Al Tipton takes a bit of pride in not having ever attended a formal software training session. But then again, if you’ve been working most of your professional life with a seat-of-the-pants attitude — and have been successful — who’s taking names.

Tipton, owner of JB Millworks, an Ozark, Mo. commercial cabinets/architectural millwork company, came from the construction side of the industry, having served as a general superintendent for commercial building projects. After more than 25 years in this sometimes grueling line of work, Tipton decided to make a switch.

“Basically, I was tired of the mud and snow,” says Tipton. “I was also tired of sometimes being asked to install what I felt was a substandard product built by someone else. I also knew I could build a better cabinet.”

So, in 1998, JB Millworks became his to own and run in Ozark, located between Springfield and Branson, country music’s “other” Nashville. With his experience and contacts in the building trades, Tipton and JB soon tapped into a fast-growing sector in southwestern Missouri: medical research and specialized patient care.

“With the Springfield-Branson area growing at such a fast rate — with a lot of people retiring here — healthcare became a logical growth area,” says Tipton. “We’ve managed to grow along with the healthcare industry which has built a number of medical complexes in the area that we’ve been a part of.”

Choosing new software carefully

As is the case with most commercial buildings, medical complexes are very public places. Reception areas, restaurants, waiting rooms, and even barbershops get a lot of traffic. And, high traffic areas must be attractive, comfortable and receptive to people who may not want to be there: patients and those people waiting for patients to be treated.

Still, a major focus from the standpoint of interior design and use is on the places where people meet with caregivers and where research is being accomplished.

“Medical field millwork is built specifically to accommodate medical equipment and uses,” Tipton explains. “Therefore, there are very few standard casework products. For example, in our case, 98 percent of what we make is custom fabrication.”

Bringing those custom millwork jobs back to the shop and successfully matching the design and fabrication demands of the architects and contractors can be a challenge, as Tipton, his wife Melody and the others at JB Millworks found out.

Computer-controlled manufacturing capabilities — in the form of a Komo VR 508 Mark One CNC router with tool changer — were added in 2002. The Komo, purchased from Elkins Machinery of Fort Smith, Ark., was armed with CimTech software. Over time, however, Tipton and his staff realized that the software package they were using didn’t match the design and product demands they faced with the custom nature of their business.

Implementing the new package

After some research, JB Millworks chose a new software package from Microvellum, an AutoCAD-based drafting and design product.

Tipton and his wife Melody were asked about why they chose this particular product and how it was integrated into their operation. They admit the transition wasn’t always smooth.

Wood Digest: When did you purchase the new package and why?

Al Tipton: We purchased it in June 2004 because we wanted software that was AutoCAD-based.

WD: You say there was somewhat of a learning curve. What were some of those early challenges and how did you deal with them?

Melody Tipton: Switching from a wizard-based software like we were using previously to a spreadsheet-based software like Microvellum caused us some problems at the beginning. Plus, the new software wasn’t compatible with our 2000i AutoCAD version software we were using. Once they worked that problem out, we had an easier time.

WD: How was training accomplished?

Al Tipton: We spent a lot of time on the phone with the Microvellum tech people, and Melody and Chuck Lakie, our draftsman, did receive some formal training. Plus, James Eikling from Elkins Machinery came up and figured out that the “arc” account in AutoCAD and Microvellum had the same name, causing the two to wig out. But we fixed that, too.

WD: What software components did you purchase as part of the package and how do they perform for you?

Melody Tipton: We purchased Toolbox, which allows us to move easily from walls, to products, to text, to making single parts, to nesting, to making G-code. It is their (Microvellum’s) Windows menu. We also use Overdrive Pro, which allows us to be in a spreadsheet environment to work on cabinets. For instance, if you want a shelf to be a little shorter or longer, you can easily change this in the spreadsheet. Every part and comment attached to a cabinet can be viewed and changed in the spreadsheet. Also, in Overdrive Pro you can add cabinets and basically add every box you want in the job without every drawing a single cabinet — which, in time, will be great for estimating.

With Nested Panel Optimization, we are using the optimization that is automatically set up in Microvellum. And, we’re using the AWI/WIC Casework Library which is very extensive. We have to change a lot of boxes because of the custom millwork that we do.

Every day we learn a new way to change and modify a box. It has been a real learning process, as far as what you can and cannot do. I think sometimes we try and make it too hard. But the tech support has been great and they work with us until we get it changed.

WD: Are you generating G-code directly to the Komo?

Al Tipton: Yes, we generate G-code in Microvellum for the router. We had some problems at the start because the router requires a number heading at the beginning of each program. Microvellum was set up to just put the file name. The tech support recognized the problem and sent us a fix the next day. Also, our router head settings had to be programmed in. When we first started cutting, all of our holes were off just a little.

WD: What types of parts do you run on the Komo?

Al Tipton: We cut boxes, countertops, knee braces, die walls and fixture parts, primarily. About 99 percent of what we build goes through the router. I’m afraid our boys are spoiled. They love the square, nice fitting parts. We also run other parts and cabinet parts for another shop here in town.

WD: Why did you choose the Komo over other brands?

Al Tipton: Because of James Eikling and the service and in-house training we received.

WD: What advice would you give other woodworkers regarding choosing the right software for your business and how to deal with problems that arise?

Al Tipton: If you have the kind of clients that need better 3-D color prints then what you were using before — Cabinet Vision — is great. But we produce off of blueprints from architects, so most of our clients don’t need 3-D color printed visuals. Microvellum does great on single line shop drawings — which we have to have on every job.

Cabinet Vision produces beautiful 3-D drawings that are great if your client needs a visual of what you are producing for them. You can change the room design quickly and easily in Cabinet Vision, which can impress the customer. Microvellum is not as adept at moving boxes around and printing 3-D. But if you are going right off of a blueprint and only need to make changes after field measurements, then the way we go might be preferable.

A drafter with only AutoCAD experience catches on a lot more quickly to what we’re using now because there are a lot of the functions that are similar to or actual AutoCAD commands. We’ve had a lot of problems finding just the right drafting person. Most of them don’t have the cabinet shop experience that they need to read a blueprint and then convert it to the shop drawing the way it should be built. With Microvellum it takes out part of the learning process — at least in our case.

My advice is that you get to know your client, so you can match their needs with the right software. I would also recommend that you budget enough money for your software to bring in a tech to help with setup and training.