Fusion 360 vs. SOLIDWORKS: Why Growing Teams Transition (and How to Do it Right)
If you’re building products in Fusion 360 today and your team is growing, you’re probably asking two questions:
Will SOLIDWORKS help us move faster with fewer mistakes?
What does it take to move our data and processes over, without disrupting active work?
This guide gives you a practical, side‑by‑side comparison of Fusion and SOLIDWORKS, highlights the inflection points where teams decide to switch, and outlines what a clean transition looks like. At the end, you can download our Fusion → SOLIDWORKS Transition Guide with step‑by‑step checklists, templates, and best practices your admins can use right away.
At a Glance: Where They’re Similar
Parametric 3D modeling & assemblies for mechanical design
2D drawings/annotations for communication with suppliers
CAM options for programming tool paths (integrated or add‑in)
Cloud connectivity for collaboration and file exchange
APIs and add‑ins to automate repetitive work
If your products are simple, your team is small, and change control is informal, Fusion covers many bases. As complexity, headcount, and compliance needs grow, key differences start to matter.
Where SOLIDWORKS Pulls Ahead for Growing Teams
Large assemblies & performance: SOLIDWORKS includes purpose‑built large‑assembly tools, including Large Assembly Settings, lightweight/resolved modes, Large Design Review, SpeedPak, and performance analytics that help you open, navigate, and edit complex products without stalls.
Governed change control (PDM): As soon as multiple engineers, suppliers, and revisions enter the picture, you need a way to better manage your designs. SOLIDWORKS PDM gives you check‑in/out, controlled revisions, approvals, and audit trails. Start with PDM Standard and grow to PDM Professional as automation and scale needs increase.
Deeper simulation stack: SOLIDWORKS offers a tiered portfolio (Simulation Standard/Professional/Premium) and access to high‑end SIMULIA on 3DEXPERIENCE for nonlinear, multi‑physics, and more. Validate earlier and cut iterations later.
Integrated, rules‑based CAM: SOLIDWORKS CAM (powered by CAMWorks) brings knowledge‑based machining into the CAD environment so tool paths stay synchronized with model changes.
Choice of data management model: Prefer on‑prem control? Use SOLIDWORKS PDM. Want cloud accessibility and connected PLM? Use 3DEXPERIENCE with Collaborative Designer for SOLIDWORKS.
Ecosystem & talent: SOLIDWORKS’ market presence means deeper partner integrations, more specialized add‑ins, and a larger pool of experienced hires, lowering ramp time as you scale.
Quick Comparison: Fusion 360 vs. SOLIDWORKS
| Category | Fusion 360 | SOLIDWORKS |
|---|---|---|
| Modeling | Parametric + direct editing; modern UI | Mature parametric + surfacing; deep feature set for mechanical design |
| Assemblies | Joints/as-built mates; good for small/medium builds | Large-assembly toolset (Large Assembly Settings, LDR, SpeedPak) scales to complex products |
| Drawings/MBD | 2D drawings; some 3D annotation | Robust 2D detailing + optional MBD for 3D PMI and a path to drawingless workflows |
| Simulation | Varies by plan/extensions | Tiered Simulation + SIMULIA for advanced physics |
| CAM | Integrated CAM; strong for prototyping to production | SOLIDWORKS CAM (CAMWorks) integrated; rules-based machining, broad post ecosystem |
| Data Management | Cloud project storage/versioning | PDM (on-prem) or 3DEXPERIENCE (cloud PLM) |
| Interoperability | Exports STEP AP242 and other neutrals | Reads STEP/IGES/ACIS natively via 3D Interconnect |
Common Triggers to Move from Fusion to SOLIDWORKS
Assembly size & complexity: Load/edit times and navigation become a bottleneck. You need large‑assembly workflows.
Formal change control: Customer audits or regulated markets require governed revisions and approvals (PDM).
Deeper validation: Fatigue, buckling, nonlinear, or coupled‑physics analyses become necessary.
Design↔manufacturing alignment: CAD‑driven tool paths that update with design changes and standardized strategies.
Data strategy choice: On‑premise PDM or cloud PLM without changing your core CAD tool.
Hiring & ecosystem: Easier recruiting, more add‑in options, and industry‑standard workflows.
“Will Our Data Transfer Cleanly?” (What Good Looks Like)
A smooth move is less about pushing a magic Convert button and more about using the right neutral formats and clear rules for what to rebuild.
Neutral formats that work:
From Fusion, export STEP AP242. It preserves assemblies and units, and is broadly supported.
In SOLIDWORKS, use 3D Interconnect to read STEP/IGES/ACIS and keep names/structure intact. Run Import Diagnostics to heal geometry before release.
When to rebuild vs. import:
Import stable parts, vendor hardware, and legacy items as “dumb” solids to save time.
Rebuild high‑change, high‑value designs where parametric intent matters (families of parts, mechanisms).
Use FeatureWorks to recognize prismatic features on imports and regain editability where it counts.
Assemblies & mates:
Assembly constraints don’t carry over. Plan to re‑mate in SOLIDWORKS and leverage large‑assembly tools during this step.
Drawings & MBD:
Recreate critical drawings in SOLIDWORKS (clean templates, standards). Consider starting MBD for key parts to embed PMI.
“What About CAM?”
Tool paths don’t translate between systems. Stand up SOLIDWORKS CAM or CAMWorks, recreate tool cribs and post processors, and adopt rules‑based strategies.
Validate first articles (dry runs or safe stock) to confirm feeds, leads, and clears.
Benefit: when CAD changes, CAM stays in sync—reducing rework.
“Do We Have to Go All‑In on the Cloud?”
No. With SOLIDWORKS you can choose:
On‑prem PDM: Full control, LAN performance, and Windows File Explorer integration. Start with PDM Standard (one workflow), grow to PDM Professional for multi‑workflow automation and replication.
Cloud PLM (3DEXPERIENCE): Save from SOLIDWORKS to the cloud, manage revisions and lifecycle across locations, and extend into PLM apps, without changing your core CAD tool.
How Teams Cut Over with Minimal Disruption
Inventory & cleanup in Fusion (finalize versions, fix broken references).
Set standards in SOLIDWORKS (templates, materials, naming).
Trial exports (STEP AP242) and imports with Import Diagnostics; validate mass/critical dimensions.
Pilot one product: re‑mate assemblies, recreate critical drawings, reprogram a representative CAM job.
Train by role (modeling, drawings/MBD, PDM, CAM).
Cutover with a freeze window, bulk import into PDM, and hyper‑care support for the first 2–4 weeks.
FAQ
Will our parametric history come over from Fusion?
No. Neutral formats carry precise geometry, not feature history. Import what’s stable, rebuild what needs parametric control. Use FeatureWorks for prismatic recognition where helpful.
What’s the best export format?
STEP AP242 from Fusion is the default choice. If a specific part struggles, try ACIS (SAT) or IGES for surface‑heavy cases, then heal with Import Diagnostics.
How does SOLIDWORKS handle really large assemblies?
Use Large Assembly Settings and Large Design Review to keep performance snappy while you add mates and edit.
Can we keep CAM inside CAD?
Yes. SOLIDWORKS CAM (powered by CAMWorks) is integrated and rules‑based, so your tool paths update with model changes.
Do we have to implement PDM on day one?
It’s strongly recommended, but not required. Even PDM Standard enforces a simple workflow so you’re not emailing files around. You can upgrade to PDM Professional when ready.
Download the Fusion → SOLIDWORKS Transition Guide
Get the full playbook: cleanup checklist, rebuild vs. import decision tree, format matrix, PDM setup, and validation gates.