[Plugin] Cutlister

ishboo

Finlay - something like this is badly needed! I have a different suggestion - why not implement dynamic component's attributes in Your plugin - this way we can put a lot of useful data - banding, grain direction, padding, joinery and etc. I think it is not practical to include cutting layouts - better to use external programs for this. This way the use of the plugin can be extended a lot, not only for woodworking. Now we can put tons of useful data in dynamic components, but no way to export and use it for production. This is a simple bookcase as a sample.
[attachment=0:10rg49s1]BasicBookcase.skp[/attachment:10rg49s1]
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Thanks dedmin!

Dynamic component attributes are something I've had on my mind as well. Theoretically it should be somewhat simple to implement. Some issues would be people's various conventions for labeling things. Things I could see as attributes (which include some of yours):

grain direction (length, or width)
edge banding (1L, 2L, 1W, 2W, or combination)
adjustable shelf holes
rabetting
notes (anything specific for the part)

Maybe if we could compile a list of properties that would be useful to have, I could start thinking of how to implement...

I'd love to see how people apply this to things other than woodworking as it should have the capability of doing so.

In regard to cutting layouts, I'm assuming you mean the Layout feature the original Cutlist plugin had? I know in our shop we don't necessarily use them but if they existed maybe we would. I felt the other implementation wasn't as flexible as I would have liked, that is why I have held off on integrating it.

I have (hopefully) built the plugin so that you could theoretically export parts to CNC files or other programs that need lists of parts in a particular format. I'd be interested in hearing any suggestion on this front.

Cheers,
Dana W.

dedmin

Hi ishboo,
and thanks for this plugin!
I don't have experience with CNC, so cannot help much. That is the main problem with making software that works for all - everybody has different needs and conventions. But with dynamic component's attributes one can make them as needed. Panels in my SampleBookcase were made to meet the way CutList Plus works - others can have their needs. But if Your plugin exports this data the output will be what one needs. Take a look at this treads -
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=29515
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=80&t=32789
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=80&t=29835
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=30259

dedmin

Does it exports only inches?

Dave R

Dana,

Thank you for your reply. I'll have to take a look at it.

ishboo

@dedmin said:

Does it exports only inches?

Currently there is no support for metric but if I get nagged enough I'll work on adding it

bagatelo

Metric options is very interesting to me... Thanks....

ishboo

@bagatelo said:

Metric options is very interesting to me... Thanks....

Well, I guess I'll have to start working on metric integration...

Dave R

Thanks for offering your plugin here. It's a good thing although it doesn't work for me with my preferred work flow.

ishboo

@dave r said:

Thanks for offering your plugin here. It's a good thing although it doesn't work for me with my preferred work flow.

Could you elaborate more? I'm interested in hearing what others are doing out there... Is it doing something different than what you are used to with Steve's plugin?

This plugin is very much a work in process and new features/functionality will be added as time goes on. Always open to suggestions.

Dave R

As I said before, I rarely apply materials to models from which I generate cut lists. I don't want to have to add another step to the modeling process so that things can be sorted into lumber, sheet materials or hardware. Steve's CutList v4.x works perfectly for me in that respect. I think I'll stick to that. It does metric, too.

thomthom

@ishboo said:

@bagatelo said:

Metric options is very interesting to me... Thanks....

Well, I guess I'll have to start working on metric integration...

SketchUp Length class is pretty much all you need to use. Everything in SketchUp is internally in inches, but the Length class will convert the internal units into a presentable string in the current model units.

Length, Numeric and String all have methods useful when dealing with units.

ishboo

@dave r said:

As I said before, I rarely apply materials to models from which I generate cut lists. I don't want to have to add another step to the modeling process so that things can be sorted into lumber, sheet materials or hardware. Steve's CutList v4.x works perfectly for me in that respect. I think I'll stick to that. It does metric, too.

I see. Are you using the sort by component name option in his plugin? Could you send me a drawing so I can see what you're doing and maybe I could integrate it.

I'll be working on metric shortly, shouldn't be too tough. I left it out initially because I needed to focus on other aspects.

ishboo

@thomthom said:

SketchUp Length class is pretty much all you need to use. Everything in SketchUp is internally in inches, but the Length class will convert the internal units into a presentable string in the current model units.

Length, Numeric and String all have methods useful when dealing with units.

Thanks thomthom I'll be looking into that shortly!

Dave R

Dana, I am adding words like 'ply', 'MDF', etc. to component definition names to get them to sort into the Sheet Materials section of the cut list.

I don't have a model available at the moment but I'll hunt around and see what I can find.

Dave

Bertier

hello,

I am a woodworkertoo, and I use cutlist
I had great talks with Steve about it and what I'd like to do...

one of the main things is we have sheets around here that don't match US or NZ ones...

I'd like to be able to create a list of standard boards and sheets for us...

that would be great to start

and of course I talk metrics...

MERCI !

unclebim

@bertier said:

hello,

I am a woodworkertoo, and I use cutlist
I had great talks with Steve about it and what I'd like to do...

one of the main things is we have sheets around here that don't match US or NZ ones...

I'd like to be able to create a list of standard boards and sheets for us...

that would be great to start

and of course I talk metrics...

MERCI !

That is what would matter most for us here in Europe I think. Thank you ishboo for your contribution with this plugin!

ishboo

@dave r said:

Dana, I am adding words like 'ply', 'MDF', etc. to component definition names to get them to sort into the Sheet Materials section of the cut list.

I don't have a model available at the moment but I'll hunt around and see what I can find.

Dave

I see. Well, I will have to think about if I want to add that in as a feature...

If you could send me a drawing when you find one that would be great.

Btw, in what capacity do you do woodworking if you don't mind me asking? Like, do you do it as a hobby, a one man shop or a medium to large cabinet shop?

Cheers,
Dana W

ishboo

@bertier said:

hello,

I am a woodworkertoo, and I use cutlist
I had great talks with Steve about it and what I'd like to do...

one of the main things is we have sheets around here that don't match US or NZ ones...

I'd like to be able to create a list of standard boards and sheets for us...

that would be great to start

and of course I talk metrics...

MERCI !

Are you speaking about the layout feature that Steve's plugin does? Currently Cutlister does not do layouts but may some day.

Sorry if I misunderstand your question...

And yes, metric will be top on my list

Cheers,
Dana W

ishboo

@unclebim said:

:thumb: That is what would matter most for us here in Europe I think. Thank you ishboo for your contribution with this plugin!

Thanks!

Yes, metric will be the next thing I work on!

Cheers,
Dana W

Dave R

@ishboo said:

@dave r said:

Dana, I am adding words like 'ply', 'MDF', etc. to component definition names to get them to sort into the Sheet Materials section of the cut list.

I don't have a model available at the moment but I'll hunt around and see what I can find.

Dave

I see. Well, I will have to think about if I want to add that in as a feature...

If you could send me a drawing when you find one that would be great.

Btw, in what capacity do you do woodworking if you don't mind me asking? Like, do you do it as a hobby, a one man shop or a medium to large cabinet shop?

Cheers,
Dana W

You certainly don't have to add that feature on my account. Steve's plugin works perfectly for my needs and so I see little reason to change at this point.

My woodworking is basically for myself, my family and a few clients at this time. But, I do a lot of work with SketchUp for a number of clients which includes, among other things, detailed construction plans for various pieces of furniture. Once in awhile it might be kitchen cabinets or similar but primarily its more fine furniture types of pieces. While I might use materials for illustrations (such as for magazine articles or presentations), I don't use materials on models for the plan documents. And when I apply materials there might be as many as three different materials applied to the faces of the components. Typically there'll be a flat or rift sawn face, a quarter sawn face and end grain. And I might have three to seven different material images for a given wood species. How would your plugin deal with three different materials in the same component?