Anyone using Cabinet Planner software?

[cabindoors]

I'm currently searching for a reasonably priced cabinet/kitchen design software program that is relatively easy to use, for our small cabinet company (ie 1 kitchen per month or so).

This is what I've come up with..

eCabinets............too hard to learn and too expensive for our small company.
20/20.................ditto
KCDw..................ditto
www.cabinetpartspro.com (http://www.cabinetpartspro.com)....relatively easy to use and some what reasonably priced but no kitchen layout that I can see. Will probably buy this later.
www.cabinetplanner.com (http://www.cabinetplanner.com).....seems to do everything I want at $70 (price is going to go up to $300 because they are working on 3D layout (waste of time in my opinion)
www.customcabinetsoftware.com (http://www.customcabinetsoftware.com) Very easy and really nice, but pricey at $4k

Was wondering if anyone is using this www.CabinetPlanner.com (http://www.CabinetPlanner.com) program? Yesterday I bought it and would like to know if other Shopbotters are using this. I just found out that you can only see the dadoes, rabbets, shelf holes, etc when you download the .dxf file.

Also wondering if anyone is using www.CustomCabinetSoftware.com (http://www.CustomCabinetSoftware.com) software. I'm impressed with there tutorials but I can't afford it now.

Thanks
Tom

[cabindoors]

I forgot to mention that the software must be able to output dxf files for our Shopbot which all of the listed programs do.

Tom

[curtiss]

Is there a "Cabinet 101" PDF that has most of the terminolgy of the "pieces and parts" involved with these items ?

[cabnet636]

a while back i was working with ryan and the cabinetplanner fellow, i did see it out put a layered dxf that could be machined with CPP and aspire

[Gary Campbell]

Tom....
I would like to clarify for others that may read this. I havent checked the price of KCDW or 20/20 lately, but I do agree that they are substantial. I disagree when you say eCabinets is priced similar, since the program is absolutely free for a qualified registered user.

The ShopBot Link from Thermwood Corporation (the developers of eCabinets) is an NC module that allows cutting of eCabinets generated files on a ShopBot. It costs $1,295. One of the least expensive NC modules available for a full featured cabinet design suite.... anywhere.

Even tho there are major players that use eCabs, the majority of SB Link users are small shops. I mean small as in 1 or 2 man. As small as you can get. I will bet that to a man, they will tell you that is worth much more to them than they paid for it, and that is easily paid for itself in a months time.

I wont argue that eCabs has a learning curve, however, depending on how you build your cases, you may be able to use some of the free libraries full of cabinets that are virtually ready to cut. You also have the option to subscribe to the eCabinets Training Videos for $25 per month. You can watch/learn everything there for a month or two and cancel if you wish.

The SB Link is a little tricky to get setup, as it seems every machine has its own personality. Most have it dialed in in 3 or 4 jobs. Should you want to get up and running quicker, I sell a video for $150 that assists you with every setting and should get you up and running in 3 hrs.

So, there you have it. For $1500 you have eCabs, The SB Link, my Video and 2 months of unlimited Video training online.

[wberminio]

I own and use KCD everyday-great program/great support.
BUT- If the SB link was available 3 years ago,I would Not have upgraded
to KCD One button.
Gary makes some truley valid points.

Remember time = $$$ The time and monetary investment in ECabs is worth it in the end.
Isn't that the reason we invested in CNC in the first place?

[Gary Campbell]

Sorry... laptop battery died.

CabinetPartsPro is the best cabinet cutting program you can get for under $1000. Even more value if you own a ShopBot. It doesnt have all the features of the heavy hitters above, but only costs in hundreds what they cost in tens of thousands.

That being said, there are sure to be some new players out there that are great bargains, Cabinet Planner may be one of them. I will put in my list to demo. Should you get ready to export DXF's, layered or otherwise, use Ryan's PartNester program (CPPro) to generate cutting files. It works great and is very inexpensive.

Good luck with your search and new software. There doesnt seem to be any "magic' out there. All the really full featured suites are expensive and have a steep learning curve. Talk to current owners of different brands and see how their production and sheet cycle times have improved. If they can brag about substantial improvements, look into the ones I mentioned above.

[frank134]

Tom I have both cabinetpartspro and ecab. Both are good. I older and have hard time learning and remembering thing. I would say I have maybe 3 good month learning ecab Plus all the help I get from shopbot forum. I got the video for 4 month and watch them a little each night plus Gary video. Like I said I have hard time learning and if I can learn it anybody can.
For the money you can’t do better the ecab.

[cabindoors]

Thanks very much! You all have inspired and enlightened me alot.

Tom

[GlenP]

I have Cabinet Planner and drives me nuts that if I want to have a island I have to draw a wall, place the cabinets and then turn the wall off. Perhaps that is one reason they are changing some stuff. Also very hard to draw custom stuff in. I do all faceframe with allot of fluted pillasters and ornate parts and I usually end up drawing in cad or the lat one I drew in my aspire software. Wasn't to bad although aspire is not considered a cad program.
Here is another one. It is free to download and gives you 30 hours free. You can the buy more hours. It downloaded and have been playing with it but haven't allot of time right now.
Take a look. www.kitchendraw.ca (http://www.kitchendraw.ca)
When you go to download it takes you to www.kitchendraw.com (http://www.kitchendraw.com)

:)

GLen