Understanding Base Points

Base points are used as a reference point when locating a part within a product.

All parts in Microvellum are referenced using rectangular boxes. Parts consist of 8 points and 6 faces. Faces 1 through 4 are the part’s edges and faces 5 and 6 are the part’s flat surfaces. Parts can be rotated in the X, Y, and Z axes. They can also be placed at any point in the X, Y, and Z axes. To place a part, a base point (1 - 8) will be required. In the image below, the part has a rotation of X = 0, Y = 0, and Z = 0 (0, 0, 0). This rotation shows points 2, 4, 6, and 8 on the visible (upside) face. Points 1, 3, 5, and 7 are on the nonvisible (downside) face. Also shown in the image below are the edgeband edges: Edgeband Width 1 (EBW 1) and Edgeband Length 2 (EBL 2). Edges not seen: Edgeband Width 2 (EBW 2) and Edgeband Length 1 (EBW 1). When this rotation is used, EBL 2 will reference the front of the cabinet.

Parts with a 0, 0, 0 rotation are commonly used for cabinet bottoms, tops, stretchers, and countertop decks. Base points 1, 3, 5, and 7 will locate the part from the bottom up. Base points 2, 4, 6, 8 will locate the part from the top down. For example, a cabinet bottom would use an odd number for its base point, while a top would use an even number for its base point.

The next image shows a part with a rotation of 0, -90, 0 (X, Y, Z). This rotation is commonly used for cabinet sides, and vertical divisions/partitions.

Even-numbered base points would locate the part from the left working right. Odd-numbered base points would locate the part from the right working left. For example, a left side would use an even-numbered base point, while a right side would use an odd-numbered base point.

The next image illustrates how cabinet sides, a top, and a bottom would be oriented.

The image below shows a part with a rotation of 0, -90, 90. This rotation is commonly used for cabinet backs, doors, and drawer fronts (vertical grain).

Even-numbered base points would locate the part from the front working backward. Odd-numbered base points would locate the part from the back working forward. For example, a door or a drawer front would have an odd-numbered base point so it would sit proud of the cabinet face.

The next image shows a part with a rotation of 90, 0, 0. This rotation is commonly used for drawer fronts (horizontal grain), drawer box fronts and backs, shelf edges, toe kick faces, and backsplashes.

Even-numbered base points would locate the part from the front working backward. Odd-numbered base points would locate the part from the back working forward.

The image below shows a part with a rotation of 90, 0, 90. This rotation is commonly used for drawer box sides, drawer divisions (between 2 drawers), toe kick sleepers, and end splashes.

Even-numbered base points would locate the part from the right working left. Odd-numbered base points would locate the part from the left working right. For example, a left drawer box side would use an odd-numbered base point, while a right drawer box side would use an even-numbered base point.

This next image shows the X, Y, and Z axes and how parts are typically located within the drawing environment. Notice that products extend forward in the -Y-axis. An easy way to think of this is to envision the X-axis as the face of a wall; parts located in the +Y would extend into the wall, and parts found in the -Y would extend away from the wall.