Good Day All,
Well I’m finally getting tired of doing plans for cabinets by hand. So far Easycab v8 seems to be the best for my application. I have most of the “Home design” suites with the kitchen designer in them but I need something for each cabinet with cut lists, exploded views etc…I was wondering if anyone uses EasyCab here. I have a CAD background so the learning curve isn’t that bad. I’m still looking for some program a little bit more flexable , any idea’s?
Thanks for your time,
Tim
Replies
Have you looked at "Design Cad 3D Max" by Imsi? Learning curve is long for a novice like me, but it has many possibilities! I'm working with it to re-design the tables and cabinets in my wife's sewing room. I think you can still get a 30 day free trial download from Imsi or Upperspace.com. Just looked at the Upperspace site - click on the downloads tab and select Design CAD 3D MAX.
Holt
Thanks Holt,
Design Cad 3D Max is a little heavy to drag in the laptop to a clients place. With EasyCab the customer has a very good idea of what he's getting, fast. I have used Design Cad 3D Max in the past in other projects and its worked very well. I'm just trying to see if someone's got a better program just for cabinets.
Thanks,
Tim
try to get E-cabinet, it is free the website is ecabinet.com. I just received it, I am reading the learning program. Maybe that might help Let me know
We have been using Cabinet Pro for about three years. Great program for design and cutlist. You can find them at Cabinetpro.com
Thomas
Thanks for the help guys. I'll check them out tonight.Thanks for your time,
Tim
Has anyone tried Sketchup, I use it for basic design ideas, but would like to know if anyone else has tried it
Sketchup seems great for making quick samples of your ideas. But it doesn't make cut lists and exploded views.“The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.” – Albert Einstein
I use SketchUp for all my projects - furniture and small buildings. I not only use it for conceptual design but also for details of the smallest joints. Exploded views are easy to make, and I detail out each component of the project.
Attached is sample.
Tim
How do you get such detailed drawings in Sketchup? In particular how do you draw the joints? I can draw a box and add a thickness layer to it, but then the actual joints need to be added. I see you are using through dovetails on one of your joints. How do you create those? Do you create a "through dovetail" component than add it as needed to future drawings?Very nice work, BTW,Jim
Dallas, TX
Jim, the detail is very important to me in my work. I do not want just a conceptual tool, rather I want to know how everything fits together and all detail dimensions before I go to the shop. This changes the process of work in construction, when having such accurate details and dimensions.
I find that my work in the construction process is much more straightforward with fewer mistakes and much less re-work.
I know that many use SketchUp as a conceptual tool only. That is fine for what they are wanting to do. I also use SketchUp for my conceptual design work, but then it is incomplete without all detail joints, including the dovetails.
I create the shape of one dovetail, then replicate across the component at appropriate separation distance. I cut all my dovetails by hand so I produce a full size template out of SketchUp and use it to mark the piece for sawing.
The ability to create full-size templates for all joints is a great timesaver in the shop. I don't have to worry about accurate marking out of these complex details. I just built a timber frame building in redwood with mortise and tenon joints. I used full-size templates to mark the large timbers, and had great results.
I do like to share details created previously for other projects, however it seems most of my work is one-off and requires a whole new set of joints.
I have done about 100 designs using SketchUp, so let me know if there is something in which you may have more interest.
Tim
Tim,Thanks for the reply. Your sketches are very impressive. I'm trying to design a few simple things, but I've run into one stumbling block repeatedly. There doesn't appear to be an "align" function like there is in Visio. When I want to join two images and they don't meet or intersect exactly where I want them too, I have great difficulty making fine adjustments to get the two parts in the right place. Even after zooming in as close as I can get, moving the mouse even slightly results in the image on screen "hopping" too far. How do you combat this?Jim
Jim, are you using SketchUp? To make two components connect right on is very easy in SketchUp. Each board in my furniture is a component. I can move them to precisely connect in desired configuration. If you are using SketchUp, perhaps we could get more specific on how this is done using a common model of your choice.
Tim
PM-d you.Jim
Just received an E=mail from IMSI. They have a new program called "Floor plan 3D V11" It sells for $29.95. One of the features is a 3D Kitchen with 15 kitchen styles. They say this is a good starting place for planning remodling. http://www.imsisoft.com/prodinfo.asp?t=1&mcid=391&CID=254051 They also say that lighting is included with the program.
Since there is a 30 day free trial period - thought it might interest you.
Holt
Thanks for the info. I have purchased Chief Architect 10 and saving up for Cabinetpro. Between these two I think we have all the bases covered. Next year comes the C & C machine!Thanks for your reply,
Tim
Hello,
I just thought I would mention the software I use for design, design workshop, I have a copy but there is a free download. I have never used any other type so I am sure everyone will think me a caveman. But it seems so simple and as a cabinetmaker I know simple is good.
Later, Greg
Hello to all.
I have just downloaded sketchup and i'me just trying to learn it at the moment.
By far the best cabinet and furniture design software i have come across is
ecabinet systems. Try ecabinetsystems.com If you are looking for software with
which you can design cabinets/furniture/kitchens, and just about any thing else,
then produce dimentioned shop drawings, cutting lists, sheet optimising and then
CNC programs to produce all the componants including carvings,mouldings look
no further. Oh I fogot to mention the best and most important feature of this
software. The price. Its FREE yes FREE $0 No catch no obligation.
No I am not a salesman I am an English one man band cabinet maker from Perth Western Australia. I found out about ecabinet systems from this forum and have been using and learning it for about 6 monthts now. As we say in Australia , just give it a go.
Hope this reply helps someone make their work a little easyer.
John.
eCabinetSystems might be free, but if you arrent a professional Cabinet maker you can't get it at all! In order to get the software, you have to register with them and they verify whether you work for or own a legitimate cabinet making business before they will send you the software.
I don't think they are as strict as you believe. I ordered the software from them and it arrived last month before I went out of town. They do not ask for a tax ID or any other official documentation, they just ask for the name of your business. I do hope that someday I will have a promising business but at the moment it is just that....Promising.
Steve
So you dont have an actual business or DBA set up?
A business in the sense of having a tax number? No I do not. I do not have a store front or am I listed in the phone book.
A business in the sense of having built cabinets and made a few dollars off of them? Yes. I work out of my garage and by word of mouth. I was looking for something to make a more marketable product with and was turned on to this software.
Steve
sorry Frank, didnt realise you wern't a pro. The other guys are right, I also know of other amature woodworkers who have this software. If you do end up using the program you could end up with your own buisiness without a great deal of set up costs. With this software you can design a piece of furniture, have all the componants machined by someone who offers this service on the ecabs network,then all you have to do is assemble,finish and deliver. If you take the time to set up the program in detail, it will also cost the job for you. Its realy worth thinking about.
what is the website to get the free download? thank you for your help
Hi Pierre,
The software is from artifice.com, or you could try cad outpost, it has been several years. It is called design workshop lite, I eventually bought the classic version of it. This is an architectural design tool and from what I have heard old technology. If you are using it for cabinets or furniture you will need to think small and change the grid spacing and dimentions. I usually use an existing drawing I have done that fits the size I am working with, save as and delete everything, that way my dimentioning is allready set to where I like. I usually draw a random block, place and size it and duplicate from there. As an example if I have started with a gable I duplicate it to the place where the door should be and size it after.
Have fun, Greg Love
I have been using a relatively new program called Design Intuition. It is made for Mac OS, but I think they already came up with a Windows version. It has an extremely easy learning curve, it´s beauty is based on its simplicity. Check it out at http://www.gizmolab.com.
Is it still linear shapes only -- no curves?
Yep, no curves yet. I just downloaded version 1.5.3, which is just short of version 2.0 - where curves and angles should make their appearance. I take it you´ve tried it already. I live in Valle de Bravo, Mexico, and as far as I know, I´m the only woodworker who even uses programs down here. I myself could use a good class on cabinet software options. Any recomendations are most welcome. I have no CAD experience.
Haven't used it, only looked closely at its website. My needs definitely require curves (and not just for woodworking!). I'm not even convinced I'll ever go to a CAD program as my work is almost always one of a kind. I guess curiosity keeps me open to the possibility of CAD, and most definitely one that works on the Mac, but I can't be of any real help to you. Good luck!
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