In Fusion 360, your engineers sketch, constrain, and model every feature. In Flux, you describe the part, while the AI engineer models it, checks it, and gets it manufactured.
Your team has an autonomous hardware engineer in Flux. Provide a requirement. It builds a design plan, finds the parts, creates the schematic, and completes the board routing. The system also develops the mechanical parts and generates the firmware. To verify its own work, it runs simulation and design rule checks. Your engineers then receive files ready to manufacture.
Autodesk Fusion is cloud-based software for 3D CAD, CAM, CAE, and PCB design, with data management in one workspace.[1]
Fusion includes PCB layout, SPICE simulation, and mechanical and electronics design in one tool.[2]
Explain a part or a change with plain words. Flux constructs the parametric model and chooses the correct CAD kernel for every part. It executes stress, thermal, and airflow simulation. It then supplies STEP, STL, or 3MF files to you. Your engineers check and modify the result. You operate Flux through your web browser.
| Feature | Flux | Fusion 360 |
|---|---|---|
| Requirements and specification | The AI engineer turns your idea into requirements and a product specification, and checks the design against them. | Fusion Manage includes a requirements-management template.[9] |
| What it is | This AI hardware engineer has its own design tools | 3D CAD, CAM, CAE, and PCB software[1] |
| Where it runs | Work in your web browser. You install no software. The cloud stores your projects. | Desktop app for Windows and macOS that you install on your computer[3] |
| Who does the design work | The Flux agent. Your engineers review and edit. | Your engineers create the model and board in Fusion.[4] |
| How a part is made | You detail a part. The AI engineer drafts the parametric model. Next, your engineers evaluate and update it. | Your engineers model each part in the tool[1] |
| Mechanical CAD | Native and kernel agnostic. From one enclosure up to a whole robot arm. | Built in[1] |
| Mechanical simulation | Airflow, thermal, and stress finite-element simulation | Mechanical simulation[2] |
| Mechanical manufacturing | Quotes for CNC machining, sheet metal, laser cutting, and 3D printing, along with 3MF, STL, and STEP files | CAM for machined parts[1] |
| CNC toolpaths and G-code | The AI engineer writes the toolpaths, the G-code, a toolpath preview, and a setup sheet for the parts that it designed. | Creates CNC toolpaths and posts G-code.[5] |
| And the electronics too | ||
| Schematic and parts | Built in. It selects among 734,000+ public parts. | Built in[2] |
| Board layout and routing | Built in | Built in[2] |
| Placement and routing | The AI engineer places the parts and routes the board like an experienced designer. Your engineers review and edit. | Provides interactive trace routing for PCB layout.[4] |
| High-speed design | The AI engineer plans DDR topology and timing budgets, routes differential pairs and length-matched buses, tunes length and skew, fans out BGAs with blind, buried, and microvias, and sets trace impedance from your stackup. It checks the routed board with S-parameters, TDR, eye diagrams, crosstalk analysis, and a signal integrity, power integrity, and EMC review. Your engineers review and edit. | Supports signal-integrity analysis for high-speed PCB design.[4] |
| Parts and sourcing | 734,000+ public parts, with live prices and stock from distributors | Includes electronics libraries and BOM management.[4] |
| Simulation and design rule checks | Use SPICE, power delivery network, full-wave electromagnetic, signal integrity, thermal, and mechanical simulation, plus design rule checks. | SPICE simulation[2] |
| Firmware | Writes firmware for the board it designed | Not in Fusion 360[2] |
| Wiring harnesses | Built in. Flux designs the wiring harnesses between the boards: connectors, pinouts, and wires, in the same project. | Not in Fusion Electronics[10] |
| Manufacturing files | Gerber, ODB++, IPC-2581, bill of materials, pick-and-place, and more; Flux can check the files before you order, including copper gaps, silkscreen, board outline, BOM, and pick-and-place files. | Exports Gerber and assembly outputs for PCB manufacturing.[4] |
| Quotes and orders | Quotes and orders for boards, 3D printing, CNC machining, and wire harnesses, from the project. | BOM tools help manage component purchasing.[4] |
| Import from other tools | Imports complete projects from Altium, OrCAD and Allegro, KiCad, PADS and Xpedition, CADSTAR, Eagle, Fusion Electronics, EasyEDA, DipTrace, and SOLIDWORKS PCB. Flux imports Labcenter Proteus SDF netlists with Specctra board exports. IPC-2581 revision B and C files become board projects with reusable footprint parts. IDF 2.0 and 3.0 board files become board projects with the outline, cutouts, drilled and mounting holes, part placements, and 3D part heights. | Imports EAGLE libraries and local .lbr files.[6] |
| Versions, branches, and merges | Full change history. The AI engineer forks a design into a second version, keeps both, and merges the changes that you pick. | Stores design versions and milestones.[7] |
| Who reviews the work | The whole team, in one live project in the browser: electrical, layout, mechanical, and firmware engineers | Your engineers review the design in the Fusion desktop app.[4] |
| Product images, videos, and documents | Product images, product videos, datasheets, and regulatory documents, made from the design in the project. | Fusion Render generates photorealistic images of the design.[8] |
Start a Flux project free and describe the device you want to build.
Flux designs complete assemblies and single parts. These range from an enclosure or a bracket, ending with a complete robot arm. Flux puts every part into one model.
For the real board, Flux adjusts each part to match its cutouts, connectors, and mounting holes. This agent can change mechanical parts and the board together.
For the whole product, a single library contains chips, connectors, mechanical hardware including screws and standoffs, and devices located off the board.
For each part, Flux saves editable CAD code and a STEP file. Your engineers can examine and change this code.
Upload your mechanical parts. Tell Flux in plain words to modify them. Next, get them manufactured.
The request, as typed in Flux
“The holder must cover a much taller power supply. Make the bent side flange 40 mm deeper. Keep the 4.4 mm hole in the flange where it is. Then cut five 5 x 30 mm vertical vent slots in the new part of the flange, 15 mm apart and centered on the flange width.”
Import 3D models, part libraries, and complete projects. Engineers keep schematics, parts, and placement, plus routing from most formats.
Engineers can modify imported designs instantly. Enter "move the USB cutout 3 cm left" or enter "make the enclosure tighter". Flux then makes the changes.
Flux prepares the files necessary for your manufacturer. For the board, you receive Gerber, ODB++, IPC-2581, bill of materials, and pick-and-place. For the mechanical parts, Flux generates STEP, STL, or 3MF.
Kernel-agnostic CAD
Standard CAD applications limit engineers to one geometry kernel, passing those limitations to every part. Flux is kernel agnostic, matching its model-agnostic design. The AI engineer chooses an appropriate kernel for each part. It changes to another kernel when the active option cannot create a feature, then merges every part into a single model.
CAM and alternative CAD tools cleanly read the exact, standard geometry. This geometry is strong for multi-part assemblies and machined parts.
Smooth and curvature-continuous surfaces for consumer and hand-held products.
The same kernel found in SolidWorks, NX, Solid Edge, and Onshape allows native-quality exchange with these systems.
Surface quality you can see. Zebra stripes, curvature maps, and curvature combs demonstrate every surface of the part is smooth prior to the tooling phase.
Verification lab
Flux does much more than just produce designs. This AI engineer simulates its own work and checks it by running professional-grade solvers, before providing the results to you.
Finite-element analysis of stress in mounts, enclosures, and brackets.
Before you build boards and enclosures, simulate their heat and airflow.
Validate cooling and airflow through the enclosure to ensure heat sinks, fans, and vents operate before the first prototype.
For analog, power, and mixed-signal circuits, the AI engineer runs and reads the SPICE simulation.
Analyze the routed board using full-wave simulation for crosstalk, impedance, S-parameters, and antennas.
Execute manufacturing and electrical rule checks on every board and schematic.
It reviews every part datasheet to confirm the design complies with its limits, ratings, and pinouts.
Manufacturing
Flux acquires direct quotations from fabricators for laser cutting, circuit boards and assembly, sheet metal, 3D printing in metal and plastic, CNC machining, casting, injection molding, and wiring harnesses. The AI engineer compares lead times and prices. It tests the design against the rules of each fabricator. The system updates these quotations when the design changes.
Craftcloud 
JLC 3D printing 
PCBWay 3D printing 
Shapeways 
OSH Cut 
SendCutSend JLCPCB PCBWay 
OSH Park 
AISLER 
MiniProto A single project stores the firmware, mechanical parts, and board. This agent can change the mechanical parts and board at the same time. Your engineers do not copy files across a code editor, an electronics tool, and a mechanical tool.
Engineers require zero installations and administer no license server. Flux functions on any computer that has a modern web browser.
Provide project access with a URL, and several engineers can make changes in parallel. No one sends documents by email or questions which revision is up to date.
The product receives new AI models and new features. You do not install another version or transfer your projects to it.
You start without creating a part library. The Flux library offers 734,000+ public parts.
Send a link to add engineers. Project-level permissions and single sign-on define who views what.
One platform
Flux does not consist of independent CAD applications. Within this one AI-native engineering platform, engineers from every discipline share the same data, project, and AI engineer.
From requirements and part research to schematic capture and simulation.
Design rule checks, stackups, routing, placement, and the wiring harnesses between the boards.
Firmware for the board Flux designed, such as Arm Cortex-M, RISC-V, AVR, or Pico, built, analyzed, and unit tested.
Model-agnostic AI
Frontier AI models offer reasoning. Flux integrates these models into an advanced agent system created for CAD and EDA. To build working hardware from this reasoning, Flux contributes the needed project context, workflows, and engineering tools.
Adaptive converts every engineering job into individual tasks. It sends every task to a model that works effectively for the price. Frontier models resolve hard design decisions. Fast, low-cost models process the routine work. Independent tasks execute at the same time, so complete devices are ready faster. Your team of engineers collaborates with one AI engineer. In the background, Flux controls the assignments.
Inside Flux, use the frontier models that your team already trusts.
Flux provides every model with project context, specialized engineering tools, and workflows.
Your team gets a better model upon release without switching their engineering platforms.
For your engineering capacity, do not depend on just one model provider.
Adaptive selects the correct model for all engineering steps. The work varies from deep design decisions through routine checks.
For learning and evaluation, with light AI usage and unlimited manual editing.
For active hardware projects, with included AI usage and additional usage available.
For larger projects and heavier AI usage, with hands-on support from experienced electrical engineers.
For teams on shared projects, with pooled AI usage, member seats, and priority support.
Eligible individual plans include a free trial. Teams subscriptions start paid; trial and pricing terms depend on your current offer. See all plans
Not ready to pick a plan? Start for free
Select Fusion 360 if your engineers plan to model and machine the parts by hand. Pick Flux if you require an AI engineer to develop the board, the firmware, and the mechanical parts for your engineers to review.
View individual plan offers, or request a demo from our team.
