The electrical and the mechanical CAD industries belong together, but the communication between these two has been always difficult. Today's product design cycles benefit from close collaboration between the electronic engineers and the mechanical engineers. However in the current state of affairs moving a design between both realms is often difficult. Details are lost in translation, limiting productivity and collaboration between these two worlds. An end-to-end solution will reduce costs, respins and faster product development.
Bridging this gap, Cadsoft is partnering with Autodesk in order to integrate EAGLE with their recent MCAD offering, Fusion360(http://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/overview). With just a few clicks of your mouse, moving your electronic design from EAGLE to Fusion360 is a simple process, using the IDF-to-3D tool(http://www.cadsoftusa.com/eagle-pcb-design-software/partner-products/3d-visualization/). The end result is that the mechanical engineer receives an accurate 3D model of the EAGLE PCB design. This model can be used to check enclosure clearances or perform thermal analysis among other things.
Fusion360 is a powerful 3D modeler that provides in-depth documentation to bring a new user up to speed quickly. It provides tools for parametric modeling, rendering, 2D drawing, and much more. Users can also perform mechanical simulations on their design objects to make sure they are structurally sound before any product is made, saving you costly redesigns.
Whether you are working on your own or in a team, this integration can help you finish your designs on schedule, at lower cost and with less errors. Both EAGLE and Fusion360 are very affordable tools that are well supported both commercially and in the maker community. For more information on these tools visit our website (http://www.cadsoftusa.com/eagle-pcb-design-software/partner-products/mcad-products/ecad-mcad-design-suite/).
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