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Direct AutoCAD to Fusion 360 3D Model Converter

In engineering and design, both AutoCAD and Fusion 360 are very popular tools. AutoCAD is mainly used for making accurate 2D drawings, while Fusion 360 is widely used for 3D modeling, simulation, and even manufacturing. The problem comes when someone wants to take a 2D design made in AutoCAD and turn it into a 3D model in Fusion 360. Right now, this is not simple at all.

Most people either redraw the entire model again in Fusion 360, which takes a lot of time, or they use file formats like DXF or STEP to import the design. But these imports often don’t work well. Common issues include shapes not getting recognized, scaling problems, missing dimensions, and broken sketches. This means users spend extra hours fixing errors or remaking the whole model. For students, engineers, and small companies, this can be very frustrating.

My idea is to build a tool that can directly convert AutoCAD 2D drawings into fully editable Fusion 360 3D models. The tool would not just copy the drawing but would understand the lines, circles, layers, and dimensions in AutoCAD. Then, it would create 3D sketches and bodies inside Fusion 360 automatically. For example, if a closed profile is drawn in AutoCAD, the tool could extrude it into a 3D solid in Fusion. This way, the design is ready to use in just minutes, instead of hours.

The people who will benefit most are engineering students, product designers, architects, and small-scale manufacturers. Students will save valuable time during projects, engineers can speed up their workflow, and manufacturers can move faster from 2D designs to production.

This problem matters to me because I have faced it myself. In my projects, I often had to rebuild the same design twice — once in AutoCAD for 2D and then again in Fusion for 3D. It made me lose interest and slowed down my progress. I realized that many others face the same issue. That is why a direct converter can make a big difference. It will not only save time but also encourage people to be more creative, since they don’t have to worry about repeating the same work again and again.

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Comments

  • This is a brilliant and much-needed solution! Converting 2D AutoCAD drawings directly into editable Fusion 360 models would save so much time and effort for students, designers, and engineers. Excited to see how this idea develops
  • This is a fantastic idea! The gap between AutoCAD and Fusion 360 has been a real pain point for students and professionals alike. A direct converter that preserves accuracy while turning 2D sketches into 3D models would be a real game-changer—saving time, boosting creativity, and making workflows much smoother. Definitely something the design and engineering community needs
  • This is a fantastic proposal! You've perfectly identified a major pain point for anyone working between 2D and 3D design software. A direct conversion tool would be an absolute game-changer, saving countless hours and eliminating a lot of frustration.
  • This is a well-thought-out idea. You’ve identified a real inefficiency in moving from AutoCAD to Fusion 360 and proposed a converter that actually interprets 2D drawings into editable 3D models. By saving time and reducing errors, it would be a huge help to students, designers, and small manufacturers. Your personal experience makes the need for such a tool very convincing.
  • Hi Vishruth, this is an excellent idea that comes from a frustration many engineers like us know well. The major bottleneck in the workflow is between 2D drafting and 3D modeling, and your concept of an intelligent converter that saves hours of manual work is incredibly valuable. However, the tool's core challenge lies in interpretation, as a 2D drawing lacks complete 3D information. Without multiple views or explicit notes, the tool would have to hallucinate the depth of an extrusion or whether a circle is a cut versus a boss, likely creating incorrect geometry. This approach includes its dependency on perfectly clean drawings which would likely fail with common issues like tiny gaps or overlapping lines and loss of parametric design intent, resulting in a bad 3D model in Fusion 360 that is difficult to modify.
  • This is a really practical idea! A direct AutoCAD to Fusion 360 converter would save tons of time and effort, making the design process much smoother for students and professionals.
  • Such a great idea! It could have really helped me in my projects in CAD. This would be really helpful for peers who are pursuing mechanical and mechatronics engineering.
  • “Interesting concept with clear benefits, but it might be difficult to implement given the differences between AutoCAD and Fusion 360. Unless the converter is highly accurate, users may still need a lot of manual fixing.”
  • This tool really takes away the pain of redoing the same design twice. Turning 2D into 3D feels smooth and quick, which means I can spend more time building ideas instead of fixing errors. It’s made my projects flow easier, especially in the kind of mechatronics work I do.
  • As a mechatronic student while working on CAD and 3d moldels I have experienced difficulties. If this idea is implemented it would be helpful for students like me.But consider it to be more precise and accurate
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