Edit the design yourself, instantly
If the customer asks to change the size, add a drawer or move a shelf, edit it in the 3D view and the drawing, cut sheets and files update immediately, with no need to send it back to a drafter
Compared with hiring a drafter
Hiring a drafter and take-off person vs designing it yourself in Prakobd: what's the difference?
Prakobd differs from hiring a drafter in that the shop can do it right away. Enter dimensions or send a photo to the AI designer and you get a 3D image, a 6-view PDF drawing, cut sheet drawings, a cut list, the sheet count, a hardware list, and DXF, SVG and G-code files. You can revise the design as many times as you like and see the result instantly, with no waiting in a queue. Hiring a drafter suits jobs that need someone to inspect the site, make structural decisions, or handle shapes the software doesn't have yet
How is it different?
Extract drawings from the model
The PDF/CSV cut list gives parts, sizes, quantities, a material summary and the hardware to buy. The nesting page shows the number of sheets used
Cut files always match the design
The design the customer approves, the shop's cut-sheet drawings and the machine files all come from the same model, reducing cutting mistakes caused by drawings and files that do not match
You can start from a photo or a sketch
Upload a photo of a real cabinet, a rough drawing or a sketch for the AI to draw, or use Advanced AI Designer for free-form pieces. Every value can still be edited afterwards.
Compared point by point
| Topic | Prakobd | Hiring a drafter / quantity take-off |
|---|---|---|
| Time to get a design | Get drawings and files as soon as you finish entering the dimensions | Depends on the drafter's queue and time |
| Multiple rounds of design revisions | Edit it yourself as many times as you like and see the result instantly | Send the details back and wait for a new drawing every round. |
| Extract drawings and the cut list | The cut list, hardware list and sheet count are generated from the model | A drafter produces the take-off for you. Level of detail depends on the person. |
| CNC and laser machine files | Layered DXF and SVG and G-code are in the production file pack | You must agree on the file format and layer split with the machine, or build the toolpaths yourself |
| View the on-site work and advice | For shops that measure on site and decide for themselves, the software shows warnings before export | Better. An experienced drafter can help inspect the site, advise on structure, and take responsibility for the drawings. |
| Shapes it can make | Based on 209 templates and examples. Free-form pieces use Advanced AI Designer. | Can draw any shape as agreed |
| Source file | Jobs are stored in the shop's account, and the .prakobd file can be opened and edited by yourself | Depends on whether the source files will be handed over |
Who it's for
- Shops that hire out drafting job by job and lose time waiting for revisions
- Craftsmen who measure on site themselves and want a cut list right away
- Shops that take repeat jobs of the same design with a different size every time
- Large jobs that need a specialist on site, structural certification or coordination with an architect should hire a drafter.
Frequently asked questions
I've never drafted anything. Can I still use it?
Yes. Pick the closest example and follow the steps: size, material, structure, extras and export. There is a screenshot guide, video tutorials and an "Ask the assistant" button at the bottom right
Can I give the design to the customer for approval?
Yes. The assembly PDF has 6 views, a 3D image and an exploded view, with your shop name and logo in the title block. You can send customers a link to rotate the 3D model, and issue PDF quotations, all free
Do you know how many sheets of wood to buy?
Did you know? The CNC nesting tab places parts on the sheets by real shape and grain direction and shows the sheet count and the percentage of material used, free to view before you download the files
What if I can't do it myself? Is there anyone to help?
Click the "Ask the assistant" button at the bottom right to ask how to use the program right away, or contact the team on LINE @ndssoft. If you want us to produce or cut the parts for you, order from the Nat Design Tak shop.
Read more
- From pitching the client to the cut file, for built-in shops and cabinetmakersBuilt-in furniture shops and cabinetmakers use Prakobd to design kitchen cabinets, wardrobes and full-wall built-ins, getting a 3D design for customer approval, a quote, cut sheets with hardware holes, and CNC files
- Design your own furniture without a machine, then send the files to a shop to cutEven without a machine you can design furniture yourself. Prakobd lets you pick an example, enter dimensions and view it in 3D for free, then you get DXF, SVG, G-code, a cut list and assembly steps to send to a CNC or laser shop
- How is drafting a cabinet in AutoCAD different from designing it in Prakobd?AutoCAD draws precisely and freely, but you have to draw the elevations, part drawings and cut list yourself. Enter the cabinet size in Prakobd and get the 3D model, cut sheets, nesting, G-code and cut list in one job.
Hiring a drafter and take-off person vs designing it yourself in Prakobd: what's the difference?
Sign up free. Design and view nesting without limit; pay credits when you download production files
Start designing for free