who value their time.
I have just purchased ($97.00) a software package called "Cabinet Planner". I have now had it for about 10 days and I am already nearing expert status. That is testimony to the fact that the steps required are highly intuitive. While the purists in this group (you know who you are) will take issue with software and a computer doing their job, take a moment and listen. What I found most likable about this product is that it was written by a casework guy. It has been fine tuned to allow for any variation on cabinet making you would care to employ including my own style which I had thought was very unique. Step #1 is to tailor the building standards to your liking. You can change materials, sizes and dimensions on all components with a few key strokes. Your changes are now the directions used to fabricate the cabinets you select. After you have designed a suite of cabinets the software will prepare cutlists for the entire project including your solid stock. All the parts will be shown on an optimized cutting plan, obviously different cut plans for each material used. Just a note here, if you have drops laying around, you can enter their size when developing the cut plan and use some of them up. Each cabinet included will be shown on a rudimentary shop drawing with a list of the parts required and the basic sizes called out. Additional features include the ability to print labels for each part cut which can be a huge help on larger jobs. Job proposals can be printed as well as contracts, both documents edited by the user and stored as part of the system standards. The purchase allows you to load the software on up to 3 machines at no additional cost and you are quaranteed free updates for life (probably means his life?). I have been running many tests on this program and finally, this past weekend, I committed wood to the project. I built a pantry cabinet commission in a lot less time than I would have normally taken. In 2 hours time I had all the sheet goods and solid stock sized for a double wall unit 7' high, 22" deep and 32" wide. It was comprised of a melamine inner walls, back and shelves wrapped in raised panel sides (2 rows of 3) and 4 raised panel doors with ½" overlay blum hinges. I am very pleased in the performance of this product and recommend it highly to anyone building cabinetry. It does not force you to build in any particular fashion. What it does is interpret your decisions, crunch numbers and provide direction in utilizing your raw material. It handles the drudgery of repetitive computations where most mistakes are made and allows the craftsman to concentrate on execution. If you have any questions on this product I will be happy to respond either openly on this forum or by PM.
Ed
I have just purchased ($97.00) a software package called "Cabinet Planner". I have now had it for about 10 days and I am already nearing expert status. That is testimony to the fact that the steps required are highly intuitive. While the purists in this group (you know who you are) will take issue with software and a computer doing their job, take a moment and listen. What I found most likable about this product is that it was written by a casework guy. It has been fine tuned to allow for any variation on cabinet making you would care to employ including my own style which I had thought was very unique. Step #1 is to tailor the building standards to your liking. You can change materials, sizes and dimensions on all components with a few key strokes. Your changes are now the directions used to fabricate the cabinets you select. After you have designed a suite of cabinets the software will prepare cutlists for the entire project including your solid stock. All the parts will be shown on an optimized cutting plan, obviously different cut plans for each material used. Just a note here, if you have drops laying around, you can enter their size when developing the cut plan and use some of them up. Each cabinet included will be shown on a rudimentary shop drawing with a list of the parts required and the basic sizes called out. Additional features include the ability to print labels for each part cut which can be a huge help on larger jobs. Job proposals can be printed as well as contracts, both documents edited by the user and stored as part of the system standards. The purchase allows you to load the software on up to 3 machines at no additional cost and you are quaranteed free updates for life (probably means his life?). I have been running many tests on this program and finally, this past weekend, I committed wood to the project. I built a pantry cabinet commission in a lot less time than I would have normally taken. In 2 hours time I had all the sheet goods and solid stock sized for a double wall unit 7' high, 22" deep and 32" wide. It was comprised of a melamine inner walls, back and shelves wrapped in raised panel sides (2 rows of 3) and 4 raised panel doors with ½" overlay blum hinges. I am very pleased in the performance of this product and recommend it highly to anyone building cabinetry. It does not force you to build in any particular fashion. What it does is interpret your decisions, crunch numbers and provide direction in utilizing your raw material. It handles the drudgery of repetitive computations where most mistakes are made and allows the craftsman to concentrate on execution. If you have any questions on this product I will be happy to respond either openly on this forum or by PM.
Ed
