I'm looking for software to layout a shop.

[Forty Niner]

There's a program called Room Arranger that I used to arrange my garage one time. It is a free trial type software then pay if you like it. It is easy to use and worked fine for me. Use it for 30 day trial. https://www.roomarranger.com/

 

[stioc]

Microsoft Excel or any spreadsheet is an easy way to do this. Simply size the cells into sqaures and decide what each one represents. I normally consider each cell 6". Then just put a border around your shop size and start coloring in groups of cells based on the relative size of the machine.

Simple, fast, and easy to copy paste things where you want. You don't need to see the machine, you just need to know the footprint it takes up.

This is exactly what I ended up doing a couple of times most recently simply because of how quick and easy it is.

 

[mickri]

Sketchup Make 2017 is what you want. It is a free program and the last Sketchup version that you can download to your computer. No need to be online to use it. It is pretty simple to use. The key to making it easy to move things around is to have your shop as a group and each piece of equipment as a separate group. The book Sketchup for Dummies walks you through the basics. You want the older version released in 2017 before Sketchup went web based. I think that you can read it online.

Here is a link where you can download Sketchup Make 2017. https://download.cnet.com/SketchUp-Make-2017/3000-6677_4-10257337.html

If you post the dimensions of your shop I will create a drawing of your shop to get you start. I will need your email address to email you the fie because the forum does not allow us to post sketchup files.

 

[Eddyde]

I have done a few shop layouts, including commercial woodworking shop. I have used both paper cutout method and CAD. The latter is easier but the former works just as well. Of course I always started with the physical space, walls, columns doorways, windows & any other obstructions. Then I modeled each machine with up to 3 boundaries: 1. The maximum footprint of the machine itself, eg, a mill's table fully extended in all axises. 2. The space needed for the machine's operator 3. Clearance for materials, etc. Eg. If you want to be able to rip 4' 8' plywood on a table saw you'll need, 8' in from and back of the blade + the bade say 1'=17' then 2' minimum at each end for the operator= 21' total and a minimum of 4' to the left and right of the blade as well. The 4th boundary is space needed to move items around the shop, carrying materials, rolling carts, work flow, etc. Unless you have a huge space there will be overlap of the boundaries. So you to need to prioritize each machine or potential operation and if there will be only one or more machines operating at the same time. Other considerations are things like, efficient dust collection duct routing, lighting, power, air, etc.
It is a lot to fugue out but well worth the effort to do it right.

 

[mickri]

Eddyde is right on about having to consider not only the space for the machine but also the space needed to operate the machine. I doubt that very many of us have that amount of space. I certainly don't. Especially in my new place that only has a 12'x20' garage. How I solved that problem is to have everything on wheels except for the lathe. Wheel it out in the work area when you need it and then move it back to its storage spot.

As for cutting up 4x8 sheets of plywood I have the store I buy the plywood at cut it to the basic size I need. Lowes and Home Depot will do that for free. Most lumber yards will also do that for you. For example. I like 16" deep shelves in the garage. When I made the shelves at my previous house I had Lowes rip the plywood into 15 7/8" wide pieces. Made it easier to handle and to make the shelves. A track saw setup will also work to cut up sheets of plywood. Easy to make.

The biggest space hogs are a table saw like Eddyde mentioned and a radial arm saw because of the room needed to cut long boards and plywood. Having table extensions that can be stored out of the way when not needed helps with that.

I have used Sketchup for years. Very easy to use. I find that it is very similar to using pencil and paper. And you end up with a 3D drawing. There is a huge amount of drawings of everything imaginable stored online in the 3D Warehouse. I have seen lathes, mills, etc that you can download for free into your drawing. There is everything from crude boxes to highly detailed drawings.

I mentioned using groups in my prior post. Using groups is similar to making a paper drawing of your shop, one group. and then having paper pieces (groups in Sketchup) of each of your machines that you move around to try different layouts. Nice thing about Sketchup is that you can save each layout and print them out to compare the different layouts. To say that I am a fan of Sketchup is an understatement.

 

[Toolmaker51]

CAD scmad.....save your money. They didn't need it for Golden Gate Bridge, Monticello, Empire State or Chrysler Buildings, early auto plants.
Sketch-Up works but has little quirks and seems to tangle easily.
1.] measure foot prints of each unit you intend placing, paper notes are fine.
2.] open MS excel and format into sufficient squares at 2 or 4 per L & W feet of space to be occupied.
3.] generate a table of contents, 'templates' of those machine footprints.
4.] in no time you'll be dragging and dropping them logically placed. Program allows rotating them incrementally,
5.] the logic will morph a few times as you sort wiring, lighting, air and water lines, or something that wants a north facing window like a work bench etc.
Convinced? Worked for me, total non computer nerd; arranging 300,000 pounds of equipment into 6500 square feet. Anyone who sees it, is floored, even 'real' process engineers.
Not yet? Taught clumsy sister how-to by phone; she did her bespoke mobile home, starting with the confining walls. Nothing is where their blueprints originally show.
Still not? Get a commercial layout program that'll need who knows how many revisions, while you hop over bugs, and it can't do anything else.

Also have done the Ouija board method; it was very easy too. It predated excel, but I made cutouts that even represented materials being moved about.
One place hoo-hah'ed all that as labor intensive. They wound up with horizontal bandsaws loading stock too close to a wall, verticals without 'unlimited' outfeed space, rather big lathes forklift had trouble approaching etc. Good thing they didn't shuffle OBI punch presses.
C-Bag recalls the tale; the production manager was all "I have 20 years in manufacturing.....".
Turned out was in a check printing house. Yeah, that's relatable.

 

[woodchucker]

First, I am very well versed in computers, it was what I did for a living. Except I suck at cad or really any drawing program.
While excel would work, it's a clunky way to work. I prefer software designed for a similar task. The same way I found living room design software not to my liking.

My shop is fully built, all wiring, all lighting, I don't need any of that. I need to get better utilization of the space. There are things I like about the space, but many I don't like. By playing with the layout, I hope to find a better use of some space.

I am going to try the Freecad 2d to see if it is usable. Randal was able to quickly.. Randal has gotten pretty good at FreeCad. Still, I think there must be decent software out there.

 

[WobblyHand]

FreeCAD 3D was a tough slog for me, I have to admit. But, honestly, any one can learn it. Just takes raw determination. If you have good internet access it is even easier. I went through 12 videos or so to be able to learn it.

I think with your background @woodchucker it wouldn't be that hard for you to learn. Once you get a couple of ideas to click it becomes much, much easier.

I seemed to have had some kind of mental block on all 3d CAD until I watched and followed along with the videos. After a week, it was a lot less difficult. In two weeks, it was a little rough, but ok. After 3 weeks it seemed to make sense. Now if I need to design something, I just go straight to FreeCAD and start doing it. Most of the time, it's a lot easier than doing a hand sketch! And the drawings are to scale. Give it a try. There's quite a few of us that can help. Just post in the FreeCAD sub forum.

 

[woodchucker]

FreeCAD 3D was a tough slog for me, I have to admit. But, honestly, any one can learn it. Just takes raw determination. If you have good internet access it is even easier. I went through 12 videos or so to be able to learn it.

I think with your background @woodchucker it wouldn't be that hard for you to learn. Once you get a couple of ideas to click it becomes much, much easier.

I seemed to have had some kind of mental block on all 3d CAD until I watched and followed along with the videos. After a week, it was a lot less difficult. In two weeks, it was a little rough, but ok. After 3 weeks it seemed to make sense. Now if I need to design something, I just go straight to FreeCAD and start doing it. Most of the time, it's a lot easier than doing a hand sketch! And the drawings are to scale. Give it a try. There's quite a few of us that can help. Just post in the FreeCAD sub forum.

I have been working in Freecad 3d. Like you I struggled. I was used to Sketchup years ago. And stopped using it soon after Trimble took over.

I don't use Freecad 3d enough to be well versed. Too much time between use. I will give the 2D a try for the shop layout. it might be handy to just have a hand in it...

 

[ahazi]

First, I am very well versed in computers, it was what I did for a living. Except I suck at cad or really any drawing program.
While excel would work, it's a clunky way to work. I prefer software designed for a similar task. The same way I found living room design software not to my liking.

My shop is fully built, all wiring, all lighting, I don't need any of that. I need to get better utilization of the space. There are things I like about the space, but many I don't like. By playing with the layout, I hope to find a better use of some space.

I am going to try the Freecad 2d to see if it is usable. Randal was able to quickly.. Randal has gotten pretty good at FreeCad. Still, I think there must be decent software out there.

You might want to try Sweet Home 3D, it is a free program.
Sweet Home 3D

It is very easy to use without a steep learning curve and very mature after almost 20 years out. It comes with a library and a library editor. It can also import 3d models.

It is written in Java and it works on Windows, Mac and on Linux. There is even an online version that you can try in your browser without installing it.

Try it, it is perfect if you do not want to learn a full fledged 3d program.

Ariel