Easy Eagle to
Fusion 360 Migration Guide

After decades of designing circuit boards in 2D, electronic engineers, and PCBA designers are increasingly leveraging the benefits of adopting a 3D perspective. Mechanical engineers have always utilized 3D drawings out of necessity. With electronics designers doing the same, ECAD/MCAD integration can be accomplished more efficiently.

Autodesk Inc. is accelerating this transformation with an ECAD and MCAD software platform. This development environment removes the need for design file conversions that can introduce errors or omit important details, promotes collaboration, saves time, and enables more streamlined design verification. With a simple EAGLE to Fusion 360 migration guide, you can quickly realize these benefits, even for previously designed boards.

Eagle to Fusion 360 migration is changing how PCBAs are being made

What is Fusion 360 and Why Do You Need It?

As an EAGLE user, you are familiar with the benefits of this AutoCAD electronics design program for ECAD development. Including the extensive Autodesk library that significantly streamlines the component sourcing process and allows you to perform schematic capture and PCB layout more efficiently. EAGLE also allows you to export your board design in 3D CAD formats, such as DXF or the ISO 10303 standard STEP, which can then be imported for MCAD.

However, more optimized ECAD and MCAD development demands an integrated approach where electronic and mechanical designers can work collaboratively from the same data files. Fusion 360 meets this demand and includes the capabilities listed below.

Capabilities of Fusion 360

As shown above, Fusion 360 is an advanced development platform that helps you optimize your PCBA-based product design. These features do not require creating a new board design within the platform. In fact, with a simple EAGLE to Fusion 360 guide, as described below, you can leverage the 3D CAD optimized functions above for your previously created design.

EAGLE to Fusion 360 Migration Guide Steps

Elevating your circuit board design process from a standalone EAGLE program to the Fusion 360 platform is surprisingly simple. It only takes the three steps listed below.

Step 1: Getting Fusion 360

Just as Autodesk EAGLE has traditionally been available for PCBA developers irrespective of design experience and career status, there is a version of Fusion 360 that best meets the needs of specialist engineers, consultants, early career designers, educators, students, and even hobbyists. This includes a downloadable free trial from the Autodesk website.

Step 2: Moving Your EAGLE Design into Fusion 360

Depending upon the Fusion 360 subscription that you choose, either EAGLE standard, premium, or enterprise is included. The subscription is free if you are a start-up, non-commercial user, or hobbyist. To access your previously created EAGLE design, simply create a new electronics project and upload your schematic (.sch) and PCB (.brd) files into the Fusion 360 workspace.

Step 3: Syncing Your EAGLE Design in Fusion 360

Now, you need to sync your schematic and board design files within Fusion 360. This step is done automatically if you only open the files from within the project workspace. Any edits or changes will be consistent for forward and backward annotation between the schematic and PCB files. Now, you are ready to leverage the many capabilities that Fusion 360 offers.

Optimizing Your EAGLE Fusion 360 PCB Development

As shown above, migrating from EAGLE standalone to the Fusion 360 environment is straightforward. However, to maximally leverage Fusion 360 for your ECAD/MCAD development, you should also do the following: EAGLE to Fusion 360 Migration Guide Optimization

Select Component Library Parts with 3D CAD Models.
Component selection is always important for PCBA development. The accuracy of symbols, footprints, and 3D CAD models will define the quality of your product. Therefore, it is critical that you source from a component library that includes manufacturer-vetted CAD data. For this purpose, Fusion 360 links to the industry’s largest and most reliable online electronic component library, as shown below.

UL integration in Fusion 360

Collaborate with the MCAD designer/team.
Fast, accurate ECAD/MCAD development is one of the major benefits of migrating to Fusion 360. Fusion 360 promotes this collaboration by enabling the same data file access. To start this process, convert your 2D EAGLE design to 3D with the Push to 3D PCB or Push to 3D PCB with Options functions.

Effectively manage the ECAD-MCAD design process.
Take advantage of Fusion 360’s cloud storage, version control, and other centralized management functions that allow you to control and monitor user and data access.

Suppose you’re looking for CAD models for common components or helpful information like an easy-to-use EAGLE to Fusion 360 migration guide. In that case, Ultra Librarian helps by compiling all your sourcing and CAD information in one place.

Working with Ultra Librarian sets up your team for success to ensure streamlined and error-free design, production, and sourcing. Register today for free.

Easy Eagle to Fusion 360 Migration Guide