The website was simple, almost boring. No 3D renders. No marketing fluff. Just a clean screenshot of a 2D floor plan. The community edition was completely free. She downloaded it.

He plugged it into the CNC computer. The preview rendered. Every line was continuous. Every layer was correct. The router whirred to life and carved the first piece of birch plywood with a whisper.

She refined her search: “Best free 2D CAD software DWG compatibility.”

Don’t ask “How do I get AutoCAD for free?” Ask “What is the right tool for the job that I can actually afford?”