Or,īuy some extrusions and start cutting them up. Learn a CAD program that I will probably never use again. They pretty much mirror what I am thinking. I thought I would turn to the forum to see if someone smarter than me has a secrete design weapon they will share. Just buying some extrusions, waiting for delivery and then chopping up some lengths as though they were 2x4's from the building supply store is possible but doesn't seem very ideal and likely includes some waste. I have fiddled around with some graph paper and scaled some drawings, but the lack of a third dimension complicates the visualization and doesn't give much in the way of itemizing connectors. I don't have any interest in learning a software package just to get three cabinets built. The time spent on a learning curve is equal to or greater than the cabinet build. Free design software from Parker T-slot or FrameDesigner don't work very well in my opinion.
Paying for AutoCad is out of the question. I've seen some CAD programs, both free and some very expensive. The cost of the extrusions and the fittings, combined with the lack of a local supplier that would allow going in and loading a cart has me thinking of the importance of dialing in a design and materials list up front. I am getting close to having to start the design of some cabinets using T-slot/8020 extrusions.