A common woodworking trick: "Measure twice, cut once." But first you need to know what you are doing and what size it should be. Having a detailed and accurate plan greatly simplifies measurements. Joiners have been creating their designs with pen and paper for generations, but computer-aided design (CAD) programs can make drawings faster, more accurate, and easier to set up.
A few months ago, I started using a CAD program called Shapr3D (free or $25/month for Windows, macOS, iPadOS, and Wacom tablets) to design my woodworking projects. It's an increasingly simple interface compared to some of the more powerful programs like SketchUp and Fusion 360, which are too big for woodworking. By default, Shapr3D works with solid objects rather than hollow objects like SketchUp, helping to position and manipulate digital drawings. The best part is that the free version of Shapr3D has 99% of the features I need, so I have no reason to pay for it yet. The only paid features I wanted were the ability to convert 3D renderings into a real PDF layout collection and make aesthetic and color changes.
While Shapr3D is easy to use, it does require training, just like any other complex program. But with a little time and effort, you will have a powerful and versatile tool that will help you take your projects to the next level. These five tips will help you get started.
1. Follow one or two detailed instructions
If you are like me, you are always learning a new computer program. I rarely read or follow the manuals for using the entire program. I'm only looking for tutorials for specific tasks in the program. This is a bad strategy with CAD, especially if you've never used CAD software before.
Instead, take the time to learn a few programming instructions. I highly recommend the PDO-Shapr3D "Learn Shapr3D in 10 Days" YouTube playlist. This series of 10 videos will guide you through the creation of a series of more complex projects, each focusing on a new set of software tools. After a week I was familiar enough with the program to start creating my own projects and know what to look out for when I get stuck. These guides use the paid version of the software, so you need to understand some of the features that are not available or work a little differently in the free version.
Once you've laid a solid foundation of Shapr3D skills, I recommend checking out the Bevelish Creations CAD Talk playlist on YouTube for more advanced tutorials to get the most out of the program. Whether you're using these tutorials or others, take the time to not only review them, but create projects that match the videos. This is the fastest way to learn, even if it takes a week or more.
2. Keep your projects organized and labeled
Like most CAD programs, Shapr3D allows users to name components and group them into folders. Stay organized using this feature during construction. Don't make the mistake of trying to tag and group everything when the project is almost done;
I usually use multiple layers of folders. The top level is a folder for each individual project, required when using the free version, which limits you to only two project files. Within each project folder, I create subfolders for the main build components. For example, for a chest of drawers I made recently, I have one back for the main fabric, one for the drawers, and one for the legs. In each of these folders, I have labels for each table or panel (eg left margin, right margin, bottom margin, etc.). If I had more than one drawer, I would put each drawer in a separate folder, and then another folder would contain all the folders in separate drawers.
Labeling and organization serve two purposes besides quickly identifying which room is which. First, it will help you easily repeat large details. If I need to create a second drawer for my nightstand, instead of having to select and move them individually, I can simply select the drawer folder and then copy and duplicate it.
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Secondly, you can temporarily hide an entire section at once. This way, if I need to change something in the cabinet body, I can hide the entire shelf folder to access the hidden areas, make my changes, and then show the visible drawer again. This feature also makes it easier to learn different versions of the same component. I can create a folder with drawer fronts, each with a slightly different design, and hide the versions I'm not working on. But if you are not organized, such repetition can be difficult.
3. Consider Carpentry
One of the main advantages of CAD drawings over pen and pencil drawings is the ability to actually visualize and design work on a project. Whether you use slots, tongues, dovetails, box joints, punches and hammers, or any other connection method, you can design it right from the sketch.
Once you've drawn the joinery, you can hide one of the boards to see what the seam will look like, which you can't do on paper. You also cannot cheat. If you make a math mistake and add too much, you can see the error on the screen and correct it before it appears on the board. After seeing my first idea in Shapr3D, I had to rethink my carpentry work on many projects.
Use the subtraction tool to make your joinery design easier: all tools are clearly labeled without relying on abstract symbols you have to remember. This feature allows you to draw two overlapping tiles and select a common area from one of them. In its simplest form, it facilitates the creation of short films and dados. Just drag the boards where you want, slightly apart, and turn on the subtract feature. This removes the common material from the slot or rabbit hole. The Mushroom and Envelope, Mushroom, Dove, and Box connections are a bit tricky because they require you to draw the geometry of those connections on the boards, but once you've placed the shapes, just use the Extrude tool. Besides the extrude tool, which allows you to expand a 2D shape into a 3D artboard, the extrude tool is the feature that saves me the most time.
4. Explore multiple methods to achieve the same result
Shapr3D is powerful and easy to use, but it's not perfect and I'm not a perfect user either. Sometimes I can't get a certain tool to work the way I want. Rotation, for example, is something I struggle with all the time. I'm having trouble rotating a component around the correct x, y, or z axis. While a rotating tool saves time when it works, it can take a long time to figure out when it doesn't work. this is wrong. Sometimes it's easier and faster to ignore this rotation and reposition the component where I want it.
Therefore, it is useful to learn more than one method to achieve the same result. The removal tool is another great example. if the cuts don't come out the way you want to sequin the shelf, it's easier to paint the sequin on the panel and then remove the material. Of course, this may take a few minutes longer than the uninstall tool, but it's faster than figuring out why the tool isn't working. Using a different method can save you 30 minutes of annoying problems.
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Of course, this only applies to tools that you normally know how to use. If you've never been able to use the rotate or extract tool correctly, find a tutorial and figure out what you're doing wrong. Feel free to learn any of the tools as it is a challenge. Doing this task and understanding all the possibilities of Shapr3D will save you time in the long run.
5. Start with pen and paper
This is not absolutely necessary and you will probably develop it as you get better at Shapr3D. However, as I learn, it's easier for me to get a feel for what I'm drawing before working on the computer. Even a basic sketch showing basic dimensions, shapes and proportions allows me to focus on adding details to the program rather than thinking on the screen.
As with everything, the best teacher is experience. The more you design in Shapr3D, the better and faster you get. Step inside and let your imagination run wild.
