Engineering Design Process with Autodesk Fusion 360 from Coursera

This course provides a deeper exploration of mechanical assemblies and simulation, which are key engineering features of the design and manufacturing process. The foundation of engineering design is exploration and iteration. Design is rarely a perfectly linear and straightforward process. In this course, we'll explore mechanical assembly design and simulation, focusing on testing and improving design components and performance. As we move through design assumptions, testing, and refining design ideas, we'll come closer to a final design, while developing a deeper knowledge in Autodesk® Fusion 360™ for simulating and analyzing product functionality.

After completing this course, you will be able to:

• Describe the engineering design process and workflow in Fusion 360.

• Summarize the trends that are influencing the design industry.

• Demonstrate knowledge and skills in more advanced Fusion 360 CAD and simulation skills

Looking for Autodesk Fusion 360 certification prep courses? Check out additional learning resources to help you uplevel your skills: https://www.autodesk.com/learning

What's inside

Syllabus

Design Optimization

Just because a design looks complete, doesn’t mean that it’s done. Often times you will go through dozens of revisions before achieving the final result. We'll explore ways to optimize the strength and reduce the weight of our quadcopter design, and we'll pull from experience to help guide design decisions.

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Expands on knowledge gained from the introductory, beginner course in Autodesk Fusion 360

For those who seek proficiency in mechanical assemblies and simulation in engineering design

Teaches learners how to test and refine design ideas

Teaches design optimization techniques for strength and weight reduction

Develops knowledge of static simulation for identifying design weaknesses

Develops skills in creating assembly motion for simulating real-world motion within designs

Reviews summary

Practical engineering design with fusion 360

According to learners, this course offers a solid practical introduction to the engineering design process using Autodesk Fusion 360. Students particularly appreciate the hands-on approach and the real-world application demonstrated through the project examples, finding them helpful for learning simulation and assembly features. While the course is generally well-received, some learners noted that prior experience with Fusion 360 or CAD software is beneficial, and a few wished for deeper coverage on advanced simulation topics. Overall, it's considered a valuable course for gaining practical skills in using Fusion 360 for design validation and optimization.

Provides a solid foundation for simulation and assembly.

"It was a good introduction to simulation and mechanical assemblies."

"I learned the basics of validating designs using static simulation."

"Covers the essential tools for assembly and motion studies."

Hands-on projects effectively teach key concepts.

"The projects really helped solidify my understanding of the concepts."

"I liked the practical assignments, putting theory into practice."

"Applying the design process to a real example was very useful."

Some wished for more advanced simulation.

"Could use more in-depth coverage on complex simulation setups."

"The static simulation part felt a bit basic."

"Wish there were examples of dynamic simulation or optimization types."

Course is easier with prior CAD knowledge.

"Would recommend having some basic CAD experience before starting."

"Might be challenging if you're completely new to Fusion 360."

"Prior knowledge of 3D modeling makes following along smoother."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Engineering Design Process with Autodesk Fusion 360 with these activities:

Review 3D modeling basics

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Sharpen your grasp of the core concepts of 3D modeling and interface of Fusion 360 to set a solid foundation for the course.

Browse courses on Design Optimization

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Reread your notes or textbooks on basic 3D modeling principles.
Review video tutorials on essential tools and workflows in Fusion 360.
Run through a couple of basic modeling exercises to refresh your hands-on skills.

Form a study group with classmates

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Enhance your understanding by collaborating with peers, discussing concepts, and working through problems together.

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Reach out to classmates and form a study group.
Establish regular meeting times and decide on discussion topics.
Take turns presenting concepts to the group and facilitate discussions.

Follow guided tutorials on advanced Fusion 360 techniques

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Enhance your proficiency in Fusion 360 by exploring advanced tutorials tailored to mechanical assemblies and simulation.

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Find online tutorials covering specific aspects of mechanical design and simulation in Fusion 360.
Follow the tutorials step-by-step, applying the techniques to your own projects.
Experiment with different settings and parameters to gain a better understanding of their impact.

Three other activities

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Design a simple mechanical assembly

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Put your Fusion 360 skills to the test by designing and simulating a simple mechanical assembly, reinforcing the concepts learned in the course.

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Identify a simple mechanical assembly that you would like to design.
Create a sketch of the assembly, including all the necessary components and connections.
Build the assembly in Fusion 360, following best practices for mechanical design.
Simulate the assembly to analyze its performance and identify any potential issues.

Volunteer in a makerspace or engineering lab

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Gain practical experience and connect with professionals in the field by volunteering at a makerspace or engineering lab.

Browse courses on Hands-on Experience

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Research local makerspaces or engineering labs that offer volunteer opportunities.
Contact the organization and inquire about volunteer roles.
Volunteer regularly, assisting with projects or providing technical support.
Network with other members and learn from their experiences.

Attend workshops on advanced Fusion 360 topics

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Deepen your knowledge and skills by attending workshops led by industry experts specializing in advanced Fusion 360 topics.

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Identify workshops relevant to your interests and learning goals.
Register for the workshops and make prior arrangements to attend.
Actively participate in the workshops, taking notes and asking questions.

Career center

Learners who complete Engineering Design Process with Autodesk Fusion 360 will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Mechanical Engineer

This course in Engineering Design Process with Autodesk Fusion 360 is appropriate for boosting your knowledge in mechanical engineering. By focusing on assembly design and simulation, you will build a foundation in simulation and analysis essential for mechanical engineers to ensure a product's quality.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mechanical Engineer

Product Designer

The course will lay a foundation for you in the mechanical assembly design and simulation critical to developing new products. Product designers often use design software that includes simulation and analysis capabilities, so this would be an excellent course for you to enhance your skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Designer

Design Engineer

As a design engineer, you will be involved in product development from conceptualization to completion. Understanding advanced design software, such as Autodesk Fusion 360, is critical for design engineers to ensure product quality. The course's focus on assembly design and simulation will be of great help to you.

See salaries and explore the career path for Design Engineer

Manufacturing Engineer

This course can help you gain a competitive edge in the field of manufacturing engineering. The course covers advanced design software that manufacturing engineers often use, and it delves into assembly design and simulation, which are critical skills for manufacturing engineers to analyze product functionality.

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CAE Engineer

This course may be useful for someone interested in computer-aided engineering. You will learn advanced design software and its capabilities for simulation and analysis, both of which are necessary skills for CAE engineers to validate product designs.

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R&D Engineer

This course may be useful for those interested in a career as a research and development engineer. The course will teach the use of advanced design software and its capabilities for simulation and analysis, both of which are in great demand for R&D engineers.

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Quality Control Engineer

This course may be useful for someone interested in quality control engineering. The course teaches how to use advanced design software for simulation and analysis to validate product designs, ensuring they meet quality standards.

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Project Manager

This course may be useful for you if you're seeking a career as a project manager in engineering or design. The course teaches how to use advanced design software that project managers often oversee.

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Technical Writer

This course may be useful to aspiring technical writers specializing in engineering or design. The course teaches you how to use advanced design software, which you may need to understand and describe for documentation purposes.

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Sales Engineer

This course may be useful for anyone interested in sales engineering. The course will teach how to use advanced design software, which you may need to understand and explain to clients.

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Industrial Designer

This course may be useful for aspiring industrial designers who wish to specialize in product design. The course will teach how to use advanced design software and its capabilities for simulation and analysis.

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Architect

This course may be useful for those seeking a career in architecture or architectural engineering. The course will teach how to use advanced design software for simulation and analysis, which is increasingly used in the architecture and construction industries.

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Civil Engineer

This course may be useful for those seeking a career in civil engineering. The course teaches how to use advanced design software for simulation and analysis, which is increasingly used in the civil engineering industry.

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Aerospace Engineer

This course may be useful for those seeking a career in aerospace engineering. The course teaches how to use advanced design software for simulation and analysis, which is essential for aerospace engineers.

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Biomedical Engineer

This course may be useful for those seeking a career in biomedical engineering. The course teaches how to use advanced design software for simulation and analysis, which is necessary for biomedical engineers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Biomedical Engineer