Pallet Design documentation
Summary
How to design a pallet in the Pallet Design app, read the drawing and parts list, share it, and request a quote.
Using the designer9
- Getting started with the pallet designerOpen a template, edit its properties in the inspector, clear any errors in the Checks tab, then switch to the Drawing tab for an ANSI B sheet. From there you can share a link, print, or request a quote. No account is needed and the designer is free.
- Pallet templates in the designerThe designer ships with 21 templates across eight pallet types: 7 wood stringer, 4 wood block, 4 plastic, 2 metal, and one each for presswood, paper, slip sheet and anything else. Each opens as a complete, valid design you can edit.
- The designer interface and keyboard shortcutsThe designer has a top bar (name, Model and Drawing tabs, Share, Print drawing, Request quote), a toolbar for views and display modes, a Browser panel listing parts and templates, a 3D viewport, an inspector with Properties, Checks and Parts tabs, and a status bar.
- Designing wood stringer palletsWood stringer pallets are modeled board by board. You set the build (pallet, skid or plastic lumber), wings, top and bottom deckboard count, thickness and widths, stringer count and size, optional 4-way notches, lumber and fasteners. Deckboards are spaced evenly with flush ends.
- Designing wood block palletsBlock pallets are modeled as 9 blocks in a 3 × 3 grid under 3 stringerboards, with a top deck and a perimeter, cruciform or 3-board bottom. You set deckboard direction, board counts and widths, block sizes and material, and whether the pallet is Euro-size or EPAL-licensed.
- Plastic, metal, presswood, paper and slip sheetsBesides wood, the designer covers molded plastic (by requirements and archetype), metal, presswood (by load grade), paper and honeycomb, slip sheets (material, caliper, tabs) and an Anything else type. Plastic, presswood and Anything else are drawn as representative geometry.
- Units and dimension conventionsEvery length is stored in inches at actual size and shown in inches or millimetres. Length is the stringer or stringerboard direction and is stated first. Drawings use decimal inches or whole millimetres; parts lists use shop fractions to the nearest 1/16 in.
- Design checks: every rule, what it means and how to fix itThe designer runs geometry, Uniform Standard and practicality checks as you edit. Errors (red) mean the pallet can't be built as drawn and block a quote request. Warnings (amber) flag likely problems. Passes (green) confirm a rule is met or add a note.
- The drawing sheetThe Drawing tab generates an ANSI B (17 × 11 in) engineering drawing from the model: top, bottom, front and right views in third-angle projection at one standard scale, an isometric view, a parts list, five general notes, and a title block with the classification.
Output and quotes3
- Parts list, board feet, weight and fastener countsBoard feet are the sum of thickness × width × length ÷ 144 over every wood part, in actual inches, with no deduction for notches. Weight is board feet × a pounds-per-board-foot factor for the species and moisture. Fastener counts follow the Uniform Standard minimums by board width.
- Sharing and printing a pallet designShare copies a link that contains the entire design in the URL hash, so nothing is stored on our servers. Anyone with the link sees the drawing, spec and checks, and can print it or open a copy in the designer. Print drawing prints the 17 × 11 in sheet or saves it as a PDF.
- Requesting a quoteClick Request quote, enter your name and work email, confirm quantity and delivery, and send. We price that exact revision with vetted partner shops and reply within 2 business days. Shops never see your contact details, and you deal only with pallet.design.