3D Model Creation with Autodesk Fusion 360 (Coursera)

Offered by Autodesk,
3D Model Creation with Autodesk Fusion 360 (Coursera)

Design is the first phase in the digital manufacturing process. In this course, through a series of lectures and hands-on lessons, we’ll examine a designer’s approach to the design and manufacturing process—from concept to 3D model. We’ll start by applying design thinking to understand user needs, and then we’ll explore design criteria as we dive deeper into Autodesk® Fusion 360™ sketching, modeling, rendering, and documentation features.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

Course 3 of 5 in the CAD and Digital Manufacturing Specialization.

Syllabus

WEEK 1
Conceptual Design
This week covers the fundamentals of laying out multiple sketches for a complex part. With a design like a quadcopter, it is important to understand the artistic freedom and the mechanical constraints. Through concept sketches, we explore the shape and form in various 2D views. This allows us to understand physical volume constraints for components like a controller, batteries, and camera while playing with the overall shape.
WEEK 2
2D Sketches to 3D Solid Model
This week expands on our layout sketches and begins to create a solid 3D model. Through the use of some basic and advanced features, we learn various tools of the trade to create complex 3D shapes. We also expand our Autodesk® Fusion 360™ knowledge and skills into the Patch workspace and explore how to add or remove solid geometry with surfaces.
WEEK 3
Generative Wing Design
This week's lesson explores creating a complex wing design using freeform tools to make a strong, yet light body. Using sketches as a basis, we explore the pipe and bridge tools in the Sculpt workspace to create an organic generative type design set of features.
WEEK 4
Photorealistic renderings
Visual design communication is an essential part of the design review process saving time and costs in refining a design before creating a physical prototype. This week explores how to create realistic images of our quadcopter design to help you communicate your design ideas and to review/refine making a model.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Siemens NX Mastery: Advanced Design & Applications (Coursera) Coursera
Siemens

Siemens NX Mastery: Advanced Design & Applications (Coursera)

Welcome to Siemens NX Mastery: Advanced Design & Applications! This course builds upon the foundational knowledge found in our introductory course, "Intro to Siemens NX: Engineering Essentials and Part Design". Siemens NX is an integrated solution for computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), and computer-aided engineering (CAE). It is a flexible and powerful tool that helps engineers and designers in various disciplines to create, simulate, and manufacture products.

Oct 26th 2026
4 Weeks
Developing AR/VR/MR/XR Apps with WebXR, Unity & Unreal (Coursera) Coursera
University of Michigan

Developing AR/VR/MR/XR Apps with WebXR, Unity & Unreal (Coursera)

This third course in the XR for Everybody specialization is geared toward the technical development of XR experiences. The course provides learners with a more technical mental model of XR technologies and the tools to approach XR development with confidence. It walks through the stages of development for both VR and AR projects, introducing the main XR development platforms as well as the key methods and tools. This third course also helps learners infer advanced XR requirements from physical/digital prototypes and teaches them how to differentiate major technical concerns, estimate development costs, and plan research necessary to advance XR.

Oct 12th 2026
4 Weeks
3D CAD Fundamental (Coursera) Coursera
National Taiwan University

3D CAD Fundamental (Coursera)

There have many three-dimensional shape of the object in your brain that are wanted to share, but do not know how to express? How to "sketch" the three-dimensional image in your mind? 3D modeling technology can help us construct the most intuitive and understandable three-dimensional model. The use of floor plan interpret the three-dimensional object process-the most direct and effective expression of our ideas.

Oct 19th 2026
5-12 Weeks
MBSE: Model-Based Systems Engineering (Coursera) Coursera
University at Buffalo,The State University of New York

MBSE: Model-Based Systems Engineering (Coursera)

This Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) course and the Digital Thread courses featured earlier in this specialization bring together the concepts from across digital manufacturing and design, forming a vision in which the geometry of a product is just one way of describing it. MBSE is where the model resulting from the evolution of system requirements, design, analysis, verification and validation activities is the focus of design and manufacturing.

Oct 12th 2026
4 Weeks
Cyber Security in Manufacturing (Coursera) Coursera
University at Buffalo,The State University of New York

Cyber Security in Manufacturing (Coursera)

The nature of digital manufacturing and design (DM&D), and its heavy reliance on creating a digital thread of product and process data and information, makes it a prime target for hackers and counterfeiters. This course will introduce students to why creating a strong and secure infrastructure should be of paramount concern for anyone operating in the DM&D domain, and measures that can be employed to protect operational technologies, systems and resources.

Oct 19th 2026
4 Weeks
VLSI CAD Part I: Logic (Coursera) Coursera
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

VLSI CAD Part I: Logic (Coursera)

A modern VLSI chip has a zillion parts -- logic, control, memory, interconnect, etc. How do we design these complex chips? Answer: CAD software tools. Learn how to build thesA modern VLSI chip is a remarkably complex beast: billions of transistors, millions of logic gates deployed for computation and control, big blocks of memory, embedded blocks of pre-designed functions designed by third parties (called “intellectual property” or IP blocks). How do people manage to design these complicated chips? Answer: a sequence of computer aided design (CAD) tools takes an abstract description of the chip, and refines it step-wise to a final design.

Oct 19th 2026
5-12 Weeks
VLSI CAD Part II: Layout (Coursera) Coursera
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

VLSI CAD Part II: Layout (Coursera)

A modern VLSI chip is a remarkably complex beast: billions of transistors, millions of logic gates deployed for computation and control, big blocks of memory, embedded blocks of pre-designed functions designed by third parties (called “intellectual property” or IP blocks). How do people manage to design these complicated chips? Answer: a sequence of computer aided design (CAD) tools takes an abstract description of the chip, and refines it step-wise to a final design.

Oct 19th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Design Computing: 3D Modeling in Rhinoceros with Python/Rhinoscript (Coursera) Coursera
University of Michigan

Design Computing: 3D Modeling in Rhinoceros with Python/Rhinoscript (Coursera)

Why should a designer learn to code? As our world is increasingly impacted by the use of algorithms, designers must learn how to use and create design computing programs. Designers must go beyond the narrowly focused use of computers in the automation of simple drafting/modeling tasks and instead explore the extraordinary potential digitalization holds for design culture/practice.

Oct 12th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Digital Thread: Implementation (Coursera) Coursera
University at Buffalo,The State University of New York

Digital Thread: Implementation (Coursera)

There are opportunities throughout the design process of any product to make significant changes, and ultimately impact the future of manufacturing, by embracing the digital thread. In this course, you will dig into the transformation taking place in how products are designed and manufactured throughout the world. It is the second of two courses that focuses on the "digital thread" – the stream that starts at the creation of a product concept and continues to accumulate information and data throughout the product life cycle.

Oct 12th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Low Poly Art For Video Games (Coursera) Coursera
Michigan State University

Low Poly Art For Video Games (Coursera)

This course is aimed to give you the tools and knowledge you need to start creating simple 3D art for video games made in the Unity game engine. Through the aesthetic of pixel art we will explore artistic principals like shape language, color theory, and composition as well as show you a step by step workflow for creating assets that you can use to make your own games.

Oct 19th 2026
5-12 Weeks