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DOCS / HOW-TO GUIDES / FURNITURE

Build a cabinet, bookcase or wardrobe

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KerfCraft builds cabinets, bookcases, shelving units and wardrobes with one parametric generator: the Carcass. You set its parameters, and KerfCraft makes every panel, hole and joint again from them. Do not edit the generated panels one by one. Change the parameters instead.

Start a carcass#

  1. Click Library… in the toolbar.
  2. Under Built from parameters, click Carcass.

KerfCraft inserts a carcass at a standard size and selects it. The status bar shows "set its size in Properties › Parameters".

You can also start from a sample or a unit:

  • Open File ▸ Sample projects ▸ Bookcase, Fitted wardrobe or Kitchen base cabinet. Then change the parameters.
  • Insert a BILLY-size or KALLAX-size unit from Library…. See Add IKEA-size furniture.

The assistant can also build a carcass from a description, for example "a 900 wide, 1800 high bookcase with four shelves".

Change the parameters#

  1. Click the carcass in the viewport, or click its name in the Model tree.
  2. In the Properties panel, find the Parameters heading.
  3. Hold the pointer over a parameter name to read what it does.
  4. Type a new value in the field, then press Enter.

KerfCraft builds the carcass again at once. The Derived heading under the parameters shows the results, for example internalWidth and bayWidths. Warnings show below them with a ⚠.

Length fields take numbers in mm, or a value with a unit (2.4m, 90cm, 36in). They also take a project parameter name. See Use project parameters and expressions.

Set the size and the material#

  • width, height and depth are the overall outside sizes. The height includes the plinth. The depth includes the back but not the doors.
  • materialId is the sheet material of the carcass.
  • dividerMaterialId sets a different material for dividers and shelves. Leave it at (default) to use the carcass material.
  • joint sets how the sides meet the top and bottom: topBottomBetweenSides or sidesBetweenTopBottom.

Add bays and shelves#

  • bays is the number of compartments. KerfCraft adds one divider less than the number of bays.
  • bayRatios sets the relative bay widths, for example 1,1.5,1. Leave it blank for equal bays.
  • shelvesPerBay takes one number for all bays, or a list with one number for each bay, for example 5,2,5.
  • shelfType is adjustable (on shelf pins) or fixed (housed full width).
  • shelfPinHoles auto drills rows of 32 mm system shelf-pin holes in each bay with adjustable shelves.

Add a back and a plinth#

  • back is none, overlay (fixed over the rear) or inset (between the sides, top and bottom).
  • backMaterialId is the back panel material.
  • plinthHeight adds a kick board under the bottom panel. 0 means no plinth.
  • plinthSetback sets the kick board back from the front.

Add doors#

  1. Set doors to overlay, inset, inframe or sliding.
  2. Set doorStyle to slab, shaker, glazed, handleless or fluted.
  3. Set doorsPerBay to 1 or 2.
  4. If you want doors in a different material, set doorMaterialId.

doorGap sets the gap round and between the doors. The default is 3 mm. A shaker door has stiles, rails and a thinner panel in a groove. Set the frame with shakerFrameWidth and shakerGroove. A glazed door has the same frame round a glass panel (glassMaterialId).

With hingeCups at auto, KerfCraft drills 35 mm hinge cups on the back of each hinged door.

Add drawers#

  1. Set drawersPerBay to one number for all bays, or a list, for example 0,3,0.
  2. If the drawers must not fill the bay, set drawerZoneHeight to the clear height of the drawer opening.
  3. If you want drawers inside a wardrobe behind full-height doors, set drawerFronts to internal.

Each drawer has a box, a bottom in a groove and a front. runnerClearance is the gap for the runners on each side. The default is 12.5 mm. KerfCraft uses the longest standard runner length from 250 to 600 mm that fits the depth.

Add handles#

  1. Set handle to bar, knob, cup, edge, finger or none.
  2. For a bar, cup or edge pull, set handleCentres to the hole centres of your handle.
  3. Set handlePosition to top, middle or bottom.
  4. Set handleFinish to the metal finish you want.

KerfCraft drills the handle holes and draws bar, knob and cup handles in 3D. The drawn handles are accessories: they are never in the cut list. With handle at unspecified, KerfCraft drills no holes and lists "1× handle" in the BOM.

Change one generated part#

You cannot resize a generated panel: its size comes from the parameters. If you move it, or change its material, KerfCraft records an override on the carcass. The Properties panel of the panel shows Generated by and the carcass name.

  • To keep the part and stop it following the parameters, click Detach.
  • To remove all your changes, select the carcass and click Reset manual overrides.

Edited generated parts show "needs extra checking" in the cut list.

Before you cut#

The cut list shows "Check every dimension against your own measurements before cutting." Do that. KerfCraft does not check that a design is strong enough. A freestanding unit more than twice as tall as it is deep shows "Fix this to the wall so it can't tip".