Thread: Software design

Hi sml2010. ArchiCAD is about as good as it gets but you're looking at many thousands of dollars to obtain a copy and a licence. Quite a complex program to master also, but well worth it if you have deep pockets and the time to learn it.

Craig

As an Archicad user for 10+ years now I would be looking at getting started on Revit. Many Autocad users are now moving to the 3d capability of Revit which will make finding work and sharing files so much easier if you are up with Revit.

Originally Posted by sml2010

Hi
I am new in wood working . I am looking for a professional software for design.
Please help me and tell a good software for decoration design and ... in the wood industrial.
I am wait for your reply.
Thank you

You say you're new in woodworking. What kind of woodworking are you doing or planning to do? What will you use the software for? Do you need to make drawings to show your clients? Or do you need to create construction documents? Patterns for templates? Maybe all three? You might take a look at SketchUp 2013 Pro. It's not that expensive and every bit as capable as any CAD program for woodworking projects.

Originally Posted by DWR

You might take a look at SketchUp 2013 Pro. It's not that expensive and every bit as capable as any CAD program for woodworking projects.

...almost choked on my breakfast!

SketchUp and/or SketchUp Pro are very good and very handy programs, and a great suggestion if it will suit sml2010's requirements, but I'd have to disagree with your comment "every bit as capable as any CAD program for woodworking projects". I've yet to stumble on a professional designer or architect that uses either of the SketchUps.

Craig

You must not get out much. I know quite a few professionals who use SketchUp, some of them exclusively, for permitting and construction documents. Here's one: :: Nicholas Sonder, ARCHiTECHT :: And another: Stangl Associates I use it professionally for woodworking projects. And if you need a local reference, checkout member AADBuild's site. I create proposals and plan documentation with SketchUp Pro and LayOut.

Originally Posted by CMB

...almost choked on my breakfast!

SketchUp and/or SketchUp Pro are very good and very handy programs, and a great suggestion if it will suit sml2010's requirements, but I'd have to disagree with your comment "every bit as capable as any CAD program for woodworking projects". I've yet to stumble on a professional designer or architect that uses either of the SketchUps.

Craig

Nick Sonder Process 1 - Overview and clean line work - YouTube

check out Nick Sonders video, probably some of the best architectural drawings ever produced. Working in shopfitting of late, i am finding that there is quiet a few retail design work from architects now coming thru from sketchup.

if money is no object, PalletCAD would be my choice for a "woodworking" program. it exports out to ASPAN for CNC nesting and also generates cutting lists, ETC

i should have read the last post , Nicks work has been mentioned already

Originally Posted by sml2010

Hi
I am new in wood working . I am looking for a professional software for design.
Please help me and tell a good software for decoration design and ... in the wood industrial.
I am wait for your reply.
Thank you

Hi sml2010

I hope you really are new to woodworking

what professional software you end up with will depend on many factors

perhaps the most important of which is "how deep are you pockets?"

then comes questions related to what materials, techniques and equipment will be used to build your designs

Most of the larger machinery makers offer custom software packages with their equipment.

Then there are packages like
SOLIDWORS -- useful for 3-D machining
CABINETMAKER (I think that is the correct name) -- which allow you to import a completed 3-D cabinet (including drawers and shelves) and resize all the components with just a few key strokes, following which the program will output a complete CNC cutting and drilling file

Adobe Illustrator and CorelDraw
are just two options for decorative design