Cabinet design software

[julian abram]

I was wondering if anyone had a recommendation for an affordable (low cost) cabinet design software. I'm not a cabinet shop, just a one man woodworker that occasionally does some cabinetry for family, friends and others. I did a search here on the forum and only saw software recommendations from 2012 or older. Suggestions?

[Erik Loza]

I don't know what the cost is but most shops I know use Cabinet Vision.

Erik

[Lewis Justis]

Take a look at Cabinet Planner. It may be just what you are looking for.

[Justin Ludwig]

Ecabinets is free. Thermwood is continually updating it. Their training seminar is cheaper than most programs out there. I use cabinet vision but it's certainly not low cost.

[Martin Wasner]

I use cabnetware and will be switching to cabinet vision soon(ish). I'm guessing neither is what you're looking for as they're both over $5k to get into to.

Mozaik is subscription based and has some very cool features. I really wanted to like it, but I've been running the software I have for almost ten years and couldn't make the transition.

[Joel Wesseling]

I'm also looking for new cabinet software. I used free google sketchup for 3 years for many projects - I know it doesn't compare to more sophisticated programs.
Has anyone used sketchup pro? I think its about $700

Cabinet Vision looks amazing

[Stew Hagerty]

+1 for eCabinet Systems. Completely free with multiple cabinet styles available so you can be assured of finding a style that is at least close to what you want. It's easy to use and prints excellent layouts. Did I mention that it's free?

[Martin Wasner]

I'd sell my key to Canetware when the time comes to switch to Cabinet Vision. The problem is I don't know when that will be. I'm going to end up investing about $25k into the new software. So any bit helps.

Planit is no longer supporting Cabnetware, but it's still a plenty powerful program if you can find someone selling a key. Depending on the version, and what is capabilities are you might be able to get it for $1k or less. I've looked high and low for pirated versions with zero luck.

[Ben Rivel]

I'd sell my key to Canetware when the time comes to switch to Cabinet Vision. The problem is I don't know when that will be. I'm going to end up investing about $25k into the new software. So any bit helps.

Planit is no longer supporting Cabnetware, but it's still a plenty powerful program if you can find someone selling a key. Depending on the version, and what is capabilities are you might be able to get it for $1k or less. I've looked high and low for pirated versions with zero luck.
$25K!?! Wow how much do they get for Cabinet Vision?!

[Justin Ludwig]

Cabinet Vision is one of the top tier cabinet programs. Martin is probably opting to the "Ultimate" version, which comes with Closet Design, Nesting, Optimization and a year of support from Planit. I haven't looked into their new version 9 because I'm happy with mine. You can get a free month of Cabinet Vision Essential but it is extremely hobbled in power and reporting. Versions (tiers) are Essential, Standard, Advanced, Ultimate. Then they have add-on packages.


I'm also looking for new cabinet software. I used free google sketchup for 3 years for many projects - I know it doesn't compare to more sophisticated programs.
Has anyone used sketchup pro? I think its about $700I use Sketchup to build 3D posts, appliances and other things my clients want to see in the renderings along with the cabinets. It's very handy and easy to import SKP files into Cabinet Vision.

[Martin Wasner]

$25K!?! Wow how much do they get for Cabinet Vision?!

A lot when you're looking to send parts to a CNC.

[Keith Hankins]

Back in the day before sketchup I used e-cabinets. Its free. Little bit of a learning curve but you can do it. I'm in the process of working with a builder on my next (and last) home. I'm going to build the cabinets that he' has installed.

I've been looking at cabinet software that is leased by the month, since I will only have one kitchen to do. If you google cabinet software by the month, you will see a lot of options that allows you to rent the software. If you only want one kitchen done may be a good alternative. I'm wanting cad-cam G-code output for my CNC so I can design and it will just cut the parts and you put it together.

You may want to consider that route as well.

Good luck.

[Gerry Grzadzinski]

Really good cabinet software can take well over a month to get setup properly, when you are outputting to a CNC and want everything done your way.

[Keith Hankins]

Really good cabinet software can take well over a month to get setup properly, when you are outputting to a CNC and want everything done your way.

Very true, I'm planning on a 3 - 5 month effort once I have my plans nailed down. At the cost of the software thats still cheaper than outright purchase since I'm not a cabinet shop. It's a one -n- done deal. I use other cad/cam software for other uses.

[Brad Shipton]

Full fledged cabinet software is very expensive, and for good reason. This is for production shops that need to be able to change things with a few clicks and output G-code direct to their CNC. This software keeps track of hardware specs and all sorts of details that we hobbiest's normally have to go to a spec page to figure out.

I suggest you stick with sketchup or a CAD program. Draftsight is a decent free CAD program if you do not want to spring for Autocad. With Autodesk's new licensing policies you can lease the software for a short period of time. If you have the patience you can learn ecabs, but keep in mind Thermwood is focused on selling their CNC machines, so the software is geared with that in mind. I know it works great for many, but if you do not want to stick to their system it might not work well for you.

[Bob Lang]

Most "cabinet" software systems use parametric modeling. You enter the specs concerning how the cabinets go together and the computer builds a 3D model based on those specs. When you want to change something you back up and edit the specifications. If you own a production shop it's worth the money and time involved in learning the software and tweaking it to your methods. You can generate a complete kitchen in a short time and the software will spit back information to the CNC router and generate cutlists, etc. These work really well until you want to place one odd cabinet in with a bunch of stock cabinets or make something that is truly custom. It's tough to design in a program like this because you can't really use the program to problem solve; you need to know what the design is like to enter the parameters the software will use.

SketchUp is a far better solution in my mind for a small shop as it offers the best of both worlds; you can create new designs by modeling and you can save examples of stock cabinets that can be easily modified in other files. Existing models can be quickly changed with a few simple tools. There are some powerful things under the hood in SketchUp that few people take the time to learn about. If you know how to use and leverage components and component libraries in SketchUp you gain nearly all the benefits of programs like Cabinet Vision at a fraction of the cost. All the information about the size and shape of every part is in the model, and it's easy to extract that info when you need it.

Bob Lang

[julian abram]

Thanks all for the good info. I just ordered a cabinet book from Amazon yesterday authored by Bob Lang, I assume you might be the same person?

[Jeff Monson]

Julian, I've done a few kitchens with Cabinet Planner. IMO its great for the money. I'm a hobbyist, but I have had great success with this software.

[Jon Nuckles]

Thanks all for the good info. I just ordered a cabinet book from Amazon yesterday authored by Bob Lang, I assume you might be the same person?

Good choice on the book. I checked out quite a few through my local library and felt that his Complete Kitchen Cabinetmaker was the most helpful. I bought it as well.

[Bob Lang]

That's me.

[Rick Alexander]

If you want to learn Sketchup - Bob also has an interactive book out there for that. I took a 3 day course from him here at Woodcraft in Atlanta some good many years ago (might be 8-10) and never looked back. The #1 tool in my shop since then is my laptop and Sketchup.

If all you want is to design your kitchen, you can go to 3D warehouse and import KraftMade kitchen cabinets which are sizable with a couple clicks of the keyboard to any available size they make. I use that to place the cabinets while I'm sitting with a client. I know how to build the boxes so I don't really need Sketchup for that - just to design the kitchen itself while sitting with the client. Then they can choose a style and finish which I will make in the shop. I can draw a complete kitchen in about 45 minutes this way.

Again - Thanks Bob - best money spent/time invested I ever did was learn Sketchup.

[Bob Lang]

Thanks for the kind words Rick, glad to hear you're doing well with SketchUp. I think that planning by building a 3D model makes life in the shop so much easier, mainly because I catch something while creating the model that would be costly in the shop.