Dovetail machining is only available on ‘Standard Drawers’. 

An optional column “Dovetail” can be added to any standard drawer runner table. This can contain Yes or No (1 or 0 can also be used). Default is No.

It is assumed that :-

• the Ends (front and back) are both full width (with the sides between them);
• the Bottoms are fully inside (inside both Ends and Side);
• the Bottoms are Rebated into the both Ends and Sides;
• no parts are edged.

Any columns in the table that try to construct the drawer in any other way will be ignored. However, the depth of the Rebate for the Bottom and its Recess up into the drawer box can be set in the usual way.

 

Dovetail Drawers

The following is a sample of drawers using 2 different Dovetail tools (viewed from the side).

The Front/Back are machined from the inside face with a Dovetail tool. The tool starts outside of the border of the part and cuts into (and depending on the size of the dovetails also sideways in) the part.

Example

The Sides are machined from the inside face to fit into Front/Back. The dovetail tongues are reduced in thickness for a neater finish with the rounded cut in the Front/Back being hidden when the parts are put together.

Example

 

Machining

When cut the dovetails themselves will vary in width on different height drawers i.e. they are sized to ensure that the join always starts and ends on a half shape toward the end of the drawer.

Up to six layers are involved to cut the dovetail drawers.

 

Drawer Base

The Border is cut using the existing Border layer.

Example

 

Drawer Sides

• The Border uses the existing Border layer.
• The Rebate for the drawer Bottom uses the existing Rebate layer.
• The Dovetail shape uses the DoveB-L and DoveB-R layers (although this would be combined with the Border, when the Dovetail Combine with Border option is enabled). These would map to Left and Right ‘Offset’ strategies in EzyNest/EnRoute.
• The Dovetailed ends are then reduced in thickness with the DoveC layer. This would map to a pocketing ‘Fill’ strategy in EzyNest/EnRoute.

 

Drawer Ends (Front and Back)

• The Border uses the existing Border layer.
• The Rebate for the drawer Bottom uses the existing Rebate layer.
• The Dovetail shape uses the DoveA layer (using the special dovetail shaped tool, which cuts into the end of the parts). This would map to an ‘Engrave’ strategy in EzyNest/EnRoute.