Woodworkers tune in to new programs: developments in software programs make work faster, easier and more accurate.

While efforts to establish an open architecture standard for the wood products industry make headlines, manufacturers continue to work behind the scenes to develop new soft ware programs to help shops become more productive and profitable.

New developments in CAD/CAM programs include: 3-D photo-realistic drawings, improved cutting and nesting patterns for more precise parts geometry, and enhanced editing and viewing options. On the production screen, updated features include realtime activity monitoring and parametric estimating.

Listed below are some of the soft ware products available on the market. For more information, contact the companies via phone, the traditional Reader's Service Card or E-Info at www.iswonline.com, the online source for free, instantly accessible information about these products.

CAD/CAM Software

Cabnetware's Cabnetworks can generate architectural drawings as well as multiple views and photorealistic images of projects. Cabinets can be modified with a point and click action while top, front and end view cross sections are previewed. Cabnetworks also provides cutlists, assembly sheets, estimating, material requirements and job costing.

[phone] www.cabnetware.com Circle #237

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CADCode Systems' ACAM, AutoCAD Automation Module, enables users to interface with AutoCAD and gather manufacturing information from multiple entities within a drawing, without defining and exporting individual .dxf files. Collected data can be edited in AutoCAD via a direct link from CADCode.

(877) 422-326 www.CADCode.com Circle #238

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KCDw Software's 32-bit Windows program is for custom cabinetmakers. Layered .dxf files are created so cutlists can be sent to CNC touters, point-to-point machines and other equipment. KCDw says it otters 3-D photo-realism and a user-friendly interface which makes it easy to design, price, machine and build custom cabinets and closets.

[phone] www.kcdw.com Circle #239

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Solid Manufacturing from Cabinet Vision produces solid models of projects, from custom kitchen cabinets with radius doors to architectural casework. It produces detailed shop and part drawings, customer renderings, exploded assembly views, cutlists, edge band information, labor requirements, job costing, estimating, etc.

[phone] www.cabinetvision.com Circle #240

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Cabinet Solutions has been supplying woodworkers with design software for more than seven years. The company has added free, photo realistic 3-D to the latest 5.5 version software, enabling users to display custom plans to their customers.

[phone] www.cabinetsolutions.net Circle #241

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Stiles Software's production integration programs include: CutRite for optimization; BuildRite for CNC manufacturing; NestRite for "True Shape" nesting; CAMRite manufacturing control system; and Factory Automation, data for synchronized production control. Software represented by Stiles is being adapted to the WINStep data management protocol.

[phone] www.stilesmachinery.com Circle #242

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Mastercam/CNC Software's Mastercam Router is specialized CAD/CAM software for the woodworking, furniture and plastics markets. It delivers easy design and programming, efficient nesting and fast engraving, according to the company. Mastercam Router offers CAD/CAM tools ranging from basic flat-panel cutting to complex, artistic 3-D machining.

[phone] www.mastercam.com Circle #243

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AlphaCAM, the CAM engine for Cabinet Vision, Cabnetware and others, generates more than 80% of the machine code from design software. Information can be imported from most CAD programs in a variety of formats, including .dxf and .dwg. The company adds that its Certified Post Program ensures seamless integration with virtually all CNC machines.

[phone] www.alphacam.com Circle #244

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plogic Solutions' ShopView is for non engineers who need access to drawing information. Plans, elevations, sections and specifications can be merged into a single application. Project managers can view drawing files without knowing AutoCAD or other drawing formats.

[phone] www.plogicsolutions.com Circle #245

MBI Software Co. offers a fully-integrated CAD and ERP system. This system offers a variety of industry-specific applications in addition to a Web information, bar code and document management system.

[phone] www.mbisoftware.ca Circle #246

Delcam's ArtCAM Insignia can be used for 2-D and 2 1/2-D manufacturing operations, including tool engraving and routing. Design features include the ability to retain DWG and DXF layer information when importing drawings from AutoCAD. Calculated toolpaths can also be copied, mirrored or rotated, either singly or as the whole set of operations.

[phone] www.delcam.com Circle #247

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Pattern Systems' StudMaster for RapidEngineer Pro automates the engineering process for straight, curved and angled configurations. StudMaster creates top and bottom plate machining with user defined break points, places studs on center and creates part drawings for skin or sheathing.

[phone] www.patternsystems.com Circle #248

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NESTERwood provides start-to-finish automation, including order loading, nesting and optimized G-Code generation. Nester Software Technology says it increases furniture frame material yields by over 10% while eliminating steps associated with part preparation, nesting and CNC programming.

[phone] www.nestersoftware.com Circle #249

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Planit's CNC Center takes jobs from Cabinet Vision, Cabnetware or Kitchen Builder and generates machining operations on parts. Once manufacturing soft, ware is set to produce the geometry, users can set the Machine and Tool Catalogs to output 100% machine-ready G Code or other files for linking to external CAM systems.

[phone] www.planitsolutions.com Circle #250

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Thermwood offers Rolling Nest for nested based manufacturing. Integral with eCabinet Systems, it has the ability to include partial sheets of material left from previous jobs into new jobs.

[phone] www.thermwood.com Circle #251

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Production Software

Offered by E&R System Technik, 3E Datentechnik's Look2000 is for the production and sale of windows and doors made of wood, wood/aluminum or PVC. Each version is customized and features quotations with graphics, capacity and production planning and monitoring, assembly and shipping planning.

[phone] www.ersystech.com Circle #252

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Keytrix Data Systems will soon release Estimating, Detailing and ShopDraw 4.0 versions. All data can be integrated into the full version at any Lime. Products are Windows-based, built on open, expandable, ODBC compliant architecture.

[phone], www.keytrix.com Circle #253

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TkLite from People Logic Software uses the same estimating style and project navigation introduced by Takeoff plus a catalog that can be created using current estimating knowledge of product cost. Profit and costs are automatically presented as well as simple point and click proposals.

[phone], vvv.com/peoplelogic Circle #254

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Link It Software Corp.'s Job Master can produce a job, from initial bid through production and shipping, including: quotations, sales' orders, shop travelers/work orders, inventory, invoicing/POs and shipping. Job Master produces bills of materials, bills of lading, sales commission reports, invoices, purchase orders, RFBs, certifications, inspection reports, etc.

[phone] www.the-jobmaster.com Circle #255

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Master Solutions' Business Master product line is designed to aid operations in processing orders, purchasing materials, scheduling production, collecting labor data, job costing, and accounting. The product line includes InventoryDirect to manage inventory and ProjectSuite for administrative aspects.

[phone] www.mastersolutions.com Circle #256

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TradeSoft's ProjectPAK custom estimating and job management soft ware supports unit, component, and parametric approaches and generates quotations and other documents from estimates as well as project manage merit reports, notes/reminders, a task scheduler and customer/contact/vendor database.

[phone] www.projectpak.com Circle #257

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Trakware Systems' TRAKware is a complete integrated application offering: parametric estimating, real-time shop floor data collection, project execution, scheduling, purchasing, inventory, invoicing, job costing and accounting functions. Other applications such as timeTRAK, an entry level time tracking application, and bidTRAK designer, a stand alone parametric estimating solution are also available.

[phone] www.trakware.com Circle #258

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TaskKlock says its software is designed for worker, task and job time tracking to increase productivity and profits. TaskKlock's "Real-time" touch-screen technology can be used for information about the shop's current activities. TaskKlock's touchscreen task tracking can be used to save an average of 10 to 15 minutes per worker daily, the company says. Critical reports reveal where production is most and least profitable.

[phone] www.taskklock.com Circle #259

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Friedman Corp. provides Web enabled business solutions for financial, manufacturing and order-management needs. Modules include: customer order processing, production planning and control, purchasing and receiving, financials, product configuration management, inventory control, dealer system, truck scheduling, bar coding and track scheduling.

[phone] www.friedmancorp.com Circle #260

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Open Architecture Group Adopts Mission Statement

Proponents for establishing woodworking software standards took a small step forward by creating a mission statement outlining the goals for the WINStep data management organization.

At an Oct. 18 meeting co-hosted by SCM Group USA and Stiles Machinery Inc., representatives of seven machinery and software companies sought to define the new standard group's procedures and objectives. They adopted the following mission statement:

"The WINStep organization exists to benefit the users of a variety of software and machinery systems in the woodworking industry. WINStep's an acronym for Wood Industry Standard for the Exchange of Product data. WINStep will reduce the challenge and expense of integrating different systems by providing a common language through which these systems communicate. The WINStep protocol will be a dynamic, standardized environment for the exchange of product, process and technology data. An established standard for the benefit of wood product manufacturers will encourage participation on behalf of all organizations involved in the woodworking industry."

Participating in the group's initial meeting were: Ned Brown. CADCode Systems: Robert Gowen. Pattern Systems International: Giordano Checchi and David Delgago. SCM Group; Jerry McCall and David Rothwell. Stiles Machinery; Jean Mignault, 20 20 Technologies Inc.; Don Shultz, Virtual Systems Inc.; and Jeff Davidson and Daniel Dew, Weinig Group USA.

According to Gowen, the meeting did not include technical discussions. "This was strictly a meeting of management people trying to get the flavor as to what direction we can take this in," Gowen said.

In general, McCall said, reaction to the standard has been positive, although many are taking a wait-and-see attitude. "We've also had some skeptics. There's always going to be a group of people out to protect their own interests, McCall said.

Skepticism may have arisen due to a number of misconceptions. Gowen said, because many people are still unclear about what open architecture means. Also, plans for evolving WINStep may need to be clarified before more manufacturers jump on board.

As development of the protocol proceeds, the WINStep organization will solicit and welcome input from other individuals and companies.

McCall said the organization also will continue to watch the developments being made with STEP-NC which extends the STEP ISO Standard to the machining process. The standard is currently being applied to a woodworking company in Europe.

"So far, the work in STEP has dealt with the machine control level," McCall said, "That is just a small slice of the data going into WINStep. We'll continue to look at STEP-NC to see if there are pares we can adapt."

The next WINStep meeting will be held Jan. 17 at Virtual Systems' office in Raleigh, NC The spring meeting will be held at the Weinig Group's facility in Mooresville, NC.

"What I would ultimately like to see happen." Gowen said, "would be to walk in an IWF show in the near future and see a sticker on machines and at software booths saying 'WINStep Approved.' As a customer I would know that if I buy this machine, I'll know that any software I buy that's WINStep Approved' will hook to it without a problem,"

That, Gowen said, is "freedom of choice." --Karen Koenig