A Fusion 360 alternative built only for woodworking.
Fusion 360 is a parametric CAD and CAM system for mechanical design. Plank CAD does one domain — furniture and cabinetry — and does the drafting for you.
Fusion 360 is a serious parametric CAD package. It is more capable than Plank CAD in almost every general sense: assemblies, simulation, toolpath strategies, and a parametric history that rewards investment. If you already work in it comfortably, that capability is real.
The trade is scope and time. Fusion is built for mechanical parts generally, so woodworking conventions — grain direction, sheet goods, joinery families, cut lists — are things you model rather than things the software assumes. Plank CAD assumes them, because furniture is the only thing it does.
Fusion 360: general parametric CAD/CAM
A full modelling and manufacturing environment covering far more than woodworking. Deep capability, and a corresponding learning investment. Woodworking-specific output is something you set up yourself.
Plank CAD: a woodworking fabrication engine
Narrow by design. Wood species and sheet goods, joinery families, grain direction, standard sheet sizes and cut lists are built-in assumptions rather than things you configure.
Where the two differ.
| Dimension | Fusion 360 | Plank CAD |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | General mechanical CAD and CAM | Furniture and cabinetry only |
| Materials model | You define them | 100+ wood species and sheet goods, with grain direction and density |
| Joinery | Modelled feature by feature | Mortise & tenon, dovetail, box joints, dowels, pocket screws, biscuits — assigned automatically |
| Time to first output | Learn the environment, then model | A sentence, then review |
| Nesting | Configure or use an add-in | Automatic FFD bin-packing on standard sheets |
| Exports | Extensive, including toolpaths | PDF package, DXF with joinery and drill layers, CSV cut list |
| Install | Desktop application | Browser, nothing to install |
When Fusion 360 is the better tool
- You need CAM toolpaths and machine simulation in the same environment as the model.
- Your work spans metal, plastics or mechanisms, not just wood.
- You need a full parametric history to drive design variants.
- You are already fluent in it — that fluency is worth more than a faster start.
Where the handoff sits
Plank CAD exports DXF with separate layers for cut outlines, joinery, drilling and CNC relief cuts, so the geometry can go into your existing CAM workflow. Treat exports as CAM-ready inputs that still need simulation and a dry run before cutting real stock. Plank CAD does not replace a CAD environment for every task. It replaces the drafting phase — the hours between "I know what I want to build" and "I have cut lists and files".
Plank CAD and Fusion 360.
No, and it is not trying to be. Fusion 360 is a full parametric CAD and CAM environment covering far more than woodworking. Plank CAD is narrow on purpose: furniture and cabinetry, with wood species, joinery families, grain direction and sheet stock as built-in assumptions rather than things you configure.
Yes. Exports are DXF with separate layers for cut outlines, joinery, drilling and CNC relief cuts, so the geometry drops into an existing CAM setup. Treat them as CAM-ready inputs that still need simulation and a dry run before cutting real stock.
No. Plank CAD runs in the browser. There is a free tier with three generations and no card required.
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