September 07 Newsletter - Planit Cutting Edge Solutions

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From the Editor
Welcome to the Spring Edition of our newsletter.
Many of us can’t believe we are in the last quarter for 2007. Speaking with
different cabinetmakers, we have heard of businesses already closing their books
for 2007 and some companies wanting to keep that momentum strong through the
beginning of 2008 are delaying holidays till the end of January.
At Planit our schedules usually reflect how busy the industry is and this is evident
with our training currently booked 6-10 weeks in advance. If you are thinking
about getting staff trained before the end of the year, make sure you check out the
remaining Planit training schools for 2007 (dates listed below in the newsletter).
In this edition, we would like to make special mention of the Jobsite Companion
special we are running till November 30th.
If you would like additional people from your company to receive our
E Newsletter, please forward their email address to sales@au.planit.com and we
will make sure they receive all future E Newsletters or you can direct staff to our
web site where the newsletters are posted for future references.
If you have any questions or want any further help, please don’t hesitate to
contact our technical support team on (02) 9544 8815 or support@au.planit.com.
Cheers, Louise Clarke
Editor
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Based Manufacturing’ (NBM) that they’d read about in industry trade magazines and seen at trade
shows.
Over the years both men have embraced new technologies and despite having computerised CNC Point
to Point machinery, 2 beam saws, and fully qualified tradespeople they knew it was time to change their
systems.
Nested based manufacturing is a long established method for producing doors and fixed pattern
generation for stock component producers and it is now recognised that cabinet makers in the United
States have been using flatbed routers to cut carcasses as well – and with impressive results.
David and Gary contacted us and we demonstrated the Cabnetware NBM software and they
consequently took an enthusiastic leap of faith in Planit to be the first nesting site in Victoria to utilise
the Cabnetware NBM system. They installed the Australian made Tekcel 3600 x 1800mm Flat Bed
Router, complete with Auto Tool Changer and the Cabnetware NBM software.
With staff already strong users of the Cabnetware software and experienced CNC machinery the
transition was smooth. David says the machines virtually run themselves and there is no need for extra
qualified tradesmen as labourers are now able to assemble. “Once I show a new assembler how it all
comes together, they are quick to learn – it’s that simple – as all parts come off the machine ready to
edge and assemble.
Overtime turns into spare time with Nested Based Manufacture
When the whirr of machinery and the buzzing of saws can be heard at a factory in the evening hours it
could be assumed that a successful business is at work meeting yet another crisis deadline for a client.
On the other hand it could be an alarm bell ringing for tired business owners and factory managers
realising that there must be a better way to improve, upgrade or install systems to streamline the flow
of the factory’s production.
Owners of a specialist commercial cabinet making company, David Hughes and Gary Danby of Danby
Concept Consolidated in Victoria, were looking for ways to keep their competitive edge, improve factory
turn around time and massively reduce the need for overtime by tired staff.
The challenge was that the factory was flat out working on planned jobs and with a deluge of rush jobs
it made the need for overtime worse than ever. This led David and Gary to make enquiries about ‘Nested
“We now have the ability to machine any shape, no longer needing to outsource some aspects of our
jobs, and we are able to get phenomenal material yields.”
The installation has been a huge success with Danby Concept Consolidated turning over record levels
producing three times its previous volume and overtime is now a rarity.
A second machine has now been installed to keep up with the growing demand for their high quality
work.
David and Gary are very glad they took a chance and made the big leaps needed to get, and stay, in
front of the competition by making a change in their whole system – not just parts
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preparing drawings.”
The software program also allows Beaumonde Design Kitchens to immediately quote for the client from
the chosen design.
Our Cabinet Vision software has been important in boosting both the professionalism and operating
efficiency of Beaumonde Design Kitchens where its showroom and factory uses the software program to
control product design, manufacturing and project scheduling.
“Using our computerised libraries of standard prices, we can value the complete kitchen – as well as
identify the costs of specific features and the effect on the client’s budget of adding or eliminating
these features,” said Anne.
Once a kitchen design is agreed, Cabinet Vision produces a paper print-out that is taken to the client’s
home for a check-measure process that ensures the cabinetry will be a perfect fit.
Customers see their kitchen design come to life before work begins!
We constantly remind ourselves of the strides made by industry in utilising 3D software capabilities to
design and fabricate.
Yet in this day and age of the consumer market, 3D visualisation is also a very strong selling tool – as
has been demonstrated by Beaumonde Kitchens in Foster-Tuncurry on the NSW north coast.
Owners of Beaumonde, Morgan Thompson & Anne McAnally, say Cabinet Vision is at the heart of the
company’s production process.
The kitchen then moves to the production stage, with the software program facilitating a clip-and-stick
approach by calling on Beaumonde’s standard libraries of cabinet types.
During production, Cabinet Vision optimises the use of raw materials by creating “jigsaw puzzles” that
enables us to get maximum use of each sheet thus reducing the number of required sheets.
Components are automatically sawed, routed and bored to the design specifications by a Biesse Rover
machining centre. The final product is then assembled in the factory.
“Cabinet Vision promotes efficiency at our plant by scheduling our production, so that we are neither
overloaded nor under-utilised with work. This is hugely helpful,” said Morgan.
Ease of use of the software program is another major benefit for Beaumonde, whose competent staff
runs the software without the need for onsite IT staff.
Basically, it provides a tangible link between concept and finished product even before work begins.
“We subscribe to Planit’s technical support program which our staff can call and ask for help on
Cabinet Vision and we’ve found that Planit’s staff is very helpful and good at what they do,” he said.
“Firstly, it provides our designers with an effective 3D presentation format to show clients how their
completed kitchen will look,” said Anne.
“This support is an absolutely critical part of the program. There’s always professional back-up and you
never feel you’re on your own.”
“We can highlight features of the kitchen and easily alter the design, allowing us to get feedback from
the client in real time. This gives our company a very professional image and is much more efficient at
Engineered wholly and solely for the woodworking industry, Cabinet Vision is a screen-to-machine
software. For those workshops automating their businesses with CNC equipment, Cabinet Vision is fully
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integrated with the Planit CNC centre, therefore providing a complete screen-to-machine solution that
confirms all parts and part operations before sending data to the factory.
Cabinet Vision is easy to set-up for the building of cabinets using favourite joinery techniques. Based
on a simple wizard, it allows the creation of unlimited set-ups, mixes various settings per job and
changes from one style to another instantly and allows saving of the construction methods for use over
and over again.
An operator can customise cabinet sizes, shape, or any construction to suit the customer’s needs.
Colours and textures can be selected for the whole room or for individual cabinets and parts. Lighting
and reflections can be controlled to bring these designs to life well before any manufacturing has
begun.
Unlimited detailing includes the following:
• users can configure openings and interior parts
• placement of shelves, dividers, trays, and subassemblies.
• control of door reveals, styles, guides and other options per opening.
• materials can be changed per job, per room, per cabinet, or per part for complete control.
• cabinet shapes can be edited in plan view, elevation view or side view
• prints are made for colour or detailed line drawings.
• instant change is facilitated between various construction settings.
• Parts in part operations change instantly
Simplicity? It all comes down to Cabinet Vision
Living in a society that demands customisation puts pressure on fabricators of all types of products to
find ways to best facilitate this.
Out of all the industrial disciplines, it is arguably kitchen manufacturers who have faced this market
demand for longer than most.
Greater manufacturing accuracy and increased efficiency are also sought at the same time.
But it’s exactly these benefits that have been gained in the manufacturing plant of Brindabella
Kitchens since switching to Cabinet Vision cabinet making software from Planit.
The company is a cabinet manufacturer serving home owners, owner builders, builders, architects and
interior designers in the Greater Sydney area.
“Accuracy is the most important factor in our manufacturing processes and Cabinet Vision has helped
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us achieve this,” says Brindabella’s IT manager Eric Vanderlem, who has had 20 years experience in the
kitchen fabrication industry.
“Ease of use by our operators is important too. Brindabella Kitchens previously found it very hard to
handle all the custom variations to cabinet designs using another software program.
“It wasn’t sophisticated enough. We moved to Cabinet Vision, which we’ve discovered is a better
program to give us the results we need.”
The company is presently using the program for customised manufacturing, but its design capability
will soon be employed as well.
Modern Furniture is the largest kitchen and solid timber manufacturer in Fiji, making high end residential
and commercial kitchens as well as fitting out most of the hotels luxury resorts scattered around the Fiji
and Vanuatu Islands. It is owned and directed by the one family consisting of Mother Jan Partridge, Son
Truman Bradley and Daughter Ron Bradley. It has been in operation for in excess of 20 years.
“Our three skilled operators are first and foremost cabinet makers who have learned the software
program as they go. They have easily and quickly adapted to Cabinet Vision. It hasn’t been a steep
learning curve at all.”
“I have spent a lot of time automating procedures for our operators. For instance, if the cabinet
required holes and grooves for halogen lights or a range hood cabinet required a cut out for ducting,
a few clicks of the mouse is all that’s required for all the parts to be modified correctly.“All our drawer
components look like real Metabox or Tandem drawer sides; this helps the operator to select the correct
runner or drawer.
“Inner drawers can even have spacers to clear doors. I have just finished setting up Blum Corner
Drawers which are fully adjustable and parametric.”
Mr Vanderlem said the software has endless possibilities and definitely improved productivity at
Brindabella Kitchens, although this was hard to quantify at this stage.
“Efficiency has increased, that’s for sure. Our operators keep commenting that for the first time they
have complete control over how a kitchen cabinet is customised and manufactured. Wastage due to
human error is reduced to a minimum.
“I’m also very happy with the technical support from Planit, which we receive through a yearly
subscription. I would definitely recommend Cabinet Vision to other cabinet making companies,” he
said.
‘Bula’ from Fiji
In June this year our Services Manager John Whinnen spent a week onsite with our long term Fiji
Customer, Modern Furniture.
For 12 of those years they have been successfully running Planit Cabnetware, using it mainly for
designs and cutting lists. The week onsite was spent upgrading to Version 8 and implementing the
Panel Optimiser option. We also completely re configured all parameters, taking the opportunity to
review all construction and manufacturing techniques where we were surprised to find some odd and
out dated ideas, which were quickly simplified and updated by Sitiveni, the production manager and
Henry from Sales. They have 3 panel saws and approximately 20 Fijian cabinetmakers-assemblers in
the kitchen division as well as an extensive solid timber shop which manufacturers’ high end Fijian
Mahogany outdoor furniture, doors and windows for resorts and exporting throughout the Pacific region.
Basically Modern make just about everything in house, including doing all their own laminating,
making benchtops out of exotic materials like Coconut trees and doors with Bamboo and leather inlay’s.
While onsite Truman explained the recent political unrest in the country had caused them to look at
operating smarter and also exploiting the high design and costing abilities Cabnetware gave them
to win more projects in an extremely slow economy. Therefore a review of the pricing features in
Cabnetware was needed which uncovered the opposite information normally used by Australian and
New Zealand customers when reviewing general costs. The most outstanding was the standard hourly
labour rate is around $10 AUD, but the average square meter price of White Melamine board is $18
- $20 per square meter. Colour boards and edge tapes were also extremely expensive and can also take
on average, 8 – 10 weeks for delivery by container from New Zealand.
For what would be classified a remote part of the world, Truman is at the forefront of technical advances
especially when it comes to mobile phones and devices, therefore he showed a very keen interest in Planit’s
Jobsite Companion. Truman explained one of the constraints of fitting out a resort on a remote island is
getting accurate site drawings which Jobsite Companion over comes easily and cheaply.
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The future plans for Modern Furniture include possibly purchasing a Cnc Flat bed router and keeping
their position as the largest and most respected kitchen and furniture manufacturer in Fiji. Also, For
those of you looking for a change of scenery, Modern is on the lookout for an experienced Cabnetware
operator who would like a 2 – 3 week working holiday. Enquiries should be sent to
modern@connect.com.fj
New Images for Cabinet Vision Designer
Appliances
Vinaka
To down load & use the new images for Designer appliances you
first need to go to our ftp site. To get to this go to www.au.planit.
com go to the support tab & click on ‘click here for ftp site’.
John Whinnen
Type in the user name: Customer and the password: customerftp.
Once on the ftp site go to the ‘Cabinet Vision’ folder & then to the
‘Designer Appliances’ folder.
Save these jpegs to a folder on your C:\
Current Cnc Machine being used.
Detailed inlaid doors for the front
entrance of a new resort.
The factory
Current Cnc Machine being used.
Detailed inlaid doors for the front
entrance of a new resort.
Now open Solid & import these textures into the program if
running Version 4.1. (If you are running an earlier version you will
have to convert to a BMP first before importing the textures into
Cabinet Vision).
To import the Textures into Cabinet Vision go to material catalog,
pick a material & click on FACE. This will open the ‘select a
texture’ box, go to the ‘import’ tab. Find the textures on your C:\
highlight them all. Click on ‘stretched’ & tick ‘don’t blend finished
color. Pick a category to put them in & then click on ‘import all
selected textures’.
The temporary training room setup in
the company’s lunch room with Ron
and Henry.
Managing Director Truman Bradley,
Production Engineer BJ and Henry
from Sales.
Kitchen design made by Modern
Furniture.
Now go back to the material catalog. Go to the ‘other materials’
tab & find the designer appliance materials. Click on the face for
each one & select the new texture of your choice.
Now when you use that appliance the new texture will show on the
face.
Tip: To use the textures like the coffee machine & the dishwasher
drawer use an appliance like Micro Black or another appliance
that is not commonly used.
Outdoor Furniture made by Modern
Furniture.
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Cabinet Vision Design Fundamentals
Cabinet Vision Production Fundamentals
Day 1 Fundamentals
• Software installation and Backup
• Startup Layout Screen
• System Level Setup
• Cabinet Wizard
• Material & Hardware Setup
• Door & Drawer Setup
• Starting New Job
Day 1 Fundamentals
• Software installation and Backup
• Startup Layout Screen
• System Level Setup
• Material & Hardware Setup
• Door & Drawer Setup
• Drawer Box setup
• Cabinet Wizard
• System boring
Day 2 Fundamentals
• Job Properties
• Room Layout screen
• Creating Walls
• Using Libraries
• Cabinet Modifying & Shaping
• Cabinet Section Editor
• Using & Creating Appliances
• Countertop Setup
• Using Moulding
Day 2 Fundamentals
• Starting New Job
• Job Properties
• Room Layout screen
• Creating Walls
• Using Libraries
• Cabinet Modifying
• Cabinet Library creation
• Cabinet Shaping
• Cabinet Section Editor
Day 3 Fundamentals
• Shop & Presentation Drawing creation
• Applying Textures/ Rendering
• Report Center
• Material Pricing
• Labor Pricing
• Accessory Pricing
• Cabinet Pricing
Day 3 Fundamentals
• Object Tree
• Part Editing
• Part Creation
• Advanced Section Editing
• Creating Cabinets Parametrically
• Intelli Joint Creation
• User Created Standards
12th-14th Nov................3 Day Cabinet Vision Design Fundamentals
For more info or to register contact Planit’s Training Department at +61 2 9544 8815
Or email sales@au.planit.com
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Day 4 Fundamentals
• Using & Creating Appliances
• Countertop Setup & Creation
• Using Moulding
• Shop Drawing creation
• Applying Textures/ Rendering
• Report Center
Day 5 Fundamentals
• CNC Machine creation
• Tooling creation
• Generating Machining informationMaterial Pricing
• Labor Pricing
• Accessory Pricing
• Cabinet Pricing
• Countertop & Molding Pricing
• Custom Quotes & Bids
19th-23rd Nov..............................5 Day Cabinet Vision Manufacturing Fundamentals
For more info or to register contact Planit’s Training Department at +61 2 9544 8815
Or email sales@au.planit.com
Cabnetware Design Fundamentals
1 Day Fundamentals
• Software Installation and Backup
• Startup Layout Screen
• System Level Setup (Preferences)
• Room Parameters
• Cabinet Parameters
• Door & Drawer Parameters
• Starting New Job (Room Defaults)
• Room Layout screen
• Creating toolbars
2 Day Fundamentals
• Creating Walls
• Adding Doors & Windows
• Entering Cabinets
• Cabinet Modify
• Section Modify
• Room Views
• Rendering
• Countertop Modify
3 Day Fundamentals
• CAD & Dimensioning
• Presentation & Shop drawings
• Using Appliances
• Advanced Design
• 3D Objects
• Job Costing
12th-14th Nov................3 Day Cabinet Vision Design Fundamentals
For more info or to register contact Planit’s Training Department at +61 2 9544 8815
Or email sales@au.planit.com
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Cabnetware Production Fundamentals
1 Day Fundamentals
• Software installation and Backup
• Startup Layout Screen
• System Level Setup (Preferences)
• Countertop Setup
• Room Parameter Setup
• Cabinet Parameter setup
• Construction Parameter setup
• Door & Drawer Parameter setup
• Drawer box setup
• Interior and Exterior part setup
2 Day Fundamentals
• Starting New Job (Room Defaults)
• Room Layout screen
• Creating toolbars
• Creating Walls
• Adding Doors & Windows
• Entering Cabinets
• Cabinet Modify
• Section Modify
• Multi Cross Section
• Cabinet Cutlist
• Using Appliances
3 Day Fundamentals
• Room Views
• Rendering
• Using and Modifying Countertops
• CAD & Dimensioning
• Presentation & Shop drawings
• Advanced Design
• 3D Objects
• Part Overrides
• Toe Kick Layout
4 Day Fundamentals
• Cutlist Preferences
• Producing room cutlists
• Cnc Center Setup
• Creating operations
• Hardware Template creation
• Part Template creation
• Using intelli joints
• Template conditions
5 Day Fundamentals
• Cnc Machine creating
• Cnc Tooling creation
• Generating Machining information
• Pricing
26th-30th Nov..............................5 Day Cabnetware Manufacturing Fundamentals
For more info or to register contact Planit’s Training Department at +61 2 9544 8815
Or email sales@au.planit.com
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Fusion Training Classes
RIVERINA TECHNOLOGY SEMINAR
2 Day Fundamentals
• Setting up and using Connect
• Design Preferences
• Room Layout
• Adding & Modifying Cabinets
• Floor Plans, Elevations & Perspectives
• Dimensions
• Annotations
• Worktops
•Q&A
1 Day Advance
• Design Features
• Graphic Enhancements
• Lighting
• Mutli Draw
• Backgrounds
• Tips & Tricks
•Q&A
3 Day Fundamentals
• Room Views
• Rendering
• Using and Modifying Countertops
• CAD & Dimensioning
• Presentation & Shop drawings
• Advanced Design
• 3D Objects
• Part Overrides
• Toe Kick Layout
22nd-23rd Oct …... 2 Day Fusion Fundamentals
24th Oct. … 1 Day Fusion Advance
For more info or to register contact Planit’s Training Department at +61 2 9544 8815
Or email sales@au.planit.com
As the customer service representative for the Riverina
area I have spent the last few years forming great
relationships with companies in the area. Planit has 15+
customers in the Riverina area ranging from small cabinet
companies using design software to large kitchen and
commercial manufacturing companies connecting to CNC
machines. What started as a “patchy” year for the Riverina
area is certainly turning out to be a very busy year indeed!
Some companies have won new contracts with local
project home companies & builders and other companies
who have invested in CNC machinery are finding they are
now tendering for the bigger jobs in town giving business
owners the confidence to continue to invest in their
businesses.
This brings me to the reason I decided to organise a technology seminar in Wagga. The feedback I
have been getting from both existing customers and also prospective customers is that each company
strives not only to be the best they can be but also to stay abreast of available technology. Quite a
few companies in the Riverina area have started talking to me about nesting and the benefits this
technology brings with it. For this seminar I decided to change the format, rather than Planit driving
the presentations I asked 2 of our existing nested based manufacturing customers in the Riverina
area to give a run down on what their business were like before nesting, the pain they felt during
the implementation of nesting and the benefits they have received now they are using nested based
manufacturing in their business.
A big thank you to Geoff from Harrisons Joinery & Charlie from Murphy & Langfield for sharing their
experiences with the other attendees.
Earlier in the day 2 training sessions were held to help our Cabnetware customers increase their skills
on rendering and also setting up and using the features in 8.0. We found these sessions to be very
successful and Planit is looking to continue to hold training sessions in regional areas as new versions
are released.
The day finished with some beers and time for a good old fashioned chin wag.
If you are interested in Planit holding a similar day in your area, please email sales@au.planit.com
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Cabinet Vision Operator
A leading Australian kitchen company requires a full time Cabinet Vision operator.
Based on the Gold Coast working
in a high rise arena.
Experience is essential.
Please phone Sarah to arrange an interview On 07 5580 0911.
Winner of last Issue’s Design Competition
Winner
of last Issue’s Design Competition
Pina from Gunns in Tasmania
Congratulations to Pina on a great design!!
Images created in Fusion Design Software
If you have a design you would like to feature in the Planit Newsletter, please email the picture to:
sales@au.planit.com
A bottle of wine or champagne will be awarded to the winner
which will be drawn bi-monthly for each issue of the newsletter
All winners during the year will go into a draw to win their company 1 Year’s FREE support at the end of
the year.
Please note: Planit may use any featured designs for marketing.
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Staff Profile
DAVID CARR
Position at Planit: Turnkey Integrator
David was born in Sydney in 1984 and completed his secondary
schooling at Mt Carmel Catholic School at Varroville.
David did his apprenticeship as a Cabinetmaker at Hammercraft
Industries in Sydney,specializing in custom-made joinery.
Before working at Planit, David was a Factory Foreman for a
joinery company where he oversaw shop fit-outs for major contracts. In 2006 David made the move from
a Factory Foreman to a Software Technician for Microvellum, which ignited a passion for automated
software and computer numerically controlled production.
Recently David joined the Planit team as a Turn Key Integrator.
“I made the change to Planit because of its exceptional
reputation in the industry. The level of support that Planit
provides to all clients far exceeds that of any other software
supplier” tells David.
Dislikes: Ian Thorpe –Manly Rugby Team
Nicknames: Dirt –from the boys…don’t ask!!!
Likes:
•
•
•
•
His girlfriend Tahlea of 4 years
Horse Racing (feel free to ask him for a tip)
TravelSnow Boarding
Supports the Cronulla Sharks
Disappearing graphics and dimensions in Windows Vista.
It is a very common misconception that the problem resides in Cabnetware or Cabinet Vision, when
in actuality it is a problem with the Video Card Manufacturer in your computer. Hardware, based on
demand from PC Manufacturers and the Consumer Market, are typically released before the Software
(Video Drivers) that drives them is up to speed.
Typically, an end user will say I got this brand new computer and I have to turn down Color Depth
or Hardware Acceleration to get Solid to work right, but on my old Computer it worked great. The
assumption is Cabnetware and Cabinet Vision is using old Technology, when in fact it’s that the
latest Drivers for an older (1 year or more) video card have been fine tuned and reached optimal
performance by their manufacturer...
So in short, older ATI and Nvidia Cards will perform best in the short term and newer ones will perform
better in the long term. A lot of our users have had good success utilizing Drivers from 3rd Party
developers that are fine tuned for Game performance. Because most high graphic games utilize OpenGL
as does Cabnetware Version 8 and Cabinet Vision Version 4 onwards, they will perform better...
In the short term, customers having graphics, dimensions, lines or colours disappearing from your
drawing, should try the following.
Start by closing your Cabnetware or Cabinet Vision program.
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Fusion Catalogs on Planit Website (via ftp site)
Go to your Taskbar in Windows Vista and select the
Windows flag
Start button > Control panel >
Personalization > Display settings
In the Display Settings screen choose the ‘Advanced’ Button
& Go to the Troubleshoot tab> Change Settings.
If you can drag the Hardware Acceleration slide bar down,
then do so. Find a level that allows the program to function
fully. Note; This maybe, in some cases the lowest setting.
If the slide bar is grayed out it means the driver does not yet
support Windows Vista. Therefore on the Display Settings
screen, change the color quality to – Medium 16 bit.
Ultimately make sure the drivers for you Graphics Card are up to date by Downloading the latest drivers
for your Graphics Card off the web
3D World Bathroom & Bathroom Advance Graphics Catalogs are now available on the FTP site.
These will be in a folder called Fusion & will have installation instructions with them.
These catalogs have lots of bathroom accessories & hardware that you will find useful if you use
Fusion for Bathrooms.
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Also on the FTP site is the updated Kitchen Advanced Graphics catalog.
To get to the ftp site, go to www.au.planit.com & within the support tab you will see “click here for ftp”. The log
in is customer & the password is customerftp.
jobsite companion
your unfair advantage
All’s fair in love and war...
Input room and furniture dimensions, take notes, mark electrical locations, attach
digital photos and feed this directly into your manufacturing programs.
Maybe. But this is business and to stay successful you need
to keep one step ahead of your competitors, no matter what
it takes. Jobsite Companion can give you the edge. It’s an
ingenious software tool from Planit that runs on a PDA
Information is gathered at source using a single point of entry, thus
eliminating costly translation errors. Data is available at your fingertips,
device and enables the woodworker to collect and store on-site
allowing you to accurately bid on projects and leave your competition
standing. No wonder we’re calling it your unfair advantage.
data quickly and easily.
To order Jobsite Companion contact head office on:
+ 61 2 9544 8815
sales@au.planit.com
Planit software supplied by Solspec (The Solution Specialists Pty Ltd) under license
www.au.planit.com
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Computer Hardware – Planit Products
Computer Buying Tips.
Graphics & Video Card1024 x 768
Capable of supporting OpenGL as this is the display
technology used in Planit products.
• The cost of your computer hardware is small compared to the cost of the software you will be running
on it or the aggravation of waiting for the computer to catch up with you.
NOTE: - The above specifications are inline with the Microsoft Windows Vista website
• Don’t try and save money on your hardware – you will regret it later.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/systemrequirements.mspx
• Purchase the newest, fastest computer you can afford.
• Try to avoid buying packaged computers from discount retailers that come with a lot of features to
help you surf the internet, play computer games or other recreational computer activities.
• If you are unfamiliar with computer configuration, ask for an industry standard commercial quality
computer to use in your business. Tell your computer supplier you are going to be using the computer
for CAD based applications so that he can make appropriate recommendations.
Planit products are 32-bit Microsoft Windows applications and were written for the Intel Pentium
family of processors. Use of other than genuine Intel Pentium processors may result in the haphazard
performance of Planit products and in some cases it may not work at all. Intel Celeron CPU’s generally
run slower than non-Celeron CPU’s as they have no internal cache.
These are the MINIMUM Computer Specifications that we recommend and Support:Operating System
Windows 2000
Windows XP Professional Edition Only
Windows Vista Business and Ultimate Editions Only
Processor – Desktops
Processor – Notebooks
Intel Pentium IV 3GHz
Intel® Centrino™ Mobile Technology Processor (1.7 GHz)
RAM
1GB DDR Ram
Hard Disk Drive
80GB
Media
CD/DVD (Burner)
Speakers
The Video Training CD’s have sound
PrinterFactory Drawings - Black and White A4 Laser Printer capable of
printing labels.
PrinterCustomer Drawings - Any windows compatible colour printer
– you get what you pay for
Monitor – Desktops
Minimum 17” LCD Flat screen or tube (The bigger the better)
Monitor – NotebookMinimum of 15”. This is where most of the money is for
notebooks. Buy one as clear and as big as the budget can
stretch.
Internet ConnectionThis is now considered essential. Your Planit product
operators must have internet access to send and receive
emails to Planit for support issues and they need to be able
to download updates and program fixes as required. We offer
on-line support whereby we can take control of your computer
remotely and assist with training and support issues.
Other SoftwareMicrosoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook). Up to date and current
Virus Protection Software
Data BackupsSome form of reliable backup system. (External Hard Drive,
Streaming Tapes).
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SUPPORT OPTIONS FOR CUSTOMERS
Insurance Cover for Security Key
Planit are pleased to introduce a new innovative support system for our valued customers. In line with
Planits commitment to building long term relationships with our customer and so we can benefit from
each other’s success the following support levels are offered to you.
Your Software Security keys must be insured for the full replacement value of your software to avoid
experiencing severe financial loss in the event of one of them going missing, stolen or destroyed.
Our supplier’s policies are hard and fast and NO LEEWAY is given in these circumstances.
As the market leader in Design and Manufacturing software we believe that in technical
support, training and after sales service we are at the fore front of customer support.
There are two main types of events that affect the replacement of your key.
Please contact your local representative, who will be happy to furnish you with any extra
information you require.
1) It is physically damaged or stops working. (you have something that you can return)
2) It is lost or stolen.
Priority Annual Maintenance Subscription
If your key is damaged and you still have it, then it will be replaced and the current charge is a “reburn
fee” of $550 + GST.
• Priority queuing of tech support calls. Priority queuing is defined as talking to the first available
Customer Support Technician without having to wait in the call queue for a return telephone call
• One on-site, 2 working day emergency visit (Monday-Friday), within 48 hours of call (All travel
expenses are an extra charge)
• ESupport (Australia)
• Remote Diagnostic Service (broadband internet access required)
• One version update and unlimited maintenance builds
• Back up service of customer’s data / monthly / offsite storage
• Free replacement disks for current version
$4,500 + GST per annum
Premium Annual Maintenance Subscription
•
•
•
•
•
•
Tech support in order of call
ESupport (Australia)
Remote Diagnostic Service (broadband internet access required)
One version update and unlimited maintenance builds
Back up service of customer’s data / monthly / customer storage
Free replacement disks for current version
$1750 + GST per annum
Basic Annual Maintenance Subscription
• Tech support in order of call
• ESupport (Australia)
• Free replacement disks for current version
If it is stolen or lost then the cost of your replacement keys are as follows:
Cabinet Vision and CabnetWare
1) The original Master Key – 100% of the total cost of all the options (Could be as much as $70,000).
2) An Additional Key – 100% of the cost of an additional system.
Note: With the supply of a police report you are entitled to a 50% reduction on the cost of the Master
Key Only.
AlphaCAM and Radan
At the “Next Key” Price (irregardless which key went missing). If you have one key, then the next key is
20% discount. If you have 2 keys, then the next key is 30% discount and so on until where you have 5
or more keys and the discount is 50%.
Plant Fusion
No Discounts. 100% of Master Key Price.
Damaged keys (including fire, flood, squashed) must be returned before claims can be accepted.
$400 + GST per annum
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Tips & Tricks
Cabinet Vision Tips & Tricks
Adding edge banding to drawer
To be able to apply edge banding to your drawer parts you first need to setup the part. To do this from the splash
screen go to ‘Catalogues – Parts’ from the left column click on the ‘Drawer Box’ heading. Down the bottom of
the screen you will see a button ‘Add a Part’ click on this button and you should see a screen as shown below:
Select ‘Add Banding’ as indicated and click OK.
Back on the ‘Parts’ screen you can then rename
the edge banding ‘Part’.
You can now close the part catalogue.
The next step is to apply the material to the part. To do this, again from the splash screen go to ‘Catalogues
– Material Schedules - Drawer Boxes’ you should now see the part appear under the banding heading in you
drawer box material schedules. If you right click on the Edge Banding part and click on ‘Select Material’ you can
then select your edge banding material from the Material Catalogue
Now when you are in a new job you will be able to select edge banding for the drawer parts in the
Assembly Editor. This is done in the Assembly editor by right clicking on a part and selecting ‘Edge
Banding’.
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Cabinet Vision Tips & Tricks
Cabinet Vision Tips & Tricks
Horizontal Grain on Drawerr
To have horizontal grain direction on doors and drawer fronts you need to create a new door/ drawer front,
alternatively you can modify an existing door/drawer front.
From the splash screen go to ‘Catalogues – Door’ you are now in the Door Catalogue Editor.
How to Create Sloping Window Bay
I have recreated the image effect by doing the following:
1) Place a wall and set height to 4000mm. Connect a wall at normal height (2400mm)
Click on ‘Create New’ button
Give your new door a name and select the category you wish to save it under
Then click on the ‘Construction’ tab.
Under the panel details heading on
the left hand side set panel type to
‘Slab’ and Horizontal grain to ‘Yes’
2) Place an upper cabinet set to Face Frame construction in the corner of the room.
3) Go to section view of the cabinet and select Utilities|Hide parts and select the following options:
As with all new doors you create you
will need to select what material you
want to use the door with from the
material tab.
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4) Go back to Section View, select Properties|General and change width height and depth to 1200 x 2000 x 22
mm (22mm being thickness of face frame).
9) The blind effect was created by making a door with glass panels and very small mid rails. If you want this
effect you will have to uncheck the “doors and drawer” option in step 3.
5) Go to Elevation view of wall 2, select the frame and set elevation to the height of the wall (2400).
6) Right click over frame, select Properties the Parameters.
7) In the Parameters list, right click over the AX parameter and set it to 45 degrees.
8) Copy frame as necessary.
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Cabnetware Tips & Tricks
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9. Select the Pack button.
Job Package
A Job Package feature has been added to the program allowing you to compress all files for one or more jobs into
a single zip file that can be emailed or transported to another computer to be loaded.
Restoring a Job Package
Creating a Job Package
1. Select the Utilities command from the File menu.
1. Select the Utilities command from the File menu.
2. Select the Job Package command from the Utilities menu.
2. Select the Job Package command from the Utilities menu.
3. Select the Unpack command from the Job Package menu.
3. Select the Pack command from the Job Package menu.
4. The Unpack Jobs dialog now appears on the screen:
4. The Pack Jobs dialog now appears on the screen:
5. Enter the path to the location of your job package file in the Path edit box.
5. Enter the path to the location of your job files in the Path edit box. By default the program enters the
job path located in your Path Preferences.
6. Click on the job name that you want added to your job package. Holding the Control key down while
clicking on jobs allows you to select multiple jobs to add to the package.
7. Enter the path were your backup files are located in the Create Package To Path edit box.
8. Enter the name of the package file in the Create Package To Name edit box
6. Click on the job package you want unpack in your jobs folder. Clicking on the + symbol in front of
your package file displays all jobs in the package file. Holding the Control key down while clicking on
each job allows you to select multiple jobs to be unpacked.
7. Enter the job path were you want to unpack your selected job(s) into in the Unpack Package To Path
edit box. By default the program enters the job path located in your Path Preferences.
8. Select the Unpack button
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Fusion Tips & Tricks
Kitchen Builder Tips & Tricks
Fusion
To improve printing quality of images created in Fusion,
Go to - Perspective and FutureVision view
Corner Cabinet Doors
When using corner cabinets in Kitchen Builder, to access the 2 different doors on a cabinet you must take the
cabinet into Cabinet Editor.
Go to - Properties and choose ‘Sides’ from the pull down menu.
Click on this button
Under Render Settings Go to - <Define…>
Here you can change the printer settings, Max pixels in x to 4096
This will greatly increase the number of pixels per printed area.
This view will show you a plan view of the cabinet, a red line will indicate the side that is currently selected.
Select the door you want to change.
Click the OK Button to close out of this view, this will bring you back into Cabinet Editor to view the side you
selected.
The top half of the screen shows a face view of
the selected door.
Click on the face view on the cabinet.
To the left of the page are your options
to change the door
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Shortcut Keys
Shortcut Keys
Shortcut Keys for Alphacam
Shortcut Keys for Cabinet Vision
The following hot keys help during geometry creation:
The following hot keys help in getting to different program features quickly:
F1
F2
F3
F4
F5
F6
Help
Auto Snap On/Off
Ortho Mode On/Off
Close and Finish
Grid Snap On/Off
Snap to End Point
F7
F8
F9
F10
F11
F12
Snap to Mid Point
Snap to Center
Snap to Intersection
Snap to Tangent
Snap to Perpendicular
Snap to Parallel
F1
F2
F3
F4
Help
Opens Wall Options
Opens Object Options
Opens Top Options
F5
F6
F7
Opens Moldings Options
Opens Auto Fill Options
Opens CAD Options
The following shortcut keys allow you to select and copy one or more cabinets:
The following shortcut keys allow you to quickly bring up regularly used commands in Alphacam:
Ctrl + N
New File
Ctrl + O
Open File
Ctrl + InsertInsert Alphacam Drawing
Ctrl + S
Save
Ctrl + I
Input CAD
Ctrl + L
List NC
Ctrl + M
Clear Memory
Ctrl + P
Printer/Plotter
Ctrl + Z
Undo
Ctrl + Delete Delete
Ctrl + F
Start Point
Ctrl + H
Ctrl + A
Ctrl + W
Ctrl + B
Ctrl + R
Ctrl + G
Ctrl + T
Ctrl + D
Ctrl + U
Ctrl + E
Change
Zoom All
Zoom Window
Zoom Previous
Redraw
Ghost Tools
Text
Dimension
User Layers
Edit Operations
Ctrl + Click
Ctrl + X
Ctrl + C
Ctrl + V
Selects Multiple Cabinets
Cuts Selected Cabinet
Copies Selected Cabinet
Pastes Copied Cabinet
The following hot keys assist you in the Layout and CAD areas:
W
Refreshes the View
G
Snaps Object to Grid
S
Snaps Object to Point
CSnaps a Cabinet Diagonally at a Wall Corner
F3In Wall Layout, Opens the Angle Calculator
M
In CAD, Snaps a Line to Mid Point
IIn CAD, Snaps a Line to Intersection
C
In CAD, Snaps a Line to Circle/Arc Center
Another great tip: Placing your cursor over an item while pressing the space bar allows you to quickly
center an item on the screen.
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Shortcut Keys
Shortcut Keys for Cabnetware
The following shortcut keys allow you to quickly move between views:
Ctrl + E
Ctrl + F
Ctrl + M
Ctrl + T
Elevation View
Floorplan View
Multi-Cross Section View
Counter Top View
The following shortcut keys allow you to quickly bring up regularly used dialogs:
Ctrl + N
Ctrl + O
Ctrl + D
Alt + {
Alt + }
New Room Dialog
Open Room Dialog
Display Options Dialog
Setup User Graphics Dialog
Setup Parameters Dialog
The following shortcut keys allow you to select and copy cabinets:
Ctrl + A
Ctrl + Click
Ctrl + X
Ctrl + C
Ctrl + V
Selects All Cabinets in Current View
Selects Multiple Cabinets
Cuts Selected Cabinet
Copies Selected Cabinet
Pastes Copied Cabinet
The following shortcut keys allow you to create and arrange multiple views of a room design:
Shift + F6
Shift + F4
Shift + F5
Creates New View Windows
Tiles Multiple View Windows
Cascades Multiple View Windows
The following shortcut key is for CNC:
Ctrl + CNC Center Automatically Imports Current Job Parts into CNC Center