What is the Best Design Software for Woodworking projects? (2024)

The one you know how to use!

Seriously, most anything from Sketchup to Solidworks will suffice for the work I see here.
It all depends on what you are comfortable using, or learning.

If this is a new pursuit for you ( designing on computer) I'd keep it simple.
The more capable pro design packages give you endless flexibility which comes in handy is special situations.
The downside is all those options can be overwhelming. Rhino has 10 options for drawing a circle, for instance.

A lot of people like Sketchup and you can't beat the price.
There are many good tutorials online and some are specific to woodworking.
That said if you have any experience with other CAD programs you might find it confusing to transition. ( I know I have to switch my hat around when I switch to Sketchup)

Another consideration is 2D vs 3D.
If you are used to working in traditional 2D drafting methods ( top, front and side views) you could work with almost any vector drawing program ( Adobe Illustrator for one) I've done many quick full scale layouts in Illustrator that get the job done.
It doesn't automatically give you dimensions, but there are tools that will give you what you need.

Sorry for the long rambling answer, but there are many options and most of them will work.
There are several very capable Sketchup users on here who I hope will chime in from that perspective.
It may well be the way to go.

Good luck

Since i have always worked in raster graphics (ie photoshop and textile design software) I am most comfortable in that mode.

I recently started drawing projects BEFORE i build them on the advice of two friends. I am using Photoshop and sometimes switching to my textile software for more control. Painful but easily e-mailed for review.

All those features you list sound nice and i think some will do but cost $4500 for the drawing package and up.

Sketchup is really quite easy, once you get familiar with it. There are some easy tutorials on the lfollowing website that will get you going. It starts off very easy and shows you what you need to know to do what you want. Don't let those architecture projects scare you away. It can be very easy to use for simple woodworking projects too.

Charley

www.sketchupforwoodworkers.com

"Structured winging it" is the way to go unless you are going into production, writing a magazine article or sharing drawings frequently with many people.

all you really need is a notebook with graph paper for defining ratios, scrap lumber for a story stick, a pencil, a divider and a tape measure. The problem with a formal plan and cultist is that when something goes wrong you end up wasting time redoing that piece or you have to recalculate everything else. The big waste for me however, is that I would spend more time on the drawing than on the woodworking.

I have not used it myself, but a while back I read an article in Fine Woodworking about affordable CAD programs and the author chose DesignCAD as his choice. It's $99 so not quite as affordable as Sketchup.

http://www.imsidesign.com/Products/DesignCADSeries/DesignCAD3DMAXV22/tabid/1832/Default.aspx

I tried other CAD programs over the years and now I'm using Sketchup. Once I set the scale for woodworking (1/16 or 1/32 as the smallest increment) and zoom in, I've been able to design anything I've wanted to.

-NCGrimbo

ConcordBob said:

Looking for a good design software package for woodworking projects. I've tried Google Sketchup (freebie) but it's geared more to designing buildings and communities. Like many of us, I just "wing it" (no written plan) and my prodcut turns out OK. I'd really like to find an easy-to-use package (free or otherwise). Package should be able to accept dimensional design with alerts for incongruent geometry/mismatched joinery. And it should be able to produce a bill of material, a cut list, and an exploded schematic along with assembly instructions. If you know of something, please let me know. Also, I'd love to know how many of you guys do what I do right now..."wing it".

Click to expand...

If you're interested in using Sketchup have a look at this blog on FWW by Tim Killen & Dave Richards. It covers anything you would want to build(furniture) and they are very helpful answering questions.

http://www.finewoodworking.com/blog/design-click-build

sketchupforwoodworkers.com is good basic info/jump start and is where I started with SketchUp.

Tony

Just like others said... Sketchup! Compared to other 3d modeling programs it has a very simple feel but is far more robust than it looks.

I suffer from too much creativity and Sketchup suits that perfectly. You can see all your ideas in front of you without ever cutting a board. If you take the time and use tutorials to learn it (it's not that complicated) you would be amazed how quickly you can model your ideas. Even better, how quickly you can adjust and tweak them to design exactly what you are envisioning. If I have 48 mortices in a sketckup project all of the same size and want to change those dimensions, it's easy. I can change all 48 at once using components. Add on a script and I can have Sketchup give me an exact cut list of everything I need, even on the most complicated designs.

Use the tutorial links Charley and Tony posted. Be patient, learn it correctly, and it will be an invaluable tool!

If you measure twice and cut once... then tutorial twice and 3d model once.

MBaker said:

Forgot to mention the 3d warehouse. There are a ton of free models available to help.

Click to expand...

On that note this should be a link to the SketchUp models at 3D Warehouse, that I have done.

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/search?uq=1217822844500200985730697&scoring=m

Woodmolds said:

On that note this should be a link to the SketchUp models at 3D Warehouse, that I have done.

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/search?uq=1217822844500200985730697&scoring=m

Click to expand...

One look at the hand rails should be proof enough for anyone that Sketchup can do what they want for any woodworking design.

MBaker said:

One look at the hand rails should be proof enough for anyone that Sketchup can do what they want for any woodworking design.

Click to expand...

I would not go quite that far, the handrails are a simple 2D extrusion along a defined line/path (that is, it is a predominately 2D object/drawing). But it is clear that SketchUp meets the needs of many woodworkers and most starting out should probably at least give it a good try before they invest in a commercial solution.

I have always used TurboCAD Pro for my 2D and 3D drawings whenever needed... namely because 1) there was no such thing as SketchUp in the 90's, 2) it is a solid(+surface) modeler (which SketchUp has traditionally not supported) with all the added capabilities and features solids offer and 3) it's a lot cheaper than AutoCAD, which would have been the alternative choice.

Ultimately, the best CAD software will be the package that you actually make use of. We all think and work differently and what proves best for one may not for another. Fortunately there are choices out there nowadays.

ehpoole said:

I would not go quite that far, the handrails are a simple 2D extrusion along a defined line/path (that is, it is a predominately 2D object/drawing).

Click to expand...

Such a great simple technique that suits our needs many times. I was watching some tutorials the other week on some Sketchup plugins that allow a ton of functionality on tweaking and modeling oddly shaped stuff. It was for hand shaped furniture pieces. I currently have no need for that type of design stuff but it blew my mind some how easily they were able to work with it.

ehpoole said:

Ultimately, the best CAD software will be the package that you

actually make use of

. We all think and work differently and what proves best for one may not for another. Fortunately there are choices out there nowadays.

Click to expand...

Well said!! Had to bold that key statement.

and having choices is great. In my opinion Sketchup is ideal for non-professionals or those that can get intimidated by technology. It would probably feel less complicated than most other programs. When I use apps like Blender, 3ds Max or any Adobe app I have one monitor dedicated to nothing but toolbars and the other just for the image/model/etc. I don't actually use any toolbars with Sketchup and just hot keyed every function I use. Very user friendly.

For someone hoping to find an application for professional work I would guess a paid option is probably best. Those apps usually have all the built in presentation options needed to support clients. Like the paid version Sketchup Pro. Sketchup can have that functionality for free but it takes a lot of plugins and still probably isn't as robust. I'm not a professional though... so just an assumption on my part.