Software designs are not only available for cabinets, there are also design programs for doors, shelves, stairs, closets, decks, and wooden panels in other parts of the house. There are some additional features that would enable you to create designs for drawers, bowls, and mouldings. Design is not the only CNC woodwork program, there are also panel cutting programs which could be for sale or for free. Advantages One of the big reasons for adopting CNC into their craft is the fact that the technology affords so many possibilities and advantages without doing harm to the authenticity of their work. In fact, as some enthusiasts cheerfully declare, the innovation only added to the fine quality and uniqueness of their creations. For those who have been doing woodwork manually, the price of CNC equipment may be surprising and the costs of upgrading the system may cause some serious dent on your savings. Would there be another way of increasing productivity without spending too much? There is a good alternative for buying new CNC woodwork, buying used ones. Choose a CNC model that is easy to set up, easy for all operators to understand and use, and straightforward enough to change over or configure for the next task. Fears and facts There is a baseless misconception among small shop owners that a machine not in operation all day is a wasted investment. Would a CNC machine be a good investment nevertheless? They help decrease the amount of human manual labor and intervention from employees. Basically, the main advantage of CNC machining is the improved accuracy, efficiency, productivity and overall safety. Operators are less at risk because human interaction is decreased. Many applications of CNC machining have the machines operating unmanned for significant periods of time. They include calculators for computing board feet, wood movements, wood selection, moisture content, drawer sizing, shelf sag rates, cost estimates, and many others downloadable for free. There are programs that create cut lists for doors, drawers, cabinets, furniture pieces, etc. There are many free design programs, too, for wood shops and cabinets, although there are not very many with regards to full-featured free CAD application.