Overview#
Fusion combines CAD, CAM, CAE, electronics, and documentation into one application by dividing them into workspaces. A workspace is a set of toolbar tabs, panels, browser content, and behaviors tuned to one task. Switching workspaces does not switch documents: the same design stays open and you simply change the tools you see. This page is a map; later sections of this guide dive into each.
Note: The lineup below follows Autodesk's Workspaces help. Which capabilities your license includes is covered in Licenses and plans.
Where to find it#
- Workspace switcher: the Workspace menu at the left of the toolbar. Click it and select a workspace.
- Design workspace tabs: Sketch (contextual), Solid, Surface, Mesh, Sheet Metal, Plastic, Utilities, plus the Assemble tools and the Form contextual environment. These are tabs within Design, not separate workspaces.
- Shortcuts: Ctrl+[ moves up and Ctrl+] moves down the workspace list. The Marking menu's context menu also lists workspaces for quick switching.
- Separate documents: Drawing and Electronics create their own document types, shown in the Data Panel.
The workspace lineup#
| Workspace | Purpose (from Autodesk's help) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Create and edit solid, surface, and T-Spline geometry driven by 2D sketches in Part Designs, then insert and assemble them in Assembly Designs; history-based features that update with changes | Tabs include Sketch, Solid, Surface, Mesh, Form, Sheet Metal, Assemble |
| Electronics | Schematics, 2D PCB layouts, 3D PCB designs, electronic components, and component libraries; a shared component library with EAGLE | Separate document types |
| Generative Design | Generate multiple CAD-ready design solutions from manufacturing and performance requirements | Generating outcomes uses Flex tokens unless covered by the Simulation Extension |
| Render | Photo-realistic images: adjust lighting and materials, add decals, use local or cloud computing | Cloud rendering uses Flex tokens |
| Animation | 3D exploded views and animations to show assembly; share videos | |
| Simulation | Studies using finite element analysis to test a design under loads and conditions | Solving a study uses Flex tokens unless covered by the Simulation Extension |
| Manufacture | Toolpaths for machining and turning (subtractive) or 3D printing (additive) | Advanced strategies come with the Manufacturing Extension |
| Drawing | Integrated, associative drawings and animations documenting parts and assemblies | Separate document |
Mesh, Sheet Metal, and Form are Design tabs or a contextual environment rather than separate workspaces. Autodesk's Marking menu reference confirms that the commands in the Marking menu change per workspace, tab, contextual environment, and active command.
Step by step: a tour of workspaces#
- Open a design with at least one solid body (create a box).
- Open the workspace switcher and select Render. Observe the changed toolbar (Setup, Render, Scene settings). Return to Design.
- Select Animation. Notice the changed toolbar. Look for the explode and animation tools if the design has several components.
- Select Simulation. Look at the available study types (the Simulation Extension help lists studies such as Modal Frequencies, Thermal Steady State, and Thermal Stress); cancel if you only wish to explore.
- Select Manufacture. Start a new setup and note the stock and orientation options. Cancel the dialog. Observe the Setups folder in the browser.
- Select Drawing. Create a drawing from the design; it opens as a separate document tab. Close it without saving.
- Select Generative Design (if present) to view the study setup structure.
- Return to Design. Note that all the above shared the same model.
Workspace in detail#
Design#
The main modeling environment. Tabs: Solid (extrude, revolve, fillet, shell, patterns, joints), Surface (patch, loft, trim, stitch), Mesh (insert mesh, reduce, repair, convert), Sheet Metal (flange, unfold, rules), Plastic (boss, rib, lip and groove), and Utilities (add-ins, scripts, measure, parameters, make). Most of your time goes here. Design offers two modes: parametric (timeline records history) and direct (no history).
Generative Design#
Specify preserved geometry, obstacle geometry, loads, constraints, objectives, materials, and manufacturing methods; solve in the cloud; review outcomes and push one into the design. Generating outcomes uses Flex tokens, or is included with the Simulation Extension.
Render#
Assign appearances, set scene (environment, camera, lighting), then render in-canvas (fast, interactive) or locally/cloud (higher quality). Output is images.
Animation#
Create transforms, auto-explode, and storyboards, then publish as video. Useful for assembly instructions.
Simulation#
Define a study, materials, loads, constraints, contacts, and mesh controls, then solve locally or in the cloud and inspect results (stress, displacement, safety factor). Some study types need extensions.
Manufacture#
Setups define work coordinate system, stock, and machine. Operations (2D adaptive roughing, contour, drilling, 3D strategies, turning, and others) generate toolpaths. Simulate, post-process into G-code, and produce setup sheets. The Manufacturing Extension adds, for example, 3-axis hole recognition, 4- and 5-axis simultaneous machining, nesting and fabrication, and metal additive strategies.
Drawing#
Create sheets with base and projected views, sections, details, dimensions, annotations, tables, and BOMs, then export to PDF or DWG. Drawings are linked to designs and update.
Electronics#
Schematic, board layout, simulation, and 3D PCB integration with mechanical design. Libraries hold packages and symbols.
Document-based vs. mode-based workspaces#
| Type | Examples | Behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Mode on the same document | Design, Render, Animation, Simulation (studies stored in file), Manufacture | One file; switch tool sets |
| Separate document | Drawing, Electronics | Separate file in the Data Panel with link to design |
Knowing this affects collaboration and versioning: drawings and electronics have their own version history, and the link to the design is a reference.
Choosing a workspace by task#
| If you want to... | Go to |
|---|---|
| Model a part | Design > Solid |
| Fix an STL | Design > Mesh |
| Make a flat pattern | Design > Sheet Metal |
| Check strength | Simulation |
| Make a G-code program | Manufacture |
| Create a PDF drawing | Drawing |
| Make a marketing image | Render |
| Show assembly steps | Animation |
| Design a PCB | Electronics |
| Let the computer propose shapes | Generative Design |
Options reference#
| Option | What it does | Notes/default |
|---|---|---|
| Workspace switcher | Changes toolbar and browser content | Remembers last state per document |
| Design tabs | Solid, Surface, Mesh, Sheet Metal, Plastic, Utilities | Visible in Design only |
| Parametric/Direct | Capture history on/off | Per design; set at creation or toggled in browser |
| Extensions | Licensed add-ons that unlock features | Check Autodesk account |
| Flex tokens | Virtual currency for cloud rendering, simulation solves, generative outcomes, and daily extension access | Purchase Manager > Flex Tokens |
| Add-ins | Third-party and scripts | Utilities > Add-ins |
| Preferences per workspace | Defaults for CAM, Render, etc. | Preferences dialog |
Tips and pitfalls#
Tip: Make the full model in Design first, then move to downstream workspaces. Changes upstream propagate, but changes downstream (e.g., new CAM setups) do not alter the model.
Tip: If a command is missing from a workspace you expect, check that you are in the right tab (for example, Sheet Metal tools only appear when you create a sheet metal component or on the Sheet Metal tab).
Warning: Simulation solves, generative outcomes, and cloud renders can consume Flex tokens. The number of tokens needed is displayed in Fusion before you proceed.
Warning: Always validate post-processed code against your actual machine and simulate before cutting (general guidance, not Autodesk data).
Warning: Drawings and electronics are separate documents. Moving only the design file without them breaks the link.
Practice exercise#
- Create a simple bracket in Design (extruded plate with two holes).
- Visit each workspace listed above and write one sentence on what its toolbar offers.
- Create a drawing from the bracket, with a front view and a dimension.
- Create a Manufacture setup and note what asks for machine and stock.
- Return to Design and change a hole diameter; check that the drawing updates.
Expected result: you can name each workspace's job and know where to start any task.
Related#
- User interface tour
- Licenses and plans
- Data Panel basics