What's the best software for modelling your cabinet prior to building?

[uptown47]

Hi all,
I'm looking to start building my cabinet soon but, for my tiny pea-sized brain, it's quite a complex design.

The last cabinet I built was just done straight out of my head on to the wood and I just ad-libbed with cuts and pieces of wood I needed to support it etc.

I want this new cabinet to be planned properly as one thing that annoys me about my current cabinet is the rats nest of cables in the bottom.

I've seen people using a program called SketchUp for their design and (reading the blurb) it says it's quite an easy learning curve?

Starting as a beginner I can learn whatever I want so, my question is this, is SketchUp the way to go or are there easier/simpler/better-suited software applications out there for what I want to do?

All I want is to be able to design the cabinet in 3D and then see what supports/strenthening I'll need and easily be able to shift parts about. Also (hopefully) have the software tell me the sizes of everything so that I can then explode the drawing into a kind of "parts list" for cutting and assembly?

Will SketchUp do all that? Is there something better?

Thanks :-)

[bperkins01]

The free version of Sketchup is great. 

I tried learning a few different design software packages over the year and never *got it*

Then Sketchup + this book Sketchup for Woodworkers

Got me over the hump. 

I worked on my cabinet design for a few months in Sketchup until I got it the way I wanted it.
Was well worth the effort.

[uptown47]

The free version of Sketchup is great. 

I tried learning a few different design software packages over the year and never *got it*

Then Sketchup + this book Sketchup for Woodworkers

Got me over the hump. 

I worked on my cabinet design for a few months in Sketchup until I got it the way I wanted it.
Was well worth the effort.

Great stuff! Yep, I want to put a bit of time into the design of it and don't want to rush it and then make mistakes that I regret or end up having to rework parts of the design on the fly.

I'll go with SketchUp then and plan a few hours in with it this weekend and YouTube and see what I can come up with.

Thanks for getting back to me.

[bperkins01]

Check out this guys videos:

He made a lot of the topics really simple..  I still go back to them when I forget something.

[uptown47]

Check out this guys videos:

He made a lot of the topics really simple..  I still go back to them when I forget something.

Nice one!! I'll check him out. Thanks!!

[Mike A]

It is a box with a tv in it.

If an arcade cabinet design is too complicated for a pencil and paper then it is too complicated.

Draw a side panel to the shape you want. the rest of the pieces have to fit your side panel. The width is determined by the monitor you are going to use.

[bperkins01]

Now now Mike A.

Learning Sketchup for a single project may be a lot of overhead vs. paper/pencil (agreed).

But if you are going to do a few different project - well work the investment in time.
I have over 20 projects I've drawn up in Sketchup..  Saves plenty of money in materials alone.

Its a good tool.

[Mike A]

It has plenty of uses. There are lots of projects more complex than a box with a TV in it.

[uptown47]

It is a box with a tv in it.

If an arcade cabinet design is too complicated for a pencil and paper then it is too complicated.

Draw a side panel to the shape you want. the rest of the pieces have to fit your side panel. The width is determined by the monitor you are going to use.

Yes, in principle you're right Mike.

However, the cabinet I want is slightly different. I want it to have a hinged side. Which then presents a problem for the where the joining pieces fix to. I've got a plan in my head on how it's going to work but it would be good to actually 'see' it hence having a go at SketchUp.

Plus it would help with repeatability. If I manage to build this one okay I was thinking of having a go at one for my son-in-laws christmas present (probably won't have time now the year is passing us by). By making the design in SketchUp I can easily repeat what I did.

Cheers

[Mike A]

You should listen to bperkins01. He knows his stuff. If he says SketchUp is the way to go then you should run with that.

My cabs are simple designs. I copy the side of an original cab and then work my way from there. Maybe someday I will cook up an idea complex enough for computer modeling.

Make sure you start posting your ideas. Someone here might suggest an improvement or a time saver or you might inspire an idea for someone else.

[uptown47]

You should listen to bperkins01. He knows his stuff. If he says SketchUp is the way to go then you should run with that.

My cabs are simple designs. I copy the side of an original cab and then work my way from there. Maybe someday I will cook up an idea complex enough for computer modeling.

Make sure you start posting your ideas. Someone here might suggest an improvement or a time saver or you might inspire an idea for someone else.

Yep, I'm definitely going with SketchUp and I will post my progress when I get started. I definitely value everyone's feedback and I'm always open to ideas. Cheers

[bperkins01]

The toughest part of Sketchup isn't Sketchup.  Its designing something with simple joinery that is not overbuilt and allows a certain level of play.  I guess them comes with experience and mistakes.  ex: 2x4's inside a cabinet?  ughh..  those are for walls.

It's the post Sketchup woodworking where I think people get tripped up..  Tolerances of 1/16" are more than good enough for these cabinets.
Hard to convince many they are not making space shuttles and pianos 

uptown47:  My Sketchup design is downloadable..  Take a look at it for some overall ideas in terms of creating a set of plans.

[uptown47]

The toughest part of Sketchup isn't Sketchup.  Its designing something with simple joinery that is not overbuilt and allows a certain level of play.  I guess them comes with experience and mistakes.  ex: 2x4's inside a cabinet?  ughh..  those are for walls.

It's the post Sketchup woodworking where I think people get tripped up..  Tolerances of 1/16" are more than good enough for these cabinets.
Hard to convince many they are not making space shuttles and pianos 

uptown47:  My Sketchup design is downloadable..  Take a look at it for some overall ideas in terms of creating a set of plans.

Hi Bob

Just had a quick read about it on your website. Your cabinet looks awesome!! Great work!!

I'll read it in more depth over the weekend and hopefully find the link to the plans (couldn't see it on first glance).

I'm still trying to fix the CNC I built in my attic. I'm hoping to get that finished and then use that to cut some of the parts for the arcade machine.

Most people just sit and watch soap operas.... sometimes I think they have the right idea! :-)

[Mike A]

Do yourself a favor and leave the CNC in pieces unless you need it for something besides building an arcade cab. Learn the ins and outs of woodworking. A CNC machine isn't helpful unless you are building a bunch of identical cabs.

[uptown47]

Do yourself a favor and leave the CNC in pieces unless you need it for something besides building an arcade cab. Learn the ins and outs of woodworking. A CNC machine isn't helpful unless you are building a bunch of identical cabs.

Mike, the CNC was just to see if I could do it. My mate bought me an Arduino for Christmas and I wanted to make something out of it. It's an entirely separate project to the arcade cabinet but (for reasons I won't bore you with) I really need it up and running. It's just convenient at the moment as I can learn the CNC software whilst simultaneously building something.

[bperkins01]

I'd like a CNC for fun myself, and a 3D printer (for fun), and one of those laser gismos too! 

I agree with Mike on the cabinet - CNC would be a bit much for making boxes   

But still fun to play with..

[Mike A]

That is a good reason to build one. I did the same thing many years ago.

I built it out of HDPE plastic, gas pipe, and roller skate bearings.

I bought bearing blocks at Farm and Fleet.

I used it to make wine racks for a liquor distributor.

I made a few hundred racks for them.

The problem is that I built that before I had a strong base in woodworking.

I started using that machine to do everything.

About ten years ago I realized that my woodworking skills were lacking.

I dedicated myself to learning and found that it was way more fulfilling to be hands on.

I disassembled my CNC machine. The router from that machine is the same router I use in my router table today.

A couple years later I bought a small CNC machine to handle stuff too complex for my skills.

I have ideas for a larger format CNC machine. There are a couple of jobs I could take on if I had one.

[uptown47]

Probably not the place for them but here's a few photos of the CNC build if you're interested. Excuse the woodwork and the mess of it all. I'm by no means a professional!! But, it works, and that's the main thing!

(There's more been done since these photos but it gives you an idea)

[Mike A]

Is there a reason you have a separate power supply for each stepper?

You did a good job organizing your cables. Those things can turn into a mess.

[uptown47]

Is there a reason you have a separate power supply for each stepper?

The PSUs came with the steppers. I just fitted the lot as it spreads the load a bit. I didn't really think to run them all off one to be honest. I'm not sure what the steppers are pulling at full load but I could probably get away with just one power supply (or maybe two?). Good observation! :-)

You did a good job organizing your cables. Those things can turn into a mess.

Thanks. I really wanted to keep things neat and tidy but, unfortunately, due to issues I've had with electrical noise and various other problems the cables are a right mess at the moment. I'll be tidying them back up again though when I finish the latest round of mods!

[bperkins01]

Holy Crap!

I like that 

Yes - its appropriate in the woodworking forum   

[Mike A]

I had the same problem with electrical noise. It took awhile to sort out.

I wish I had some pics of my old setup. Mine only used one power supply.

The CNC machine I bought also only had one power supply.

[uptown47]

Holy Crap!

I like that 

Yes - its appropriate in the woodworking forum   

Thanks Bob

I had the same problem with electrical noise. It took awhile to sort out.

I wish I had some pics of my old setup. Mine only used one power supply.

The CNC machine I bought also only had one power supply.

Yep, I've literally just finished re-running all the motor cables in screened cable and I've bonded the spindle etc.

I'm also going to make a proper spoil board for it and install limit switches so I can automatically home it to the same spot every time... (Plus around a million and one other jobs...)

[Arroyo]

Damn that's impressive.  I plan on either building or buying a CNC later on, but as MikeA and bperkins have pointed out I am glad that I didn't go that route for my first build and am forcing myself to learn how to use the tools by hand.  There certainly are things a CNC can't do and I figure changing things/correcting mistakes from a CNC cut won't seem so intimidating now that I am getting more comfortable using the tools by hand.

+1 on SketchUp, it can seem intimidating at first but like bperkins said just keep watching Youtube video's and practicing, it will start to click after a few weeks.  I started out learning on the SketchUp website which they have now moved to a Youtube channel:
 

I also signed up for this:  SketchUp School which is free for the first 7 days, so if you can dedicate a number of hours per day you can learn a ton for free.  It also creates really good habits, as it's easy to create a bad workflow for yourself when you piecemeal information.  Just make sure to cancel after the first 7 days otherwise they will charge your card (each month I might add).

Looking forward to seeing what you create.

[uptown47]

Damn that's impressive.  I plan on either building or buying a CNC later on, but as MikeA and bperkins have pointed out I am glad that I didn't go that route for my first build and am forcing myself to learn how to use the tools by hand.  There certainly are things a CNC can't do and I figure changing things/correcting mistakes from a CNC cut won't seem so intimidating now that I am getting more comfortable using the tools by hand.

+1 on SketchUp, it can seem intimidating at first but like bperkins said just keep watching Youtube video's and practicing, it will start to click after a few weeks.  I started out learning on the SketchUp website which they have now moved to a Youtube channel:
 

I also signed up for this:  SketchUp School which is free for the first 7 days, so if you can dedicate a number of hours per day you can learn a ton for free.  It also creates really good habits, as it's easy to create a bad workflow for yourself when you piecemeal information.  Just make sure to cancel after the first 7 days otherwise they will charge your card (each month I might add).

Looking forward to seeing what you create.

Thanks Arroyo, you've been quite inspirational with your current build as you know so I appreciate your kind words.

I'll check out the SketchUp school. I would really like to get more into woodworking so I think it will be time well spent to learn the software.

Cheers

John