Software options

[32mmcabinet]

Hi,
I've just started looking into CNC options for my one man 32mm frameless cabinet shop and was wondering what the best software setup for me would be if I were to go with the Shopbot CNC? 99% of the work I would be doing with it would be cutting/drilling/grooving parts for frameless cabinets. I have looked over the different software mentioned on the site, and tried several of the programs, but wanted to ask the people actually using the programs which would be the best program to do what I needed to do in a user friendly manner.

[wberminio]

I'm also a one man,mainly 32 frameless shop.I've been using KCDW since it was only KCD (DOS version).I've upgraded since and now have their "one Button" program.I find it very easy to use.Going from drawings to cutlist was always a great time saver.Now I go from drawings to finished product.Their customer support has been very helpful
during the past years.They have even customized some cabinetry details in the past for me.John Murphy was and still is a cabinetmaker and understands what we need to be efficient in the shop.He even gave me some practical shop advice when I decided to go with CNC . I know the initial cost is a factor(fortunately for me I bought the program many years ago),but you are not forced to pay for yearly upgrades,and ease of use made it a worthwhile
investment, especially for my situation.I know this sounds like an ad,but this is my personal observation.

Erminio

[Gary Campbell]

32mm...
The software that ships with the ShopBot will allow you to draw & cut any cabinet component that you should ever need. That being said, you will have to evaluate the feature to price value for your particular usage and needs. Customer drawings, cutlists, nesting, dados, component definitions, hardware drilling and location options are just some of the features that you may require to suit the way you construct your cabinets. Try to find a package that has all the features you want and can afford, and gives you the ability to add on as your CNC experience level increases.
Gary

[wberminio]

I agree with Gary, to a point.
If you are looking for a program that you can easily
go from drawings to CNC machining,then KCDw is the way to go.They have made pretty simple,even for a novice like me.I think the real factor would be the price.Even my first copy was leased.I couldn't afford it then or now.But think of it as another tool that will make your life a lot easier.Your located near the Cape.Call KCDw and visit them,
then make your decision.If you want to email me
I could explain more.
Erminio

[henrik_o]

If you are willing to standardize on one construction hardware supplier, all the Big Three (Hettich/Häfele/Blum) European hardware conglomerates offer heavily subsidized CAD solutions.

Hettich prices their Selection Professional at $380, which is a base bargain for that package. I was also given the option of full functionality for 30 days, and if I want to keep it after that, I pay. Naturally, however, you are limited to their hardware offerings and there is little room for customizing outside of the basic parametrics the program gives you. There is also no direct cnc link.

The good news is that it is run on the AutoCAD engine, which means the program output (.dwg/.dxf) is easily workable in CAM software (and other CAD software as well).

The Hettich SP website is at
http://www.hettich.com/selection/professional/en/index.htm

Blum offers the Dynalog software package, I forget what Häfele's is called. We're mainly a Hettich shop, so I went with them, got the CD some days ago and have just begun looking into it.

Edit: to be clear, the software mentioned above allows for rapid parametric CAD but it contains no CAM what so ever. You will need a CAM solution that will import the .dwg/.dxf files and nest and toolpath them. I understand that new ShopBots will come with the Vectric suite included, and setting up a cnc link through them should be a snap (VCravePro does nest, no?)

[fleinbach]

No nest Vcarv Pro

[32mmcabinet]

Thanks for the responses. I should have added that I'm using CabinetVision Solid for drawings and cutlists, but am not willing to put more money into that program for the CNC capacity. I will continue to use it for drawings, so ultimately I'd be looking for a separate program that I could either import my data from Cabinetvision, or enter cabinet box sizes to generate the part sizes. My line boring, grooving etc remain the same for all wall csabinet, base cabinets etc.

[henrik_o]

You could start by looking at Cabinet Parts Pro (http://www.cabinetpartspro.com/) which is a working solution, and iCabinetShop (http://www.icabinetshop.com/phpbb2/index.php) which is in development.

Either of these should work, the question is how transparently and 1:1-ish. Getting good quality nesting software on the cheap is not an easy task.

[henrik_o]

Frank,

ah, bummer.

[benchmark]

Henrik,

For panel work I use Cutlist Plus for my nesting, I then export the DXF files to Vcarve Pro......Alas you have to add all your drill, groove and dado's.


Paul

[henrik_o]

Paul,

Yeah, there doesn't seem to be a very straight process to do this.

What I would really like to find is a CAM program that imported layered DXF's (where the layers are assigned Z depths) and did a basic nesting. It would not need to be fancy, I know complex nesting algorithms are among the most treasured algos in the whole software universe, just basic regular shape 2D nesting.