From Fusion 360 to the Workshop

Fusion 360 is an incredible tool for designing furniture and woodworking projects. But when it's time to actually build, you need to know how to efficiently cut your sheet goods.

CutCalc imports your Fusion 360 models directly and generates optimized cutting layouts - showing you exactly how many sheets you need and where to make each cut.

Parts automatically extracted from your Fusion 360 model

Direct OBJ Import

Export from Fusion 360 as OBJ, import to CutCalc. Parts are detected automatically.

Preserve Part Names

Component names from Fusion carry through to your cut list for easy reference.

Accurate Dimensions

Parts are extracted at the exact dimensions from your model - no manual measuring.

Waste Optimization

Advanced nesting algorithms minimize plywood waste and save you money.

How to Export from Fusion 360

Open your Fusion 360 design

Make sure all the components you want in your cut list are visible. Hide any construction geometry or reference parts.

Select components to export

In the browser tree, select the components you want to include. You can Ctrl+click to select multiple, or select the top-level component to export everything.

Export as OBJ

Go to File → Export. In the dialog, select OBJ Files (*.obj) as the file type. Choose a location and click Export.

Tip: Make sure "Export as single OBJ file" is unchecked if you want each component exported separately (recommended for better part detection).

Import to CutCalc

Open CutCalc and drag your OBJ file onto the import area, or click to browse. Your parts will be extracted automatically.

Review and generate

Verify the detected parts, set your sheet size and blade kerf, then generate your optimized cutting layout.

Fusion 360 Modeling Tips for Cut Lists

Use components, not bodies - Each component becomes a separate part in your cut list. Bodies within a component may be merged.
Name your components clearly - "Side Panel Left" is better than "Body1". Names carry through to CutCalc.
Model at real-world dimensions - If using 3/4" plywood, model parts at exactly 0.75" thick.
Keep parts rectangular - CutCalc works best with rectangular sheet good parts. Complex shapes may need manual adjustment.
Use parameters - Define material thickness as a parameter so you can easily update if you switch materials.

Common Fusion 360 Woodworking Workflows

Many woodworkers use Fusion 360 for:

Custom furniture design with precise joinery
Cabinet and built-in layouts
CNC projects requiring toolpaths
Parametric designs that adapt to different spaces
Client presentations with realistic renders

CutCalc fits into this workflow by handling the material planning step - so you can focus on design, not spreadsheets.

CutCalc generated cutting diagram from Fusion 360 model

Get visual cutting diagrams ready for the workshop

Why Woodworkers Love This Workflow

No Manual Measuring

Stop clicking on every face in Fusion to get dimensions. Export once, import once, done.

Iterate Faster

Changed your design? Re-export and re-import in seconds to get an updated cut list.

Fewer Mistakes

No transcription errors between your model and your cut list. What you designed is what you cut.

Better Material Estimates

Know exactly how many sheets to buy before you drive to the lumber yard.

Fusion 360 Cut List Generator