Design software?

[KMorley]

I occasionally build cabinets as a hooby and I usually start out by sketching a design on paper, calculating sizes and then re-sketching it to scale.  This takes a lot of time and I make plenty of mistakes, but eventually I end up with a cut list and a good idea of what I want to accomplish. 

However, I would like to spend more time cutting, sanding, gluing etc., and less time at the drawing board.  Does someone offer simple and inexpensive software that I can use to automate some of this?

Ideally, I would like software that lets me design on the computer and print out the plans.  If the software could also provide a cut list, that would be even better.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[Brice Burrell]

For me Google SketchUp is a no brainer. It's free and very easy to use. There are a ton of great tutorials out there to help you get started. It don't produce a cutlist but one isn't hard to figure out on your own.

 

[tbellemare]

You might also look into eCabinet.

They give away the software hoping you'll take the design to a shop that bought their CNC router (Thermwood). They even give you a list of shops that have them.

Tom

 

[jonny round boy]

SketchUp is perfect for what you need - and it's free!

Additionally, there are various 'plugins' available for SketchUp to do things that the main program doesn't do. One of them is SketchUp Layout & CutList, which is also free. I haven't used this plugin myself - as Brice says it's quite simple to work one out when you've finished your design, but it may be useful for more complicated projects.

 

[mikeneron]

If you are new to Google Sketchup, go through these videos to start.  They will save you a lot of time with the learning curve.
http://sketchupforwoodworkers.com/tutorials

 

[Garba]

I have been using SketchList 3D. It is a very good program. It is not free, but it produces a cutting list and given the dimensions of the boards you are using it gives you the most efficient way to cut to minimize waste. The graphs can be seen and printed in 2D or 3D and all the joinery is taken into account.
Hope this helps.

 

[tbellemare]

Does it account for grain direction in the nesting part of the software?

Tom

 

[Garba]

Yes it does when you are selecting the board you are going to use and positioning it in the assembly.

Garba

 

[jrflyboy]

There are a wide variety of programs out there for hobbyists and pros.  For your application, it is hard to beat Google sketchup.  It's free and lots of woodworkers use it for project planning.  For cutlists, there is a program that I've used before that is free for a trial version and then you pay a small amount to upgrade to the level you need.  It is called CutList Plus.  It will take into account the grain orientation and allow you to maintain size and orientation or to turn a part if it is going to be paint grade.  You can also input your wood stock on hand and it will let you know if you need to buy more.  You can also tell it if you prefer to rip or crosscut first so the layouts will be biased toward your preferences.