Creating Flat Router Bed Dovetails using Microvellum

Creating Flat Router Bed Dovetails using Microvellum


Users can create dovetail drawers on nested based machines utilizing Toolbox. The program has 2 Vortex bit routing tools for this task by default, as well as specific global variables that are capable of being modified to customize and create flat router bed dovetail drawer boxes.

Necessary Global Variables 


Toolbox Setup->Project/Library Specification Groups->Open Global File->Drawers/Rollouts->Drawer Box Machining Variables->Drawer Box Dovetail Variables


The first step would be to set up one's global variables for dovetail drawers specifically. This section contains the measurements of the dovetail boxes as well as the 5 major options relevant to the process of actually setting up and machining one's dovetail flatbed drawers. The first and most obvious is Machine Dovetails, which enables the machining of dovetails on drawer parts when dovetail drawers are used in a project (enable this). The other 4 are: Draw 3D Dovetails, Dovetail Shape Tool, Dovetail Tail Cutout Tool, and Dovetail Pocket Tool, all of which assist in the setting up of one's dovetail routing tools. 

Draw 3D Dovetails:


This checkbox in the global variables will have either a value of 0 (if not enabled) or 1 (if enabled). This option enables the drawing of dovetails on dovetail drawer boxes when they are used in products.  0 will lead to faster performance, 1 will show the dovetail joints. If not enabled, the drawers will still machine with dovetails enabled, but they will not display in the 3D drawing. It is recommended that users always have it set to 1. 

Dovetail Shape Tool:
 
Select one’s Vortex dovetail shaped bit. The option selected should be the tool name/tool number for the dovetail tool in one’s nesting Toolfile. 

Dovetail Tail Cutout Tool:
 
The tool number of the tool used for dovetail routing. This tool will specifically be the tool used to form the dovetail male ends (should be the Vortex styles 1/4” bit).

Dovetail Pocket Tool:
 
The tool number of the tool used for dovetail pocketing. This tool will specifically be the tool used to pocket out dovetail male ends (should be the 1/4” bit).

Toolfile Variables

Users will need to make value adjustments within the nesting Toolfile for a dovetail operation as well.
  1. The saw kerf will need to be set to 0.625 inches (17.145 mm).
  2. The distance between parts of the nested optimizer will need to be set to 0.625 inches (17.145 mm) or greater.

Settings in the Subassembly

The other options within the global variables are all measurements and dimensions to be used in the machining process. 
Pin Width Adjustment:    

Pin Z Depth:

Tail Width Adjustment:  

Tail Thickness:

Depth From Edge Adjustment (Use the Global named “Pin Side Cut Depth”):

Precautions

The Vortex styles use a 1/4” bit for tail cutout and dado cuts. It is advised that users not use a bit that has been sharpened, as bit diameter is critical to the fit of the dovetails. 

After making the first test cuts, check for the fit.  The Pin_Width_Adjustment and the Tail_Width_Adjustment can be adjusted based on results.  Increasing the size of the Pin_Width_Adjustment to a value larger than 0 will make the joint tighter.  Increasing the Pin_Z_Depth value should also pull the sides into the fronts and backs.

When creating a dovetail drawer box in Toolbox, or any drawer within Toolbox, it is prudent to use the correct set of prompts when modifying the dimensions of the drawer itself. Modifying the drawer box using the subassembly prompts may lead to issues of partially formed components, incorrectly spaced inserts, etc. When modifying using subassembly prompts, the subassembly will be saved as a unique subassembly, which can lead to issues creating more of the specific subassembly in question.
 

To modify the dimensions of most drawers, it is sufficient to modify them in the product prompts. The prompt “Edit Drawer Sizes” (represented as a checkbox in the menu) must be enabled, but from there, the drawer is capable of being modified in terms of size. This will ensure that the calculations for the components of the drawer box are even in terms of spacing. This is especially crucial for dovetail boxes, which require slightly more calculation than most drawer boxes, due to the necessity of accounting for dovetail dimensions. 

Dovetail Insert Kits

ROUNDED DOVETAIL INSERT KIT:  https://www.vortextool.com/7500-kit.html
SQUARE DOVETAIL INSERT KIT:  https://www.vortextool.com/7600-kit.html

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