Fusion 360 unifies MCAD and ECAD workflows. Whether you’re an electrical engineer looking for a cloud-based PCB design tool or an industrial designer looking to incorporate PCBs into your work, Fusion 360 is the solution for you. The electronics workspace is a comprehensive and affordable end-to-end solution that includes 999 schematics, 16 layers, and unlimited board area.
What is ECAD & MCAD?
ECAD (electronic computer-aided design) software is used to design and create electronic structures. MCAD (mechanical computer-aided design) software is used to design and create mechanical systems.
Intelligent products require integrated electrical and mechanical characteristics. Thus, it is vital that our design and engineering workflows are also integrated. ECAD and MCAD need to work together to enable true interoperability.
Benefits of integrated ECAD MCAD
Design Unification
Fusion 360 enables ECAD and MCAD designers to work natively and independently on the same design project and within the same design management platform. You never have to integrate any third party software, translate, exchange, or export STEP, XDF, or IDF files, ever.
Collaboration
Fusion 360 offers a complete online experience for PCB, mechanical, and data management, making sure that every stakeholder is part of the product development cycle. Design changes are automatically managed to enable you to revise your board shape, component placement update, or modified enclosure.
True 3D PCB Design
With integrated ECAD and MCAD in Fusion 360, 3D PCB data such as board copper, core material, and components can be analyzed, verified, and validated on the MCAD side to make sure they meet the product design specifications.
“My favorite part about Fusion 360 is that it is an all-in-one software. You have your electronics, your design, your CAM all in one place, and it’s so easy to use."
– John Sparkman, Co-Founder, Limbitless Solutions
Getting started with integrated ECAD MCAD
Electronics Design
Comprehensive full-featured electronics tool for your schematics, PCB, simulation, library management, manufacturing, and more.
Mechanical Design
Fully functional and powerful 3D design and modeling, including PCB integration, sketching, rendering, sheet metal, and assemblies.
Simulation
Easy to use yet powerful e-cooling simulation to verify and validate thermal design of your printed circuit board (PCB) early and often.
Resources for ECAD and MCAD
Get started with ECAD and MCAD with these tutorials, guides, tips, and tricks.
ECAD/MCAD integration is a necessity in today’s world. See how Fusion 360 can make electronics to mechanical workflows easy.
Fusion 360 makes electronics to mechanical workflows easy with seamless ECAD/MCAD integration.
Let’s explore the three main benefits of using PCB design software to combine ECAD (electronic computer-aided design) and MCAD (mechanical computer-aided design).
Learn how to easily and quickly define your PCB outline from a mechanical design.
Not sure where to start? Get access to over 60 videos covering a wide spectrum of 'how-to' in electronics.
MCAD – Mechanical computer-aided design and ECAD – electronic computer-aided design, when combined, can help streamline crucial development processes.
Download Fusion 360 for free
Get truly unified ECAD/MCAD
Try Fusion 360 for free with a 30-day trial. Access all capabilities and features with integrated CAD, CAM, CAE, and PCB software.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Electronic Computer-Aided Design (ECAD) software is used to create and modify both 2D and 3D diagrams and layouts, to design Printed Circuit Boards (PCB).
MCAD (mechanical computer-aided design) software is used to create and modify 2D and 3D CAD geometry to design and document mechanical components.
Using two separate software tools to create one functional prototype can be frustrating and time-consuming. PCB design software collaboration optimizes PCB assembly and reduces the risk of error. MCAD and ECAD integration allows for a one-stop-shop solution for accuracy.
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