eCabinet Systems Software
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The eCabinet Systems software is the backbone of the eCabinet
Systems program. The software is provided free to professional
woodworkers, custom cabinet and custom furniture manufacturers.
Just because it is not sold for a high price, like
traditional software, don’t underestimate its power. eCabinet
Systems software is an extensive package that many feel is the best
in the industry. It addresses the very core of the professional wood
shop offering capability and flexibility that supports major functions
and brings an increased level of competitiveness. Here are some of
the areas that the software currently addresses.
DESIGN
eCabinet Systems includes a powerful design engine, perhaps the most
capable in the industry. It uses advanced graphics with the ability
to rotate, explode and zoom, allowing you to easily analyze and refine
your design. You can create everything from individual parts to complex
assemblies using a variety of joinery. Unlike simple library software,
you have complete control of every aspect of the design. It supports
a variety of doors and drawer fronts in virtually any material and
finish. It supports the use of moldings and carvings. It uses three-dimensional
models of hardware and allows the import and texturing of objects to
enrich and enhance your design.
The eCabinet Systems program also supports a program where experienced
users offer libraries of cabinet and furniture designs to other Members.
This allows Members to avoid the entire design effort by simply purchasing
a library. It also provides a method where experienced Members can
profit from their experience and creativity.
eCabinet Systems also includes a Professional Furniture Design program
where world renowned furniture designers offer more elaborate furniture
designs to Members. These designs are in the form of eCabinet Systems
files and can be loaded into the software and modified if necessary.
Design elements can be incorporated into other cabinets and furniture
offering incredible flexibility. The professional designs incorporate
special moldings and carvings and CNC programs exist to produce each
of these parts. These CNC programs run on Thermwood CNC routers and
can be rented. The rental fees pay the designers.
With all these elements, you can see that eCabinet Systems offers
design capability beyond anything else available today.
CUSTOM LAYOUT
This is an area of the software where you design individual
rooms, groups of rooms or entire homes and then install the cabinet
and furniture designs you created. Thousands of wall paper patterns
and millions of wall colors are available. You can create even more
realistic layouts using digital images of actual walls and floors.
Import objects, furniture, paintings and rugs.
Scenes viewed through open doors and windows can be
actual digital images. Then, arrange lighting and create photorealistic
views of the layout in minutes including reflections and shadows. What
a great selling tool!
COST ESTIMATING
As you develop each job the software continuously
tracks job costs. Set it up to reflect the way your shop works and
it automatically estimates the material, labor and overhead cost for
each job. It even estimates the number of labor hours you will need
in each of the categories you establish. At any time you can generate
a “Cost Sheet” that details the cost and selling price
of an individual cabinet, a grouping of cabinets or an entire layout.
Also, the costs used for pulls, hinges, slides and other hardware are
the actual costs at which you can buy those products through the program.
You can’t get much more accurate than that.
SELLING SUPPORT
Great photorealistic views from custom layouts are
a great selling tool, but that is just the beginning. The software
includes a proposal writer, the ability to create dimensioned line
drawings when working with builders and architects, the ability to
quickly and easily change doors, drawers, hardware, finishes and colors
to address your customer’s changing tastes and the ability to
instantly know the price impact of requested changes. In short, the
software gives you the tools that make the selling process more refined,
more professional and inspire confidence. The software helps you sell.
MANUFACTURING SUPPORT
The software offers complete manufacturing support,
whether you use traditional production methods or a modern CNC router.
You can generate a Cut List, Buy List and Cost Sheet for any cabinet,
group of cabinets or the entire job. You can nest the job and print
individual nest diagrams, individual part drawings and labels for each
part. You can rename parts to make identification easier. You can create
line drawings, assembly drawings, even exploded, dimensioned isometric
drawings. And finally, you can create a CNC output file that can be
sent directly to a Thermwood CNC router, either yours or one of the
many Members that will machine your parts for you.
CNC PRODUCTION
The software generates a CNC output file that can
be sent to any Thermwood CNC router. Here, you can:
- cut out cabinet and furniture boxes including joinery and hardware
holes,
- cut out drawer boxes in a nest including a special dovetail joint
that can be machined in the nest,
- machine MDF doors including the ability to model profile and raise
shapes using standard tooling instead of requiring expensive custom
tools,
- machine all the components for solid wood raised panel doors,
- machine, in the nest, face frame components including a special “puzzle
joint” that allows fast accurate assembly without clamps or
screws,
- model custom profiles for moldings and edges, and
- reproduce intricate carvings by simply renting the CNC carving
program.
Ultimately, this is the most efficient way to build
custom cabinets and furniture and today, through the technology of
eCabinet Systems, it is both practical and profitable.