Future of Making” and building the most modern and luxuriously equipped machine shop in the most unlikely setting, San Francisco’s ultra-pricey Embarcadero. One of 4 Technology Centers, the waterfront facility was crowded with industrial-strength 3D printers. Autodesk also ventured into making its own 3D printer for sale, the Ember. But Ember failed to ignite, and the project was closed in 2017.