I'm looking for a CAD software to *easily* design cabinets and/or built in
units. I have Design Max 3d but I'm looking for something similar to what
you see used at the various borg's in their kitchen design areas. Something
where I could plug in cabinet x with x y and z dimensions, then dress it up
with various door styles.

Does anyone know of a program like this. Or, know what they use at the
borgs?

TIA,

JC

noonenparticular wrote:
I'm looking for a CAD software to *easily* design cabinets and/or builtin
units. I have Design Max 3d but I'm looking for something similar to what
you see used at the various borg's in their kitchen design areas. Something
where I could plug in cabinet x with x y and z dimensions, then dress it up
with various door styles.

Does anyone know of a program like this. Or, know what they use at the
borgs?

TIA,

JC



That could mean almost anything. :-)

Professional? Amateur? Budget?

http://www.imsisoft.com/prodinfo.asp?t=1&mcid=352


Look here for Cabinet maker Products. Some cost muchos pesos -- some
cost more...
http://cabinetmakeronline.com/


--
Will R.
Jewel Boxes and Wood Art
http://woodwork.pmccl.com
The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those
who have not got it.” George Bernard Shaw

"WillR" wrote in message
...
noonenparticular wrote:
I'm looking for a CAD software to *easily* design cabinets and/or built in
units. I have Design Max 3d but I'm looking for something similar to what
you see used at the various borg's in their kitchen design areas.
Something where I could plug in cabinet x with x y and z dimensions, then
dress it up with various door styles.

Does anyone know of a program like this. Or, know what they use at the
borgs?

TIA,

JC

That could mean almost anything. :-)

Professional? Amateur? Budget?

http://www.imsisoft.com/prodinfo.asp?t=1&mcid=352

Look here for Cabinet maker Products. Some cost muchos pesos -- some
cost more...
http://cabinetmakeronline.com/
--
Will R.
Jewel Boxes and Wood Art
http://woodwork.pmccl.com
The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those
who have not got it.” George Bernard Shaw

I would not mind paying pro prices if it fills my needs. I really didn't
have much success on my first try at your website suggestion. Most products
geared towards cad/cam, not just cad. I don't have the room (yet) for
cad/cam. Maybe someday.....

jc

"noonenparticular" wrote
I'm looking for a CAD software to *easily* design cabinets and/or built in
units. I have Design Max 3d but I'm looking for something similar to what
you see used at the various borg's in their kitchen design areas.
Something where I could plug in cabinet x with x y and z dimensions, then
dress it up with various door styles.

Does anyone know of a program like this. Or, know what they use at the
borgs?

If you *know* what you're drawing then most CAD programs will do exactly
what you want them to.
I previewed many and then purchased AutoCAD LT.
It will act just like a pencil-scale-T-Square AND do some automations type
things once you feel comfortable.
The basic commands in LT can be learned in seconds and you'll be up and
running.
But I have to emphasize again, you have to *know* what you're drawing.
Even the most expensive CAD programs don't *know* how to draw and the fully
automated ones at the borgs only work within very strict parameters that
restrict flexibility.

Good points Don, thank you.

jc

"Don" wrote in message
nk.net...
"noonenparticular" wrote
I'm looking for a CAD software to *easily* design cabinets and/or built
in units. I have Design Max 3d but I'm looking for something similar to
what you see used at the various borg's in their kitchen design areas.
Something where I could plug in cabinet x with x y and z dimensions, then
dress it up with various door styles.

Does anyone know of a program like this. Or, know what they use at the
borgs?

If you *know* what you're drawing then most CAD programs will do exactly
what you want them to.
I previewed many and then purchased AutoCAD LT.
It will act just like a pencil-scale-T-Square AND do some automations type
things once you feel comfortable.
The basic commands in LT can be learned in seconds and you'll be up and
running.
But I have to emphasize again, you have to *know* what you're drawing.
Even the most expensive CAD programs don't *know* how to draw and the
fully automated ones at the borgs only work within very strict parameters
that restrict flexibility.

sorry, i'm not thinking along the lines of presentation, but prints of
views. Lt won't draw off of a single 2D plane, and other things to begin
with. Autocad can spin all grown pieces seperately or individually in 3D,
or from any view, including the 3 normal, but its not a pick and choose
software. Nor does it create a bill of materials. Whether and how easy it
is to create accurate dimensioned prints from 3 or more views depends on
version. ProEngineer, for instance, will automatically create all printable
dimensioned views when you model the piece(S) automatically. The great
thing about this end of software is that it monitors what you have done in
terms of draw line from a to b . Create a surface from ab using point c.
Create boss from surface abc d height. When you change a b or c, d
automatically adjusts. It asks you what to do (you tell it) . In AutoCAD
if you change a, b, or c, you might as well erase anyfrom from d on that
depends on them. This is difficult software and expensive. ($10G).

in LT if you want 3 views, you need to create three seperate drawings. All
points, lines, etc., dimensions. Three seperate thimes. You will never see
anything but orthographic projections. Never spin a cabinet, all you got is
stick lines. AutoCAD can render, that is make a picture in wood grain of
all pieces of a 3D model from any view. You need 3 ortho views for
dimensioning though - the plans (Bill OF Materials). AutoCAD also does
isometric, that is you can draw stick figures in a 3D representation. It
won't colour, shade, or render. always sticks. It doesn't spin. You choose
the view from the outset. You can't change it. It won't go from elsewhere
to make dimensions. It can dimension, but with dimension lines aligned with
the stick figures. It can get confusing. Not in 3 right angled views. I
do not know if Lt even does this.

TIP: When drawing these 3 essential orthographic (plan) views (Top, Front, L
or R), as I said AutoCAD may take a snap shot or not or better(depending on
version) - or another way (Salespeople from CAD supplier, not future shop
can help) from the 3D model it CAN make, but both LT and AutoCAD allow stick
drawing in order to get these diomensioned views. Instead of drawing all 3
views on a seperate screen, you can draw all 3 on the same screen and save
yourself lots of hassles. You do not draw the dimensions - just point to
the ends. But you draw each ends 3 times. The front view - this is
standard drafting proceedure, goes in the lower left position. The right
view is directly to the right. The top view is directly above the front
view, but shifted to the left of the right view. This way all the positions
are in alignment. You can use projection(construction) lines to know end
points. If you draw a line at 90 degreed abouve the right view projection
lines upward to the mitre line drawn horizontally over to the top view will
give an intersection of projection lines for all points. Ovals can be drawn
this way( center points LT/ isocircle). Gives a clean drawing. Print all
three views at the same time. Or zoom and print screen selection on
seperate pages. 8-1/2" x 11" each.

AutoCAD is nor a good 3D modelling program for say a car body. It has the
nuts but not the soup.

for those who may need to know, let me try to clarify the dimensioning in 3
views from a 3D model comments. I may just be assuming that a software can
do this automatically. With Pro/E, maybe it is a function of the print
menu, like Print, Right View, w/ dimensions. Can't remember what is
automatic w/i Pro/E. Its amazing what advantage new developments in
versions give. Mechanical Desktop is a third AutoDesk product (ca. ~1981).
No comments.

The point is, with AutoCAD you draw somthing in 3D, which you can't in LT.
You're gonna want 3 views dimensioned views. Imagine you cut a 6-sided
cube out of a single piece of paper. You can fold out the single piece of
paper with the squares, with L, F, R laying side by side from left to right.
T & B are respectively above and below F. In AutoCAD, to get three views
with dimensions, hit a couple keystrokes to spin the model within the sw and
dimension from end point to end point. Spin again, dimension, and again,
and again... if necc. 3 std. Then when you spin it back to the start view,
you've got dimensions in 3D, granted flat. Anything can be made visible or
invisible, and printing can be done from any view. You can put dims on a
seperate layer, and turn them off. If you need to get a 3 views on one
page, as opposed to seperate pages, I'm pretty sure you can do that without
heroic measures, depending on version. Thats what I was thinking about.

With a 3D model in AutoCAD. Just the term for what AutoCAD makes when you
create something in it. It can then shade, colour, grain or any material,
and you can spin it like a maniac. Doesn't indicate complicated
construction. Pro/E is a parametric feature based solid modelling program.
Same idea with Catia, SDRC Ideas, & unigraphics. One is GM (unigraphics),
one is ford (SDRC Ideas) I think. In Aerospace, boeing is CATIA. From
designer to supplier. Pro/E is no-one but everything else I think. If
you're name ain't on it.

heres a simple 3D solid model in AutoCAD.

Draw, (menu command)
Recangle, (menu command)
point to 2 corners (with cursor)

extrude, (enter text command)
select the rectangle, (with cursor)
enter you're height, (type in)
enter extrusion taper angle (text in degrees)

View, (menu command)
3D Viewport, (menu command)
one of SW, SE, NE, NW (menu command)

shade (enter text command)

if the 4 lines, or any no. of lines, arcs, splines... are closed they must
be a single unit (a polyline) before making a solid:

pedit, (enter text command)
select the basic, (with cursor)
y, (type in)
j, (enter text command)
select the adjoining basics, (with cursor box)

to create solids built of several parts (a cube with a curved lid):

Modify, (menu command)
Boolean, (menu command)
Union, Subtract, or Intersect, (menu command)
select the adjoining solids, (with cursor box)

to create renderings, or add materials:

view,
Render, (menu command)
Materials Library, (menu command)

then,

view, (menu command)
Render, (menu command)
Render... (menu command)

These last two aren't so important in woodworking. just to be able to make
each piece in relation to each other. With all rounds, joints, gaps...