Easel Cabinetmaker 101 Video Guides
How to start a new cabinet project
To start a new cabinet project, click on the Cabinets tab in the Easel navigation menu and select a cabinet template to initiate the project. Starting a new cabinet project currently requires clicking on one of the template options, but users will be able to add other cabinet types to their projects once they’ve been opened.
Features, Tools, and Interface
Navigating Easel Cabinetmaker
Users will notice that there are currently three tabs in the Easel Cabinetmaker navigation bar - Design, Estimate, and Manufacture. The Design tab is used to design and configure cabinets and their space. The Estimate tab allows users to easily estimate costs and profits for the project they’ve designed. The Manufacture tab converts the 3D cabinet designs into manufacturing plans for saw or CNC.
Users can switch between these tabs as needed and because Easel Cabinetmaker dynamically updates with new changes, users will see that changing values or settings in one tab updates values or settings in other tabs.
Cabinet-level settings vs. Project-level settings
There are a number of settings or dimensions that will be the same for all cabinets in a project. To make this easier, certain settings can be adjusted on the “project-level” so that they will apply to all cabinets in the project. Other settings are “cabinet-level” and can be adjusted individually per cabinet.
To access the project-level settings, select the “Show all cabinets” button in the panel on the left side of the screen. There are also helpful links in certain cabinet-level cabinet settings that direct users to the project-view and project-level settings.
To get out of the project-view, click on any of the listed cabinets named in the left-side panel, or double-click on the desired cabinet in the 3D preview. This will isolate the selected cabinet in the preview, and will open up the settings for that specific cabinet.
Cabinet Settings
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Box
In this section, users can adjust the outer dimensions of the cabinet box. At the project-level, users can specify the box construction method for all cabinets in the project, as well as top-panel construction and toe kick dimensions for all lower/base cabinets in the project. The current box construction methods include butt joints and blind dados. -
Material
Currently, cabinet materials are set in the project-level settings. Users can specify box, front, back, shelf, and drawer material-types in this section, as well as the box material-thickness. When “same as box material is checked,” all of the cabinet components will use the same material-type as the box material. The material type will be accurately reflected in the 3D preview, the Bill of Materials (BOM), and on the nested workpieces in Easel. -
Front
In the Front section (cabinet-level), users can customize the style and cranking (overlay/inset) of door and drawer fronts. Doors can swing from the left or right side, and if “both” is selected, two doors will be generated. Door panels will be generated with pockets and drill holes for installing hinges, and drill holes will also be added for pulls and knobs if they are added to the front. -
Drawers
For lower cabinets with drawers, users will see a Drawers section in the cabinet-level settings. There will also be a Drawers section in the project-level settings if any cabinets in the project have drawers. In the project-level Drawers settings, users will be able to specify the height of the top drawer of all drawers in the project to create a continuous drawer-line.In the cabinet-level Drawer settings, users can adjust the length of all drawers in each cabinet and adjust the height of each drawer box within the cabinet. Users will also find settings to adjust the drawer face reveal and pull/knob options.
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Shelves
Shelves can be added to cabinets that have optional doors. Shelves are a cabinet-level setting at this time. Users can adjust the type (fixed/adjustable) and quantity of shelves, the shelf material-thickness, and drill holes for shelf pins. -
Back
Back-panel adjustments are also currently made at the cabinet-level. Users can adjust the back panel material thickness, the offset of the back panel, and the back panel construction method (butt-joint or dado). Users can also add optional stretchers/nailers to the back panel for additional support.
Visualization and Sharing Tools
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Wireframe & Explode
In the lower right corner of the 3D preview, there is a button with 3 vertically stacked dots (an ellipsis). Clicking this button will open up the visualization options. At the cabinet-level, there will be options for exploded view and wireframe view. At the project-level, only wireframe view is available at this time. -
Download 3D Preview
Next to the ellipsis button, there is a button with a camera icon. This button will download a PNG image of the 3D preview. -
Share Button
There is a Share button in the top-right corner of the Design tab. Users can use this button to share a project with clients and other collaborators. Review the Sharing Projects section below for more details.
Managing Cabinets
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Adding Cabinets
To add new cabinets to a project, click on the plus symbols (+) in the panel on the left side of the screen. Cabinets are organized by the wall they live on and the type of cabinet (either base or upper). New cabinets will be arranged in the project in the order that they were added, however users are able to reposition them. -
Delete Cabinets
To delete a cabinet from a project, hover over the desired cabinet in the list of cabinets on the left side of the screen. A trash-can icon will appear, and clicking on it will delete the cabinet. Pressing CTRL + Z will undo the action of deleting. -
Copy Cabinets
To copy/duplicate an existing cabinet in a project, once again, hover over the desired cabinet in the list of cabinets on the left side of the screen. Next to the trash-can icon, there will be an icon that resembles two sheets of paper. Pressing this button will add a duplicate of the selected cabinet to the project. -
Arranging Cabinets
To change the order of cabinets in a project, click and drag the name of the cabinet in the list of cabinets to reorder it in the arrangement.
Manufacturing
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Manufacturing Method
Easel Cabinetmaker can generate manufacturing plans for both saws (table-, track-, panel-, etc.) and CNCs. Select the intended manufacturing method on the Manufacture tab to generate the desired output(s). -
CNC Manufacturing
For users with a CNC machine, Easel Cabinetmaker will generate CNC workpieces in Easel as well as printable copies of the CNC cut list with the Easel workpieces. Users can specify the minimum spacing between the nested panels, and set margins around the edges of the workpieces for work-holding.For every unique material-type and material-thickness combination used in the project, users will be able to specify the length and width of their stock materials so the nested workpieces will be appropriately sized. Users also have the option to add the new nested workpieces to any existing workpieces in the project, or to add the new workpieces by replacing all previous workpieces.
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Nested Panels in Easel
After nesting, users will automatically be brought into the Easel platform with the new workpieces added. Cabinet panels and parts will be arranged and labeled on all workpieces for easy identification during assembly. -
Saw Manufacturing
For users who don’t have a CNC or who prefer to utilize “traditional” manufacturing methods, select the Saw manufacturing method. Users will be able to outline the kerf of their saw blade as well as the stock sizes of each material type. SelectPrint Cut Listin the top-right to generate a cut list that outlines the sequence of rips and cross cuts to manufacture the project. -
Selecting Which Parts to Nest
Users can check or uncheck the options for panels to nest with either manufacturing method. The manufacturing output will only generate panels for the selected parts. This will also impact values in the Estimate tab.
App Navigation
- Cabinetmaker ← → Easel
To move between Easel Cabinetmaker and Easel (or Easel Pro), click the button in the upper-left corner of the screen next to the project name. If users make changes to the cabinets in a project after nesting, the project will need to be nested again, as the nested panels in Easel do not currently update automatically with changes in Easel Cabinetmaker. Similarly, making changes to the nested workpieces in Easel will not cause those same changes to apply to the cabinets in the Cabinetmaker application.
Sharing Projects
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Presentation-view Sharing
Users can share their Easel Cabinetmaker projects with clients and other collaborators. To share an Easel Cabinetmaker project in a view-only mode, users can click theSharebutton at the top-right of the Design tab.Under Presentation View, select Generate Link to generate the shareable view-only project. When the link is opened, users will see the 3D preview of the project with the ability to pan, zoom, and rotate.
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Commenting Tool
There is also a chat feature built into the presentation-view sharing to make it easier to share feedback on projects. From the presentation-view link, other collaborators are able to type messages into a chat on the right-side portion of the screen.The chat can be accessed from the original, editable version of the project as well. The project owner can select the chat-bubble icon to open up the project chat log.