I am looking for a CAD program, suitable for furniture design. Ideally
the program would have the capability to optimize cutting patterns for
plywood sheets (i.e., 4ft x 8ft and 5ft x 5ft). Something easy to use,
not too expensive, and would rotate and/or display the furniture in
isometric projection. Anyone out there know of such a program?
"Buckwheat" <[email protected]> wrote:
> I am looking for a CAD program, suitable for furniture design. Ideally
> the program would have the capability to optimize cutting patterns for
> plywood sheets (i.e., 4ft x 8ft and 5ft x 5ft). Something easy to use,
> not too expensive, and would rotate and/or display the furniture in
> isometric projection. Anyone out there know of such a program?
My best friend Ernie uses a shareware program called DeltaCad. It costs
around forty bucks, and there's a trial version. He used it to assist
drawing up plans for the deck he build for his summer home last year.
Try http://www.deltacad.com or another you might look into is called
Microvellum http://www.microvellum.com/
VK
Swingman said:
>Friday night I went looking for a map/plan rack to put all those rolled up
>house plans that keep multiplying around here. Nothing, nada, zero, zip ...
>no such thing available in the 4th largest metropolitan area of the US.
>
>So yesterday I did what I should have done in the first place ... build to
>spec.
>
>Thanks to CAD (and a handy shop) I was able to _precisely_ layout,
>beforehand, 15 circles of the appropriate diameter in the 10" x 20"
>available scraps heretofore destined for the heap.
>
>http://e-woodshop.net/images/map-planrack.JPG
>
>Ya gotta love CAD.
>
>"Mama don't take my CAD away (Kodachrome) ... "
>
>... with apologies to Paul Simon.
Nice looking 'pile-o-scraps'.
I use CAD for planning, and the rendering options allow for
visualizing a design, fully shaded with materials and a background of
your choice at any perspective and lighting condition you desire.
But the learning curve is pretty steep...
Graph paper and pencil still has one advantage.
Greg G.
"Buckwheat" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I am looking for a CAD program, suitable for furniture design.
There are many capable of designing furniture.
Ideally the program would have the capability to optimize cutting patterns
for
> plywood sheets (i.e., 4ft x 8ft and 5ft x 5ft).
You are talking about a second program like Cut List Plus here.
Something easy to use, not too expensive, and would rotate and/or display
the furniture in
isometric projection.
Unless you have drafting experience you probably are going to have a steep
learning curve with any of the drafting programs. Not to disrespect brain
surgeons but it might be easier to learn to become a surgeon.
Anyone out there know of such a program?
If there is, expect to pay many thousands of dollars.
No! Autocad cost is $3500+, and it will not do all that without an expensive
add on program.
Isometric form is exaggerated, perspective is better.
Cutting patterns can be done manually drawing with Acad or a cheap
substitute.
"Buckwheat" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I am looking for a CAD program, suitable for furniture design. Ideally
> the program would have the capability to optimize cutting patterns for
> plywood sheets (i.e., 4ft x 8ft and 5ft x 5ft). Something easy to use,
> not too expensive, and would rotate and/or display the furniture in
> isometric projection. Anyone out there know of such a program?
>
"Buckwheat" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I am looking for a CAD program, suitable for furniture design. Ideally
> the program would have the capability to optimize cutting patterns for
> plywood sheets (i.e., 4ft x 8ft and 5ft x 5ft). Something easy to use,
> not too expensive, and would rotate and/or display the furniture in
> isometric projection. Anyone out there know of such a program?
>
Cutlist plus for doing cut layouts.
I believe one of the biggest bangs for the bucks is a little CAD programs is
DesignCad. Its been around for about 15 years (since DOS) and new versions
keep coming out with a very active user group (www.designcadunleashed.com).
I bought mine from an internet dealer through Amazon. I think it was about
$55 for version 15. At first I thought this program was "ok" but recently
I've learned a lot about some of the hidden power in it through the user
group and I am now a very enthusiastic user. It has both perspective and
isometric views. The ability to "walk around" or turn an object over in 3D
is just awesome. you get to see all of your screwups before you make a cut.
Just for the heck of it, as a learning experience, I recently completed a 4
sided rectangular hopper drawing, then cut it out on the table saw. I am an
engineer and good with math, but trying to calculate the miter and bevel
angles on a non-square hopper was a major pain. I just drew it up in Design
Cad and let it tell me the angles and dimensions. There was not a single
square edge or cut anywhere in the resultant pieces. After I cut the pieces
out, they fit together like a glove. I was totally amazed.
Bob
"BillyBob" wrote in message
> is just awesome. you get to see all of your screwups before you make a
cut.
> Just for the heck of it, as a learning experience, I recently completed a
4
> sided rectangular hopper drawing, then cut it out on the table saw. I am
an
> engineer and good with math, but trying to calculate the miter and bevel
> angles on a non-square hopper was a major pain. I just drew it up in
Design
> Cad and let it tell me the angles and dimensions. There was not a single
> square edge or cut anywhere in the resultant pieces. After I cut the
pieces
> out, they fit together like a glove. I was totally amazed.
Friday night I went looking for a map/plan rack to put all those rolled up
house plans that keep multiplying around here. Nothing, nada, zero, zip ...
no such thing available in the 4th largest metropolitan area of the US.
So yesterday I did what I should have done in the first place ... build to
spec.
Thanks to CAD (and a handy shop) I was able to _precisely_ layout,
beforehand, 15 circles of the appropriate diameter in the 10" x 20"
available scraps heretofore destined for the heap.
http://e-woodshop.net/images/map-planrack.JPG
Ya gotta love CAD.
"Mama don't take my CAD away (Kodachrome) ... "
... with apologies to Paul Simon.
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 10/22/05
Swingman (in [email protected]) said:
| So yesterday I did what I should have done in the first place ...
| build to spec.
|
| Thanks to CAD (and a handy shop) I was able to _precisely_ layout,
| beforehand, 15 circles of the appropriate diameter in the 10" x 20"
| available scraps heretofore destined for the heap.
|
| http://e-woodshop.net/images/map-planrack.JPG
|
| Ya gotta love CAD.
Your picture is worth a million words! I'm about to render the most
sincere form of flattery!
--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/solar.html
"Morris Dovey" wrote in message
>
> Your picture is worth a million words! I'm about to render the most
> sincere form of flattery!
Be my guest ... functional as hell, which was all I cared about, but looking
at it in the office, it didn't turn out too bad for something done out of
frustration and wasn't in existence the day before.
... might even shellac it the next time I have the spray rig fired up. ;)
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 10/22/05
Buckwheat wrote:
> I am looking for a CAD program, suitable for furniture design. Ideally
> the program would have the capability to optimize cutting patterns for
> plywood sheets (i.e., 4ft x 8ft and 5ft x 5ft). Something easy to use,
> not too expensive, and would rotate and/or display the furniture in
> isometric projection. Anyone out there know of such a program?
>=20
I just got TurboCad. It is a very good program -- particularly as I got=20
the training CDs -- 2D and 3D versions. They have a deal on right now -- =
for all three items. (http://turbocad.com)
I do not believe that there is an optimizer for TurboCad for cut sheets, =
but certainly someone _could_ write one for the professional version. I=20
got the deluxe version and will consider the professional version if I=20
decide to start doing some optimization programming again...
It looks very slick... I used to use AutoCAD -- many different versions=20
including Autocad MAP -- and have used Industrial specialized CAD for=20
over 30 years in various forms. It's quite impressive what you can get=20
for a low price now.
Their professional program and the deluxe version can use a built in=20
pricing program (Macro/Add-on). I will let you know what it does when I=20
get there...
If you have never used CAD remember that there is a heavy start-up=20
investment -- just from switching programs even. It can be worth it=20
though...
--=20
Will R.
Jewel Boxes and Wood Art
http://woodwork.pmccl.com
The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those=20
who have not got it.=94 George Bernard Shaw
"Greg G." wrote in message
> I use CAD for planning, and the rendering options allow for
> visualizing a design, fully shaded with materials and a background of
> your choice at any perspective and lighting condition you desire.
> But the learning curve is pretty steep...
> Graph paper and pencil still has one advantage.
I've got QuickCAD, no longer for sale I'm told, mastered for what I need to
do with it ... mainly simple scale shop drawings with dimensions. I also
have DesignCAD 3D Max, or somesuch, which I haven't had the time or
inclination to get a handle on.
I just like the _process_, which forces you to think through the project
before you ever start.
That alone has saved me designing my way out of a corner countless times.
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 10/22/05