United States of America
Outsourced Cabinet Drafting, Cut Lists & CNC Programming
Modern furniture shops rely heavily on CNC machines to keep production accurate and efficient. But for many U.S. manufacturers, time still gets lost in preparing clear casework drawings, building reliable cut lists, planning sheet layouts, and writing CNC programs.
Handing off these specialized tasks to a team of drafting and CNC programming experts can make a huge difference. Simplify your workflow, improve profitability, and keep your production moving without the overhead of maintaining a full internal engineering department.
The Need for Precision in Modern Furniture Manufacturing
In the furniture and casework industry, everything comes down to accuracy. Whether you're producing custom kitchen cabinets, office storage units, or retail displays, the production process moves through several critical stages:
Shop Drawings
Clear, thorough drawings that turn ideas into buildable plans. They specify every cabinet and panel, hardware, and assembly methods—removing guesswork on the shop floor.
Cut Lists
An inventory of every part needed, complete with size and quantity. Keeps track of all pieces in a complex build and helps prevent mistakes or missing items.
Panel Optimization / Nesting
Arranging parts onto sheet goods to minimize waste and cutting time. Proper nesting can save significant costs on raw materials.
CNC Programming
Converting drawings into machine-ready code with correct toolpaths, drilling patterns, and cutting speeds tailored to your specific equipment.
What You'll Receive
Shop Drawings for Furniture & Casework
Clear 2D drawings with measurements, materials, finishes, hardware locations, and construction notes for kitchens, closets, office casework, and retail fixtures.
Organized Cut Lists & Material Details
Complete spreadsheet-based cut lists with part identification, material type, thickness, finished size, quantity, and notes—grouped for efficient planning.
Nesting Layouts / Panel Optimization
Diagrams showing how parts fit onto sheet goods for maximum material yield while considering grain direction and cutting order.
CNC Files Customized for Your Equipment
Ready-to-run CAM files or G-code tailored to your machines—whether HOMAG, SCM, Biesse, Holz-Her, KDT, Woodtron, Nanxing, or others.
3D CAD Modeling & Visualization
Advanced 3D models using software like PYTHA 3D CAD to produce realistic visuals and extract cut lists and CNC data from a single source.
Fast, Accurate U.S.-Standard Formatting
Attention to detail with correct joinery, accurate dimensions, and formatting following American woodworking standards and AWI guidelines.
Key Benefits of Outsourcing
More Time for Real Production Work
Free your team from paperwork. Stay focused on designing, building, finishing, and assembling furniture rather than wrestling with technical prep.
Lower Costs and Built-In Scalability
Turn fixed expenses into flexible ones. Pay only for what you need, avoid software costs, and scale up or down instantly with workload changes.
Access to Specialized Experts
Work with specialists who know casework drafting, CNC programming, and the quirks of every machine brand from HOMAG to Biesse to SCM.
Faster Delivery Sometimes Overnight
Many teams operate across time zones. While you close shop, they're working on your drawings. Get results in days, not weeks.
Better Accuracy, Fewer Redos
Professional quality control catches issues before they reach the shop floor. Fewer missing parts, misaligned holes, or costly mistakes.
Consistent, Professional Output
Standardized drawings following U.S. woodworking conventions. Clean documentation, proper labeling, and formatted for easy team adoption.
How the Process Works
Quick Conversation & Estimate
Share your needs—sketch, architect drawing, or photo. We assess the scope and provide pricing.
Share Design Information
Send 3D models, sketches, or measurements. Tell us your preferences: carcass thickness, hardware types, AWI standards, machine format requirements.
Draft & Review
We build the drawings and models. You review the draft set, mark corrections, and we revise accordingly.
Generate Cut Lists, Nests & CNC Files
Create cut lists from the model, optimize nesting layouts, generate CNC toolpaths, and run simulations for your machine.
Receive Final Package
Get organized PDFs, spreadsheets, nesting diagrams, and ready-to-run CNC files—all prepared for immediate production.
Work Remotely, No Problem
All of this can be done remotely. You might be in California while the drafting team is in North Carolina or overseas—distance doesn't slow anything down. With cloud sharing, screen recordings, and markup tools, collaboration is seamless. Many U.S. shops work with offshore drafters as long as they understand American woodworking standards, use inches instead of metric, and know common cabinet construction styles.
A good provider assigns one point of contact who speaks your language—literally and technically.
Stay Competitive with Smart Outsourcing
Outsourcing the drafting and CNC prep work keeps your shop running efficiently without burning out your team. When drawings, cut lists, nests, and machine files come from specialists who do this every day, things just fit better. Fewer fixes during assembly, fewer alignment issues, and less wasted material.
Ready to streamline your production workflow and improve profitability? Let's discuss how outsourced drafting and CNC programming can work for your shop.
