CabinetSense
Superior software for the artisan
Without great software, a CNC can’t do its thing...
As an artisan contractor, our clients seek complex and unique solutions for each of their projects. That’s why we use CabinetSense to complete our CAD/CAM suite of software. This cabinet design software will rise to the occasion – no matter the challenge or the task. CabinetSense software offers a variety of powerful features that will advance your mastery of cabinetmaking.
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As a professional cabinetmaker with a passion for CabinetSense software, I want to share my enthusiasm with other cabinetmakers who have struggled with the software challenge. As an authorized provider of CabinetSense support and training, I am committed to providing the highest quality service.
Here are the special benefits when you sign up with us:
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Superior Software for the Artisan Cabinetmaker
CabinetSense
Training
Step One
Sign up now to receive free authorized training to get you going… and other special offers.
Install CabinetSense
Step Two
After you’ve signed up for free training, click below to get the CabinetSense software download.
Priority Support
Step Three
If you want to learn more after your free training is completed, click on the button to schedule training and support at your convenience.
CabinetSense Provides:
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Dear Michael, you are the best…your sessions are beneficial, you are very patient and all explanations are clear. It amazes me how you never leave any subject/issue unattended, even if it means you will deliver after the session is ended, sometimes a day after. Thank you so much for everything, I am happy I have found you for getting tutorials on CabinetSense. I have attached my current design for a client.
Thank you for your kind comment! As a new user of CabinetSense, you have already inspired me with your creative designs.
Michael,
Thank you for the beautiful work that you just completed at our project in Laguna Beach. Your skill and craftsmanship is evident throughout the entire kitchen and bath. You were able to solve so many technical issues in a difficult remodel while still preserving the intricate design details. Hopefully you will soon post some of the photos from this project for everyone to see and appreciate.
Thank you very much! It is always a pleasure to work on your projects.
Very powerful stuff !!
I
m using CabinetSense in conjunction with Vectris.m now doing a kitchen/project every week.I started out 3 years ago. At the time I was quite familiar with Sketchup but knew only little about the cnc world. With this workflow I
Michael helped me so much to jump start this adventure and helped me a lot along the way. The communication is very easy and the program is evolving steadily.
Thanks a lot Michael
Regard
Thomas
Thank you, Thomas. You guys do incredible work!
Michael is awesome! He makes learning software fun. That’s hard to do! He has a lot of patience. New to CNC cabinets. I love it!
Thank you, David! Learning software is a journey and you have been making great progress. Keep going!
Was very impressed with Michael’s approach to creating works of art that the rest of us call cabinets. He was able to communicate this down to whatever detail level we wanted, clearly and with enthusiasm. He conveyed the approach and the tools we can use to do the same if we give it the attention it deserves. Michel is an excellent teacher and a great person to know.
Ben,
Thank you for your kind words!
It was a pleasure to have you at our Cabinetmaker Workshop and I enjoyed getting to know you through our many conversations. Thank you for sharing your quick wit, sense of humor, and curiosity with us.
Best wishes for your cabinetmaking venture!
Michael
Michael Samarza, owner of WestOak Studios, is a truly exceptional individual—both as a master craftsman and as a generous, insightful mentor. With over 50 years of experience in cabinet design, construction, and CNC integration, Michael brings a level of expertise and passion to the craft that’s incredibly rare.
I had the opportunity to meet Michael in person at one of his woodworking workshops, and it was hands down one of the best hands-on experiences I’ve ever had. I learned techniques and insights during that session that I still use every day in my business. His ability to teach, demonstrate, and inspire is unmatched.
Beyond that, Michael has helped countless others—many of whom he’s never even met in person—navigate complex design and fabrication challenges. Whether through CabinetSense, SketchUp, VCarve Pro, or Aspire, he’s walked people through everything from initial setup to advanced production workflows, often entirely over phone, email, or text.
What sets him apart is not just his technical ability, but his willingness to give so generously of his time, wisdom, and encouragement. He’s helped new and experienced woodworkers alike—sharing not only the how, but the why behind the work. His advice on design principles, materials, hardware, and shop processes has been invaluable to so many of us.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your craft at a high level, working with Michael is a rare opportunity to learn from someone who truly lives and breathes cabinetry. I’m incredibly grateful to know him and to have learned from him firsthand.
—Scott Little
District Design Build, LLC
Scott,
It has been an absolute pleasure getting to know you and having the opportunity to work together with you. You grasp concepts so quickly that often I’m not sure if you are learning from me or, very likely, I am learning from you.
Furthermore, you have an enthusiasm for this journey that is inspiring to me. Keep up the good work. Thank you for your kind comments.
Best,
Michael Samarza
WestOak Studios
I just completed a week-long class with Michael Samarza at WestOak Studios, and it was truly an exceptional experience. Michael is not only incredibly knowledgeable—especially with Cabinet Sense, SketchUp, CNC operations, and woodworking machinery—but he’s also one of the most generous and down-to-earth instructors I’ve ever met. Whether you’re brand new to the craft or a seasoned professional looking to reignite your passion and sharpen your skills, Michael meets you where you are and helps you level up. His shop is world-class, filled with top-tier equipment and a welcoming atmosphere that inspires creativity. He’s a gifted teacher with a passion for sharing his knowledge, and I can’t recommend his classes highly enough. If you’re even thinking about it—just do it.
Thank you, Larry, for your kind and considerate remarks. It was great to get to know you better at our recent Cabinetmaker Workshop. Your business knowledge and creativity was greatly appreciated by all of us. I’m looking forward to continuing our relationship in CNC cabinetmaking.
Warm regards,
Michael
WestOak Studios
I recently signed up for a class with Michael to become more proficient with CabinetSense. After this class I realized that my plan to build cabinets like I learned to 35 years ago was not going to work well, was not going to take advantage of the software and CNC, and not going to take advantage of modern cabinet hardware. I scheduled another class. And another. Topics of discussion included kitchen design, construction techniques, modern hinges and drawer slides, exporting from CabinetSense, importing to Vectric, toolpaths, toolpath templates, cutters, fasteners, and more. With Michael’s extensive experience, no question went unanswered. And the answers were thorough. Anything that could be demonstrated was demonstrated. I cut all of the parts for the first four cabinets of my projects this weekend (I have 50 or 60 cabinets ahead of me), and I know that my conversations with Michael already saved me many hours, and that my product is much better than it would have been otherwise. Thank you Michael.
Joe, it has been a great privilege to work with you. I believe you have joined your previous experience together with the power of CabinetSense and will create a successful venture for yourself. I’m looking forward to seeing some examples of the finished projects. Michael
So far, I have had 3 sessions with Michael and have exchanged several emails. The Cabinet Sense software is quite powerful with virtually unlimited options, so the learning the software can be a little daunting (and frustrating) at first.
Michael has been very patient and even helped encourage me when I was super frustrated. Now, after just a few sessions with Michael, I can feel it all starting to click and come together.
I am signing up for more sessions so I can learn all the tricks and use it to run a new business I’m working on.
Tom, I’m not going to disagree… it has been tough at times, but I have found the experience of learning with you to be very inspiring. I am pleased that you are so creative and don’t mind challenging what doesn’t seem correct to you. That’s the best way to learn. It will be great to see the finished products that you are currently designing. Michael
Update:
6 weeks ago, I didn’t know how to use Sketchup, Cabinet Sense, or Vcarve. I got a CNC and didn’t know how to work it. And candidly, I could barely build a cabinet with a table saw. You can imagine that an expert would be annoyed with my ZERO skill level. Michael has never made me feel that way.
After a few more zoom sessions with Michael, I’ve cut out and put together my first test cabinet. Learning everything at one time was hard at first, but it’s all starting to come together after just a month.
I could not have done this without Michael. He even responds to emails when I have questions. Yesterday, we were stuck on a complicated task. After the session, Michael took his own time to figure out the problem and create a solution and emailed it to me.
This guy is on another level with CNC cabinet making, but that wouldn’t mean anything without his ability to help me understand how the software makes the CNC work. He truly cares about my success.
Thanks Michael.
Tom
Tom, your email address (tomsvision@…) describes you quite accurately. I have seen this vision in the steadfast approach to your current project. Thanks for hanging in there and for taking the time to leave your thoughtful comment. Michael
Top Notch Trainer *and all around great guy!*
I have had the opportunity to work with Michael for 3 or 4 years now. I must say that he is one of the people you meet in life that you just want to keep around for the long haul!
Of course he is a master at furniture building, cabinetry, CNC, SketchUp and CabinetSense, so if you have any questions, He’s got the answer!
Michael, I appreciate your help, can-do attitude and willingness to always go above and beyond!!
God bless you!
Chris Z
Chris, it was very nice to catch up in our recent conversation. I wish you the best in your cabinetmaking venture. Thank you for your kind words. Michael
I purchased my CNC a couple of years ago and started using cabinet sense for machining my cabinets. I was lost when it came to all the software as well as the tool paths needed for the CNC. Michael made this process nearly effortless. At any given time when I had a question, he was there to answer it. And the online training I’ve received thus far has been priceless.
Excited to continue working with Michael as there are some new changes coming down the road with Vectric and I know Michael will be at the forefront of teaching it to us.
Based on Michaels teaching, attached is my first CNC built project I did for a neighbor.
Peter, you did an excellent job with this project. It has been great working together to learn CabinetSense and you have been a quick study. I’ll be looking forward to future projects. Michael
Dear Michael,
Your expertise and training in CabinetSense have saved me a significant amount of time, allowing me to understand and learn this great extension more easily.
When I first subscribed to CabinetSense, I wasn’t aware of the training you offered, but what a pleasant surprise it was to have someone help me with my project.
As I said, your “personalize training” and great availability made me save so much time for using all aspects of CabinetSense.
The contractor I hired to do the rough work on my kitchen renovation told me that I was very brave and a little crazy to attempt to make all the cabinets of my new kitchen by myself.
In retrospect, I wouldn’t have been able to complete this first project without your help, and you also gave me the confidence that I could to do it.
So, again THANK YOU SO MUCH!!
Here is a pic of my finished kitchen,
Your thoughtful comments mean a lot to me. Thank you! I expect that the cabinet making confidence that you gained through the experience of this project will go a long way toward building another success. Nice work! Michael
Michael,
I have had CabinetSense for quite some time, and could muscle my way through fairly simple designs. A quick one hour session, you were able to set up the program to function much easier, and showed me a much more efficient way to use the program, and very quickly was much more efficient and setting up layouts. So for others, even if you’re a wiz with autoCAD, SolidWorks, or other such programs, this one is quite a bit different, and time with Michael is time well spent. He is very fluent with the program, and is very patient to answer any and all questions, and you will be well served to have a session with him. It was an invaluable learning experience, and I highly recommend getting sessions with him!
It’s admirable that you were able to dig in and learn the software on your own. But, I’m glad I had the opportunity to meet you and that I could help with your understanding of the nuances of CabinetSense. I look forward to continuing whenever you’re ready for more. Michael
Michael, I just want to say that I appreciate your skill, not just as a CAD software guru, but as a teacher thereof. I’ve been through training on multiple different industrial software suites in the past, and NEVER have I had someone teach as effectively and clearly. Your patience and willingness to address both specific scenarios and general concepts, as well as availability via email or phone, has made this learning experience the smoothest and most valuable I’ve had by a country mile. I look forward to continuing to work with you as our company grows into the functionality CabinetSense provides.
Josh, I saw your kind words at the end of my day and it was a boon to my spirits. It is comments like yours that continue to inspire me to bring my best efforts to assisting others with their cabinetmaking goals. Thank you! Michael
I just want to say thank you to Michael for an excellent Cabinet Sense training experience. He’s incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and skilled at explaining things in a way that actually makes sense. I really appreciate how he took the time to answer all my questions and made sure I fully understood what we were working on.
Michael, your support and clarity have already boosted my confidence, and I’m genuinely grateful for the effort you put into your training. Looking forward to continuing to learn from you. Thank you!
Thank you very much, Lee. It’s good to have you onboard and I look forward to our sessions together. Michael
In any event, your kindness will ring in the listening ears of many of my cabinet conversations for what you’ve done for me so far, I was a teacher for 9 years and I know the patience and some of the fine-tuned skills it takes to walk in your shoes …
James, it’s been a sincere pleasure to study with you. Thanks for sharing your experience with me through this venture. Michael