Cut list from drawings
Typing cabinet sizes from PDF drawings into a cut list is slow. It is also easy to make mistakes.
Steps
- 1
Write your construction rules one time: board thickness, carcass construction (for example, sides run past the base), back type and groove depth, shelf setback, kick height, door gaps, edging on each edge.
- 2
Give the AI ONE elevation at a time (screenshot or vector PDF), plus your rules:
Prompt to copy
Here are my cabinet construction rules: <paste rules>. From this ONE elevation, list each cabinet with: cabinet ID, type (base/wall/tall/drawer), overall W x H x D in mm as written on the drawing. If a dimension is not written on the drawing, write MISSING - do not estimate it. Then a separate list: everything you are unsure about.
- 3
Check the cabinet list against the drawing yourself. Count the cabinets. Compare every size. Fix mistakes before the next step.
- 4
Ask for the parts list, using the CHECKED cabinet list:
Prompt to copy
Using my rules and this checked cabinet list, output a cut list as a CSV with columns: Cabinet ID, Part name, Length mm, Width mm, Qty, Material, Grain direction (L/W/none), Edging (which edges). Show the formula you used for each part type once at the top.
- 5
Check 3 cabinets by hand with a calculator. If a part is wrong, fix the rule, not only the number.
- 6
Paste the CSV into CutList Optimizer (or your cut list software) to get sheet layouts and the number of sheets.
- 7
A second person checks the final cut list against the drawing before anything is cut.
Price details
A$0-30/mo for the AI assistant; CutList Optimizer has free use (€4.90 for a 3-day premium unlock). Paid drawing-to-quote tools: JOINA A$199/user/mo; MillworkSuite from $150/user/mo (currency not stated).
Who is this for? / Time saved
Shops without full CNC software, or anyone who wants to check a cut list before cutting.
*Our guess (not measured): maybe 20-40% of the typing time for simple carcass work. Little or no time saved for complex or curved work.
Prices checked 20 Oct 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.
One new AI idea every week. Free. Starting soon.