Cabinet Joinery

There are several types of joints that can be specified between cabinet parts and there are several places where these joints can be changed. Note that every joint between every part can be independently set, providing great flexibility but adding some complexity.

The types of joints available are:

-                  Butt – In this joint the edge of one panel butts against the surface of another. This joint will require some type of mechanical fastener such as screws or nails.

-                  Blind Dado – This is a joint specifically designed for machining by a CNC router. A tenon, shorter than the length of a panel edge is machined into the panel edge. A corresponding mortise is machined into the mating panel surface. The resulting joint is both strong and easy to assemble.

-                  Full Dado – This joint cuts a dado into the surface of one panel and lengthens the corresponding panel to fit into the dado which extends across the entire edge.

-                  KD/RTA – This joint supports KD (knock down) or RTA (ready to assemble) hardware fasteners. The hole pattern for these fasteners can be developed in the Hardware Hole Editor however, most KD/RTA fasteners available through the program already have the correct hole pattern developed and associated.

-                  Dowell – Dowell construction is essentially a butt joint with holes drilled into both panels which are then assembled by placing dowels in the holes. In the software, dowel construction is handled the same as butt joints.

There are several ways to change joint construction. First, you can change the joint type on every part of the cabinet in Construction Settings. From the Main page of the Cabinet/Assembly Editor, right click and select Construction Settings. Then select the Global Settings tab and change the Construction to the joint you want and press OK.

Also, each of the areas within Construction Settings has a Construction box where you can change joinery for that particular part.

Another way to change construction joint on a part is to right click on the part on the Main page of the Cabinet/Assembly Editor and then select Construction and the particular joint you want to change. Then, click on the join type you want and it changes. This is rather quick and simple and sounds more complex then it really is.

Not only can you select the joint you want, you can also adjust the actual physical characteristics of the joint. The software comes with these parameters set to a workable average but all the parameters can be adjusted as needed, although this area can get a bit involved.

With the exception of certain dado settings, the joint construction parameters must be changed for each individual component of a cabinet, one at a time. The exceptions to this are the Depth, Depth Clearance and Fit Clearance of all dados and the Thickness of a blind dado. These parameters are the most common to change and they can be changed for every joint in the cabinet in the Global Settings area.

For each part of the cabinet there is an area in Construction Settings where its parameters can be adjusted. At the bottom of each area is a button that accesses the “Construction Parameters”.

We are not going to address each construction parameter in this manual, however, each has a pop-up guide box that explains its function and purpose. Be sure to review these as well as the Area Overview, which is different for each area and is accessed by pressing the ? icon.