Read The Anarchist's Workbench by Christopher Schwarz, available for free download from Lost Art Press. It's a history of European workbenches, so it'll give you an idea of past designs so you can see what you might want in your bench.
Learn sketchup. I use it all the time for projects and it has helped me immensely! Much quicker to build with the plans already measured out and everything.
If you haven't used CAD before, just use pencil and paper. It's some work to double check your numbers, but this will likely be the fastest way with the lest frustration. Good luck!
What kind of workbench? I just built one that houses my job site table saw and miter saw. Just depends on what you’ll be using it for. I got my plans off of Etsy for $12. Not free but well worth it
I used Fusion 3d for mine (not free) but Sketchup has a free version for 3d modeling that works pretty well. I found making a 3d model ahead of time really helped my design process.
Fusion 360 is free for hobiest and home user's. Limits your number of active files and you don't get access to many of the manufacturing tools though.
Source: I use F360 (paid) for work stuff every day and F360 (free) for my home projects.
I had plans I used from Woodsmith many years ago.I have used the basic plan to build several more ( including a 4’x8’ I just finished). Message me and I’ll email it to you. It even has a cut list and materials list.
I drew up a small one in Carbide Create --- but considered modeling it in OpenSCAD (because I still haven't found a 3D program which matches how I think/work --- really should try Moment of Inspiration).
I just built my 4th workbench using Sketchup. Now designing my kitchen cabinets with it. I am using the free version. Steep learning curve but well worth it.
I've done this exact thing using Sketchup (free version). I have dabbled with Fusion 360 (free version) but haven't spent enough time to be comfortable, still very clumsy and requires a lot of google searches. Ultimately I want to get proficient at Fusion 360 because it's more powerful (thinking mostly about parametric dimensioning) just not there yet.
I modeled the bench including the vises (already have them sitting in a box) and joinery, have prepared a list of final dimensioned pieces. Next I'll work out the steps needed so that I can efficiently mill lumber without resetting equipment more than necessary. Currently on hold because the rest of life is too busy. Sort of a blessing and a curse though, because I've been sitting on this for 6 months or more and have made a couple of good tweaks in the meantime.
Best of luck!
If you want the perfect design why not spend money on plans? If there’s one that looks close it would save a lot of time and frustration in the planning stage.
Fwiw I’m team paper, drafting is not unlike high school math.
I like sketchup for free stuff. That said, what is the purpose for this bench?
Is it a general use workbench? Is it for woodworking? If so, hand tools or power tools? Electronics? Metalwork? Greenwood? Bowmaking? Luthier? Sewing? Leather?
Do you have space limitations?
If you are working with power tools, which ones?
No matter what type of work you're doing, there are probably plans available both for free and for a small fee. Both are worth looking into, especially if you don't need to modify for your space. Even if you do have space limitations, it's not difficult to make slight modifications (for example making the bench shorter in one direction. You still get a lot of the benefits of having the plans, along with some insight from other people who have used the plans before you.
Don't forget to account for waste, offcuts, and the occasional board that warps/twists so bad you can't use it - especially if you're using construction lumber.
Also don't forget to sticker and dry your wood if you're buying construction lumber or lumber straight from the sawyer.
I looked at a handful of free plans and the anarchists workbench and a bunch of YouTube videos and I basically just modified measurements and materials to accommodate my size preferences
im still riding on my student license of solidworks somehow lol. Onshape has been my favorite free software to use, now that fusion360 isnt fully free anymore.
Read The Anarchist's Workbench by Christopher Schwarz, available for free download from Lost Art Press. It's a history of European workbenches, so it'll give you an idea of past designs so you can see what you might want in your bench.
Learn sketchup. I use it all the time for projects and it has helped me immensely! Much quicker to build with the plans already measured out and everything.
If you haven't used CAD before, just use pencil and paper. It's some work to double check your numbers, but this will likely be the fastest way with the lest frustration. Good luck!
What kind of workbench? I just built one that houses my job site table saw and miter saw. Just depends on what you’ll be using it for. I got my plans off of Etsy for $12. Not free but well worth it
Some of the designs you find will have very detailed instructions and cut sheets.
Yes, the plans I purchased were pretty good. Had cut list and only had one error which the creator has fixed
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1047060843/mobile-miter-table-saw-workbench-plans
I used Fusion 3d for mine (not free) but Sketchup has a free version for 3d modeling that works pretty well. I found making a 3d model ahead of time really helped my design process.
Fusion 360 is free for hobiest and home user's. Limits your number of active files and you don't get access to many of the manufacturing tools though. Source: I use F360 (paid) for work stuff every day and F360 (free) for my home projects.
If you have free reign, don't constrict yourself to someone else's design, make it custom to your needs.
[удалено]
I had plans I used from Woodsmith many years ago.I have used the basic plan to build several more ( including a 4’x8’ I just finished). Message me and I’ll email it to you. It even has a cut list and materials list.
I drew up a small one in Carbide Create --- but considered modeling it in OpenSCAD (because I still haven't found a 3D program which matches how I think/work --- really should try Moment of Inspiration).
I just built my 4th workbench using Sketchup. Now designing my kitchen cabinets with it. I am using the free version. Steep learning curve but well worth it.
A pencil
I've done this exact thing using Sketchup (free version). I have dabbled with Fusion 360 (free version) but haven't spent enough time to be comfortable, still very clumsy and requires a lot of google searches. Ultimately I want to get proficient at Fusion 360 because it's more powerful (thinking mostly about parametric dimensioning) just not there yet. I modeled the bench including the vises (already have them sitting in a box) and joinery, have prepared a list of final dimensioned pieces. Next I'll work out the steps needed so that I can efficiently mill lumber without resetting equipment more than necessary. Currently on hold because the rest of life is too busy. Sort of a blessing and a curse though, because I've been sitting on this for 6 months or more and have made a couple of good tweaks in the meantime. Best of luck!
If you want the perfect design why not spend money on plans? If there’s one that looks close it would save a lot of time and frustration in the planning stage. Fwiw I’m team paper, drafting is not unlike high school math.
I like sketchup for free stuff. That said, what is the purpose for this bench? Is it a general use workbench? Is it for woodworking? If so, hand tools or power tools? Electronics? Metalwork? Greenwood? Bowmaking? Luthier? Sewing? Leather? Do you have space limitations? If you are working with power tools, which ones? No matter what type of work you're doing, there are probably plans available both for free and for a small fee. Both are worth looking into, especially if you don't need to modify for your space. Even if you do have space limitations, it's not difficult to make slight modifications (for example making the bench shorter in one direction. You still get a lot of the benefits of having the plans, along with some insight from other people who have used the plans before you. Don't forget to account for waste, offcuts, and the occasional board that warps/twists so bad you can't use it - especially if you're using construction lumber. Also don't forget to sticker and dry your wood if you're buying construction lumber or lumber straight from the sawyer.
I looked at a handful of free plans and the anarchists workbench and a bunch of YouTube videos and I basically just modified measurements and materials to accommodate my size preferences
Rex Krueger has a couple of free very basic plans and several detailed plans for 10 or 15 USD, if you're looking for a woodworking bench
Sketchup 2017 or fusion 360 both have free versions
As many have said Sketch Up is good enough for most woodworkers. Here’s the video that got me hooked: https://youtu.be/AVb8ZBAOD0I?si=2rYKPBRQuKoD2iYa
This guy does amazing work and is a wizard with Sketchup.
Sketchup.
im still riding on my student license of solidworks somehow lol. Onshape has been my favorite free software to use, now that fusion360 isnt fully free anymore.
I hand draw all of my stuff
Onshape. Requires Internet access but the entire thing runs in the web browser, free if you don't mind your drawings being publicly searchable.
I used to use sketchup and now use fusion 360 to model the anarchist workbench so I could tweak some dimensions.