Custom Cabinet Design Software

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Chris Kiernan on April 8, 2009 at 11:52am

Thanks I will check out KCD, I have not tried that to date

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Brooks Patterson on May 19, 2009 at 4:41pm

I also use KCD for drawings and CNC but i never used Autocad. Is it worth the expense? Does it take long to learn?

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Stewart Hale on June 18, 2009 at 10:18am

There is definitely a learning curve with Autocad. I took a course at the local community collage which was very beneficial. There is no comparison to the level of detail between the two programs. I have my client sign off on the Autocad Shop drawings before any thing is started ,and have not had any misunderstandings since doing so. I also add the cost of the drawing in with the cost of the job so they are also a added source of revenue Hope this helps .

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Peter Walsh on April 10, 2009 at 5:39pm

Chris,
I am a one man shop. No extra money laying around for costly software, but at the same time I want a very high quality rendering (in color) to show the customer what his project will look like.
There is no beating eCabinet software. First, it's free. That's a price you can't beat anywhere. Second, it can do just about anything you would need to do to convince your customer to buy. Third, you get computer managed nesting. That takes the whole project and tells you not only how many sheets of plywood and board stock you will need to build what you have dsigned, but it will arrange the pieces on the plywood sheet and show you how to cut it for maximum yield out of the stock. I've been using it for years and couldn't do without it.

Yes, cabinet software requires learning and investment of hours to master its capabilities, but it's worth it and anyway, that's something you will have to do with anyone's software. The user forum at eCabinet is amazing and provides almost instant answers to questions. Lots of help there, and there is also learning videos, etc. Now, they have just added free libraries of previously designed cabinets you can pick and choose from, or modify.
Take a peek at my web site for samples of things I sold and built with eCabinet software.
peterwalshbookcases.com
Best of luck,
Peter

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Bob Schendorf on April 19, 2009 at 2:41pm

Chris, I have been on the same quest myself. In August I went to the IWF, Atlanta,and fell for the Pro cabinet 100 (?) series. Easy to use , great support and cut list for $2500. Got a free trial and had immediate succes, but you can't save or print w/ the trial. I've been trying to find the $ to buy it. Started using sketch up and like someone else said had immediate good results. (would still prefer pro cabinet) Went to a show in York PA and was offered Ecabinet for free saw thew demo, thought this is to good to be true, signed up it came..... Back using sketchup Ecabinet is way to cumbersome and the library is weak. Can't do custom drawings and they are trying to sell you everything. Spend some bucks if you can , otherwise sketchup is a good place to start. At least you'll look better w/ your presentations and you can get smoe useful measurements from it

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lisa Spetrini on April 20, 2009 at 12:26pm

Hi, Chris! I don't know if this will work for your needs, but one of the lease expensive & easiest to learn drawing programs for shop drawings may be DeltaCad. It has it's limitations, but many small woodworking shops can use it in conjuction w/the Autodesk free readers. It can open & save .dwgs format files. It may be one of many useful 'tools' for the desktop! Although I have heard many rave about SketchUp, I have yet to use it.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Paul Kunkel on April 24, 2009 at 9:20pm

I use KCDw but it is expensive. They do have a trial version that you could use, but it will not generate cutlists or do the math. It is very easy and intuitive. One to stay away from at all costs is Cabinets-plus by Koesoft. The guy is a crook, the software is very basic, and if you don't like the trial he will not refund your money. I filed a BBB complaint against him and know of several other cabinetmakers now that have been fleeced by him.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Fraser McConney on April 27, 2009 at 8:08pm

i run a small shop in Canada. i use Cabinet Solutions it is very easy to use, has a free trial, and does all you should need to do. Good Luck.

Cheers.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Joel Templin on April 27, 2009 at 10:13pm

I'm really surprised nobody has mentioned CabinetVision. It's one of the main players in this "game." CV isn't cheap and has a relatively steep learning curve, but then they've all got a learning curve. I'd wager that the easier they are to master and use, the less they do. CabinetVision can do it all. The feedback I've heard is that KCDW is a little easier to use than CV but doesn't "do it all." I'm not sure where eCabinets fits in that mix. These programs are primarily designed to build "boxes" but with varying amounts of effort you can do other odd stuff. The effort to do odd stuff varies between programs just as the definition of what's considered odd varies. What I do know is you don't really want to get "in bed" with one of these programs and later have regrets. There is a whole lotta work involved in setting these programs up to run your way and you're not going to want to start over. Keep in mind that you may only need something cheap and simple now but in the future you may require something that does more in the way of that "odd" stuff. These programs are very important tools - don't buy something that has big limits.

Joel

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Joel Templin on April 28, 2009 at 11:11am

Hi Kerry

Microvellum's a powerful program but am told it's better suited to fixture work as opposed to boxes.

I've seen a lot of your renderings around - very impressive. You have a good handle on that program. CabinetVision can do those kind of things too. I've learned there's a parallel between the difficulty in drawing an odd part of a job and the difficulty fabbing it in the shop. The easier it is to draw in CV the easier it is to fab so if I find a trick way of drawing I may have also found a trick way of fabbing.

Would you offer whatever that is you drew to a client? :-) Bet the cutlist is a humdinger. I don't figure a drawing's good unless there's a correct cutlist that comes with it. Do you place a shaped wall and attach objects to it or is that creation just all floating shaped objects? I know nothing of how eCabinets works.

Joel

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Joel Templin on May 1, 2009 at 10:19am

Kerry,

Is it just me or did your last 2 posts dissapppear? Will?

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Khilendra N. BHagat on April 28, 2009 at 8:34am

How to triyal Base Cabinate design Siftware.

▶ Reply to This

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next ›
• Page