Software for layouts

[bigfoot15]

I'm just wondering what some of you use for drawing up projects and particularly for efficient layout on lumber/sheet goods and possibly produce a cut list.
I have ACAD but that's seems too manual to me. I may as well do it by hand by the time I draw it in ACAD.

[CptanPanic]

I'm just wondering what some of you use for drawing up projects and particularly for efficient layout on lumber/sheet goods and possibly produce a cut list.
I have ACAD but that's seems too manual to me. I may as well do it by hand by the time I draw it in ACAD.

I use cutlistplus, from what I have seen it is the best.

http://cutlistplus.com/

[dlminehart]

I use cutlistplus if I'm dealing just for efficient sheet goods work. If you want a 2D and 3D design tool, plus the cutting diagrams, Design Intuition is the best thing I've seen.

[CptanPanic]

I actually use sketchup to do the design, and create a cutlist that I import to cutlistplus.

[Ken Weaver]

I also use cutlistplus and its does especially good with sheet goods. Worl from rough drawing and then enter to cutlist.

[Jon The Buddha]

I'm just wondering what some of you use for drawing up projects and particularly for efficient layout on lumber/sheet goods and possibly produce a cut list.

Excellent thread, Bigfoot. I have also been curious about software options.

[ejs1097]

Man, I've been doing it the old fashioned way. Just finished checking out Cutlistplus. Looks like it would save lots of time and simplify alot of figuring.

[Cody Carse]

I actually use sketchup to do the design, and create a cutlist that I import to cutlistplus.

I also use sketchup, what do you mean you create a cutlist that you import to cutlistplus? That would be great if I could figure out a way to make cutlists from my sketchup drawings.

[CptanPanic]

I created a Ruby script that creates a cut list based on components used in model. It works real well for me.

See:
http://forum.sketchup.com/showthread...hlight=cutlist

Ruby Forum:
http://forum.sketchup.com/forumdisplay.php?f=4

[scorrpio]

I checked their site, they do mention something about part alignment there, though not much detail. Say, if my stock has nice looking grain and I wand my drawer faces etc have grain continuity - is that supported? Thanks!

[CptanPanic]

Well for each part you put a material on each face. You can then rotate the material to any direction.

[bigsteel15]

easy

I checked their site, they do mention something about part alignment there, though not much detail. Say, if my stock has nice looking grain and I wand my drawer faces etc have grain continuity - is that supported? Thanks!

I got the software last night and read the manual.
If you want drawers for example to have continuous grain then you just enter (1) piece that will fit all the fronts.
Ex. if your (2) drawer fronts are 9" high x 20" long, you'd enter 1 piece 9" x 40"

[scorrpio]

Hmm, sounds kinda counterintuitive. And too easy to forget to account for the kerf (which is what you just did).