Cavity

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For a cavity please first select Insert > Cavity and place the object. In the subsequent dialog box "Cavity properties", you can then determine all the desired properties, especially its placement on the reverse side.

What is a "Cavity"?

A cavity is a recess in the main plate, which has been "planed" with a milling cutter to a constant machining height and is therefore plane-parallel to the surface of the main plate. It can be placed both on the front and on the reverse side.

Cavity shapes

With "Front Panel Designer" you can not only generate interrelated circular or rectangular cavities, but also define unmachined areas within the cavity:

Rectangle in a rectangle
Circle in a circle
Circle in arectangle
Rectangle in a circle

Among other things, different fits can be achieved with these features. For example, with the "rectangle in a rectangle" you define a rectangular cavity, with an unplaned rectangular area in its center:

Properties of the continuous circular cavity

After placing the object you can set the following variables for the required continuous circular cavity in the properties dialog box as well as its placement on the reverse side:

Variable

Description

Cavity shape

Circular

Diameter

Diameter of the continuous circular cavity

Depth

Depth of the continuous circular cavity

Tool

Milling cutter of a set diameter, with which the inner contour of the continuous circular cavity is created

Automatic selection

The cost-effective 3.0 mm milling cutter is selected by default. The selection is adjusted automatically if the value of the diameter of the cavity falls below 3.0 mm. For a circular cavity, a deviating manual setting of the tool is not in principle required and only leads to higher costs (tool change).

Edge machining >>>

The option of producing the front edge of a continuous circular cavity with either a bevel or a rounding (details).

Do not produce object

If you do not want to produce a continuous circular cavity, but to place it on the front panel for information purposes only - for example as a marker -  then check this box.

Properties of the continuous rectangular cavity

After placing the object you can set the following variables for the required continuous rectangular cavity in the properties dialog box as well as its placement on the reverse side:

Variable

Description

Cavity shape

Rectangular

Width

Width of the continuous rectangular cavity

Height

Height of the continuous rectangular cavity

Depth

Depth of the continuous rectangular cavity

Corner radius

Inner radii of the 4 corners of the continuous rectangular cavity

Angle of rotation

Rotation angle of the continuous rectangular cavity around its reference point

Tool

Tool with which the inner contour of the continuous rectangular cavity (possibly to finalize) is created, whereby the smallest possible radius of the contour can be set if necessary

Automatic selection

The cost-effective 3.0 mm milling cutter is selected by default. The selection adjusted automatically if the value of the corner radii falls below 1.5 mm (as long as the material thickness allows a reduction of the milling cutter diameter). For a rectangular cavity, a deviating manual setting of the tool makes sense for example if a corner radius of "zero" is also compatible with the more cost-effective 3.0 mm milling cutter (where the reduced long sides still allow for secure assembly).

Edge machining >>>

The option of producing the front edge of a continuous rectangular cavity with either a bevel or a rounding (details).

Do not produce object

If you do not want to produce a continuous rectangular cavity, but to place it on the front panel for information purposes only - for example as a marker -  then check this box.

Properties of remaining uncut inner areas

In addition, it is possible to leave rectangular or circular inner areas uncut. The following four combinations are possible here:

Rectangle in a rectangle
Rectangle in a circle
Circle in a circle
Circle in arectangle

When you select one of these combinations (example below: "Circle in a rectangle") the respective additional variables will be displayed in the properties dialog box below:

Variable

Property of the uncut rectangular inner area

Width

Width

Height

Height

Radius

Radius of the corners

Offset X

Offset to the reference point in direction X

Offset Y

Offset to the reference point in direction Y

Variable

Property of the uncut circular inner area

Diameter

Diameter

Offset X

Offset to the reference point in direction X

Offset Y

Offset to the reference point in direction Y

The edge machining settings also relate to the edge of the uncut inner area ("island"). Their processing can be disabled in the edge machining dialog box.