I’m currently in the process of building a dynamic component library of 50 modules for cabinetmakers, designers and architects. A drag and drop system that will speed up concept to manufacturing timescales. Dynamic size function, interactive components and textures.
I want to help cabinetmakers get more done.
I’ve joined on here to ask the following questions :
What would really make a cabinet library special in sketchUp. What would I need to feature or do for you to purchase something like that?
Price wise what would make it a fair investment? I’d be looking at a free, limited version of 15 modules and accompanying technical layout drawings. A basic version - 50 modules, accompanying technicals and texture library and then a professional version which would be 75 modules, 3 pre designed media units ( details ready for manufacture ) all the technicals for the modules, pre-designed wardrobe elevations, a custom branded wardrobe visual brochure with all 75 configs included.
So yeah… would be great to get some feedback from the community. I’m about 2 weeks off from publishing first draft. Free version will be ready by the weekend.
Interesting. Is it an extension wrapped around DCs with some proprietary functionality? If not how do you plan on stopping people from just posting your DCs in the 3D Warehouse? I am curious to see how it all comes together… Good luck on the 1st draft!
I’m curious what that would look like. Every shop I’ve ever worked in or with have all done their cabinets in slightly different ways from each other based on personal preference, machining technology available, etc etc.
Would it be for Euro markets? US markets? Solid wood? Veneered? Edge banded? What brand of hinges and hardware?
Based in the UK so it would be tailored towards the EuroMarket. Yes you are right, in all the cabinetry workshops I have worked in there where slight differences with what they did, but on the most part… a cabinet is a cabinet and if you can configure the fundamentals (height, width, depth, panel thickness, drawer box thickness) You are aleady saving time in concept to production. Initial overlay option while I get the basic version out and then, when it takes - a in-frame option. There isn’t much too it…
In terms of hardware, as every project does change, and as your rightly mention… everyone has their own preference of doing things I wouldn’t be including hardware configs into the models. Its production capabilities would stop at the kit being ready for use with a cultist optimiser.
FORM for SketchUp is now available to freely download. www.objectsandconcepts.com
Pro release date is the 30th of April but with 80% of the cabinetry library free to use right now, please go ahead and sign up!
I’ve put loads of work into this and I’m really hopeful that it will help others out!
Just another update on FORM for SketchUp - All cabinets have their own break out layout pages that can be used for client presentations right out of the box - no external branding.
Plus if you are familiar with Layout you can easily upload your own logo to the files!
Forget about aesthetics and focus on the backstage detailing and documentation. Everything thats visible is where creativity lies. Everything in the back is where technical labour is needed for and that’s what we need to take out of the way.
So I’m splitting the dynamic components in levels, structured changes from the top down such as height, frame thickness, plinth height etc and then as you click further into the model you get more options.. This works with my work flow but what does everyone else think?
Well.. we are there and the SketchUp Extension is ready - currently being reviewed by the extension mangers team but you can download it at www.runlemonade.net while they approve.
It’s called FORM and its tailored towards metric cabinetmakers, Architects & designers. A click and drop system with over 150 pre-designed, dynamically controlled models. Updated with new models every month and an expanding features.
FORM is priced higher than SketchUp itself, and I get why that might raise eyebrows. But the reality for most cabinetmakers and designers is that the real cost isn’t the software, it’s time.
So if you’re modelling a custom kitchen from scratch, it can take hours — even days — to get right, especially when clients want to see different options. In the UK at least, clients rarely pay for revisions. Every “can I just change this?” or “what if we tried…” ends up costing the cabinetmaker time and money.
So with the extension you’re not just buying a plugin — you’re buying back hours of your week. A full library of dynamic, pre-built components means you can drop in a kitchen layout in minutes. Revisions are literally drag-and-drop.
If you hire a designer, you’re looking at £22/hour minimum. In two hours, FORM pays for itself … and that’s just one project. Use it regularly and well.. it’s just economical to use it.
On your next kitchen or wardrobe project try it free and let me know how you get on?
Nice initiative. I took the time to test it and I can see that you plan to integrate cut options with NestMate module. I totally understand why this could be a good idea to have a all in one solution from designer to manufacturer.
But some competing libraries (like Melamina PRO) have been able to adapt their dynamic components to be compatible with OpenCutList which already offers a solid basis for transfer to production and which is already quite widely used by cabinet makers. Don’t you think there would be some benefit in being compatible?
OCL uses component axes to determine each part orientation. So internal axes are important. Red = Length, Green = Width, Blue = Thickness
OCL uses native SketchUp materials to define the part material type. Type is a material attribute (Solid wood, Sheet good, Dimensional, Edge, Veneer, Hardware).
Edge banding is defined just by applying edge type material on a part face. Edge thickness is defined in edge material attributes. So it defers form how you set yours.
