Solid Modeling Tools - Custom Products

Solid Modeling Tools - Custom Products

Solid Modeling Tools - Custom Products

Before using the Custom Product Builder, it is important to determine which type of custom product you will be building. There are five options to select from:

  1. Custom Product Starter – This option allows you to create a product from scratch. You will need to add each part of the product and locate the parts using the Custom Tools.
  2. Custom Product From Top Profile – This option allows you to create a product using the top profile of the product.
  3. Custom Product from Side Profile – This option allows you to create a product using the side profile of the product.
  4. Custom Product from Front Profile – This option allows you to create a product using the front profile of the product.
  5. Custom Product from Existing Solids – This option allows you to create a product using existing solids.

Depending on the selection for creating the product, you may need to create your profile drawings first.

When using the Custom Product from the Top Profile option, the following parameters will be displayed.


  1. Product Name – Allows you to enter a name.
  2. Product Type – Allows you to select a different type of custom product builder.
  3. Product Color – Allows you to select a color for the product parts.
  4. Product Material – Allows you to select a material for the product parts.
  5. Product Height – Allows you to enter a value for the product height.
  6. Product Smart Boundary – Allows you to set all the boundary parts inside the boundary lines.
  7. Product Boundary Joint Type – Allows you to select the type of joint to use for the boundary parts. The choices are None, Miter, Dado, Dowel, Butt, or Dado/Dowel.
  8. Product Internal Joint Type – Allows you to select the type of joint to use for the internal parts (shelves, divisions, etc.). The choices are the same as above.
  9. Product Create Bottom – Allows you to select if a bottom will be created for the product.
  10. Product Create Top – Allows you to select if a top will be created for the product.
  11. Product Bottom Joint Type – Allows you to select the type of joint to use for the bottom.
  12. Product Top Joint Type – Allows you to select the type of joint to use for the top.

Additionally, when using the Custom Product from Side Profile option, the following parameters are displayed: Product Width, Product Create Left Side, Product Create Right Side, Product Left Side Joint Type, and Product Right Side Joint Type.

Furthermore, when using the Custom Product from Front Profile option, the following parameters are displayed: Product Depth, Product Create Back, and Product Back Joint Type.

Further modifications can be made to a custom product by using the Custom Tools.


The Custom Products section contains command options used to modify custom products on an all-encompassing level, or to create new custom products in the process of working with existing ones. 

  1. Edit Product – Allows you to edit the selected product. You can edit the name, add start and end angles, or add horizontal or vertical base point offsets.
  2. Remove Product – Allows you to delete the selected product.
  3. Move Product – Allows you to move the product in the drawing.
  4. New Empty Product – Create a new product starter and add it to the drawing. 
  5. New Product from Existing Solids – – Allows you to add a new product using solids already existing within the project or room being worked in. 
  6. New Product from Front View – Create a new product that will be modeled using a front profile view.
  7. New Product from Side View – Create a new product that will be modeled using a side profile view.
  8. New Product from Top View – Create a new product that will be modeled using a top profile view.
  9. Unhide Product – Reveals all hidden extruded products.
  10. Hide Product – Hides the selected product(s).
  11. Solid Model Properties Edit All Builder Properties – Opens the Solid Model Properties interface.

The Parts section of the custom tools contains options that are used for modifying products on a part-by-part basis, allowing you to control the dimensions, position, visibility, and properties of each part on your custom product. 

  1. Edit Part – Allows you to edit the properties for the selected part, such as the name, the color of the part in 3D, and the specific material applied to that part. 
  2. Remove Part – Allows you to delete the selected part.
  3. Move Part – Allows you to move the selected part within the 3D space.
  4. Rotate Part – Allows you to rotate the selected part within the 3D space.
  5. Copy Part Without Machining – Allows you to create a copy of the selected part without the part’s machining applied.
  6. Copy Part with Machining – Allows you to create a copy of the selected part with the part’s machining applied.
  7. Trim Part Allows you to decrease a part’s width or length.
  8. Stretch Part – Allows you to increase a part’s width or length.
  9. Hide Part – Hides the selected part(s) from view.

The Joints section of the custom tools is used to add joints to the intersections between adjacent parts, being placed, spaced, and designated as male or female parts based on user preference. One can switch the different types of joints the product is using with a simple edit to the individual parts. 

  1. Edit Joint – Allows you to edit the properties for the selected joint.
  2. Remove Joint – Allows you to remove a joint from selected parts.
  3. Butt Joint at Intersection – Allows you to add a butt joint to the intersection between two parts.
  4. Dado Joint at Intersection – Allows you to add a dado joint to the selected parts. From the pop-up menu, enter values pertaining to the dado depth, stop gap, and width gap. 
  5. Miter Joint at Intersection – Allows you to add a miter joint to the select parts.
  6. Half Lap Joint at Intersection – Allows you to add a half-lap joint to the selected parts.
  7. Place Dowels Joint at Intersection – Allows you to add a dowel joint to the intersection between two parts. From the pop-up menu, enter values for the depth edge, depth face, diameter edge, diameter face, fixed boring height, and spacing between dowels. You can specify locations and dimensions by adding in an array of numbers separated by commas (0,0,0,0).
  8. Place Dowels at Dado Joint Intersection – Allows you to add a dado joint with dowels to the intersection between two parts. From the pop-up menu, you can enter the parameters pertaining to both dados and dowels from their own individual sections (dado depth, stop gap, and width gap, dowel depth edge, depth face, diameter edge, diameter face, fixed boring height, and spacing between dowels.)

The Inserts section contains commands that pertain to adding inserts and insert related parts, such as shelf creation and placement, drawer parameters, the addition of doors (single or double) to a product, and the option to edit all of these insert components to best suit user needs.

  1. Edit Insert – Allows you to edit the properties of the selected insert.
  2. Remove Insert – Allows you to delete the selected insert.
  3. Divide Opening – Allows you to divide the width and height of an opening using shelves and divisions. From the pop-up menu, set parameters like the divider color, material, the number of horizontal/vertical openings, rotation (in degrees) and joint type.
  4. Place Shelves – Allows you to add shelves to an opening. From the pop-up menu, select parameters such as shelf color, material, type, quantity, set back space, whether spacing should be equal, and spacing value.
  5. Create Filler Panel – Allows you to add a filler panel to the product. Within the pop-up menu, set parameters regarding filler panel color, material, closure gap, as well as bottom, top, left, and right overlap.
  6. Create Double DoorsAllows you to add double doors to an opening. Users adding in double doors can customize the color, material, closure gap, as well as top, bottom, left, and right overlap, and the door between gaps.
  7. Create Single Door – Allows you to add a single door to an opening. Options for customizing include material, closure gap, along with top, bottom, left, and right overlap. 
  8. Create Drawer – Allows you to add a drawer to an opening. Drawers are customizable on 3 levels: the drawer box, the drawer box bottom, and the drawer front. All 3 levels can be customized in terms of color and material. The drawer box allows for custom values on height, depth, slide gap, back inset, and joint type. The drawer box allows for customization of the bottom gap, Z offset, and joint type. The drawer front allows for customization in values on its front closure gap, as well as front bottom, top, left, and right overlap.  

Similar to the order of the categories in the tree view, the order of the sections in the extruded tools is organized in a way that when they are followed from top to bottom, the more stable the process will be.

Once a product has been modified and is complete, the product can be saved. In the tree view, if the main Products category is selected, right-clicking will allow you to save all the checked products as one product. By selecting an individual product and right-clicking, you will be allowed to save just the selected product. After choosing to save, you will be prompted to save the drawing before analyzation. Following that, you will be prompted to pick a point in the drawing to place the analyzed product.

When a product has been analyzed and placed, it is recommended to review the product for any part exceptions (parts drawn as blocks), they will be drawn using the color that was specified in the Solid Analyzation tab of the Options. Use Part Properties or Edit Design Data to correct any issues.


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