Valley Oak Design Manager v1 — Built to make large CNC file libraries easier to manage

Software
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Valley Oak Design Manager v1 — Built to make large CNC file libraries easier to manage

Like a lot of people doing CNC plasma work, I’ve collected a ridiculous number of SVG and DXF files over the years.

The problem wasn’t finding more designs — it was finding the one I already had.

Folders inside folders, duplicate files, different versions of the same design, and plenty of times where I knew I had something but couldn’t remember what it was called or where I saved it.

So I built Valley Oak Design Manager to solve that problem in my own shop.

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It gives you native SVG and DXF previews so you can recognize designs visually, then organize them with:

  • Search, tags, notes, favorites, status, and collections

  • Batch tagging and file organization

  • Duplicate finder

  • Cutting/testing notes stored with designs

  • Large previews without opening another program

  • Preview Studio for customer proofs and PNG exports

  • Light and Dark modes

  • Local-first storage — your design library stays on your Windows PC

It isn’t intended to replace SheetCam, Fusion, LightBurn, Inkscape, or your design software. It sits in front of those programs and helps you find and organize the file you want faster.

A couple of people have been testing it with me, and their feedback has already led to new features and fixes. I’m continuing to improve it based on how people actually use it in their shops.

Valley Oak Design Manager v1 is now publicly available for Windows.

Lifetime license: $99

:backhand_index_pointing_right: Valley Oak Software | CNC and Fabrication Tools

:movie_camera: Quick walkthrough:

I’d be interested to hear how everyone else here manages large CNC design libraries, especially if yours has turned into the same folder mess mine did.

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A little update since I originally posted this.

I’ve been putting quite a bit of development time into Design Manager over the last couple of weeks, mostly based on actually using it in my own shop and feedback from other CNC users.

The current release is now v1.2.1, and one of the biggest additions is Shared Workspace. You can now have Design Manager on two shop computers looking at the same CNC file library and share the organization between them — tags, notes, favorites, collections, status, etc. I’ve been running it this way between two of my own PCs and it has become a big part of how I use the program.

I’ve also spent quite a bit of time making the organization side smarter rather than just adding more buttons. Tags are easier to keep consistent, folders you don’t want cluttering the main library can be excluded without moving or deleting anything, and SVG/DXF files can now be sent directly to LightBurn from Design Manager if you use it.

The original goal is still the same: Help me find the file I know I already have, see which version I actually used, and get it into the next program without digging through folders all day.

There have been a lot of smaller improvements and fixes along the way too, and I’m continuing to work on it.

Current version and download are here:

If anybody here is using it, I’m always interested in hearing what works, what doesn’t, or what would make it more useful in an actual shop.