• July 2025 Turning Challenge: Turn a Multi-axis Weed Pot! (click here for details)
  • Congratulations to James Seyfried for "NE Red Oak II" being selected as Turning of the Week for July 21, 2025 (click here for details)
  • Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.

Software Recommendations

MarkAndrews

MarkAndrews

Joined
Sep 6, 2014
Messages
33
Likes
5
Location
Costa Mesa, CA United States
Hello All,
I'm a complete newbie. I've just retired from Boeing after 33 years in IT (read computer geek). I'm lucky enough to live close to Cerritos College and their excellent woodworking program so I'm currently taking their wood turning class. I've fallen in love with turning and the possibilities of making art out of something that might have ended up being burned in someone's fireplace.
In my quest for knowledge I of course stumbled across AAW. It's so gratifying to find a group of people who are so giving of their time and advice. I've been lurking on this site for months absorbing opinions on everything from lathes to finishes. I've purchased a Nova DVR lathe (I love it!) on sale from Amazon, a Supernova 2 chuck along with about 10 assorted turning tools. I just finished my first bowl https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4800797794780&set=a.2772139919601.71086.1741115438&type=1 . I also attended my first meeting of my local AAW chapter. I came away impressed and intimidated by all that I don't know, but that's half the fun right?
So here's my question, I have a lot of experience with design software. I understand there are some software programs out there that can help me design bowls, hollow vessels etc as well as segmented turnings (something I plan to try later on). I've searched the AAW forums and most of the posts are dated back to the 2005 - 2008 time frame. The products recommended then include Woodturner Pro,Segmented Project Planner and Woodturner's Studio. Are those still well regarded? Are there any others that I should consider?
Thanks,
Mark Andrews
 
Mark,
The software tools are valuable for segmented work.

For bowls made from one piece of wood the catenary curves work really well and are are always pleasing to the eye.

These are curves formed by a free hanging chain.
Get a whiteboard, a thin chain, and a couple of clips.

Draw a box the dimensions of your blank. Hang the chain. Draw your bowl profile.
Low tech but.....
 
Software?

Hi Mark and welcome to the Vortex.
I am one of the turners who lets the wood lead to the final design. I know a lot of turners (read better than me) who use sketches or other design methods but for my turning I just put a chunk on the lathe and let it decide (within limits) what shape it wants to be.
Good Luck!!
 
Pete, Al, R.Henrickson
Thank you for your responses. I will definitely try the Catenary Curves and check out the software. My reason for wanting the software was to use it to visualize possible turnings. The point about letting the wood dictate the shape is great advice, I will definitely heed it.
Mark
 
Hi Mark,
I really like designing stuff as well. I think I like just much as turning actually.

I purchased Lloyd's software some time ago. I've really only played around with the lamination pro stuff. I'd say it's a little rough around the edges, but it's overall a great set of programs and definitely worth the money.

http://woodturnerpro.com/downloads/...-version-3-software-version-2-1-software.html

I do segmented turnings. This software would be great for that. I keep meaning to spend more time with this program but for years I've been drawing the basic shape on Cad and using excel to give me a cut list of all the segment sizes I'll need. I can just input the diameter of a given row and it does a little math to figure out the size.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top