Understanding Machine Points
Understanding Machine Points
Machine points are used to reference the origin (X and Y axes) of machining instructions. These are not used to reference the location of the part itself – base points are used for part origin within the product.
When working with machine points, it is important to understand the different virtual machine fields. There is a normal machine field that uses machine points 1 through 8. Then, there is the mirrored machine field, which uses machine points 1M through 8M – the “M” designates the mirrored field. The image below better describes the machine fields.
The images that follow will show how each of the machine points affects how the part will be machined (normal and mirrored fields). Notice as you look through the images that changing the machine point also changes the location of the faces.
Looking at the cabinet parts again, the sides, top, and bottom would have the following machine points.
Machine points are often based on which face will receive the majority of machining. Also, most vertical parts will have machine points that reference the bottom, the front face of the interior of the cabinet. Most horizontal parts will have machine points that reference the left, front face of the interior of the cabinet.
The image below shows how the left and right sides are drawn with machining. The left side has a machine point of 1, and the right side has a machine point of 2M.
Related Articles
Virtual Routes Tab
The virtual routes tab is a unique tab that allows you to add a polyline line machining token that will create a machining route for every part that it touches within the product. In addition to modifying the parts in the drawing, machine code will ...Understanding Machine Tokens
Understanding Machine Tokens To view the machining tokens for a part, select the part from the parts list and click on the Machining Tab under the Parts tools. All machining operations are contained in machine tokens. There are machine tokens that ...Machine Tokens
What Is a Machine Token? A machine token is a software feature in Microvellum Toolbox that allows users to add 3D representations of various machining operations to parts of a product. This includes aspects like cutouts, camlocks, dados, routes, and ...How to Use the Virtual Boring Machine Token
In a product’s spreadsheet, under the prompts tab, there is a section of columns available called Virtual Routing Instructions. This section of columns is used to add virtual machining tokens to a product, and most commonly used for virtual routing. ...Understanding Base Points
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 ...
Recent Articles
Microvellum Foundation Library Release Notes | Build 26.0527
The following release notes apply to the Microvellum Foundation Library build 26.0527. Additions Added new features for the Wood Drawer Box to have reduced sides, sub front, or back. Added 3 new global and subassembly prompts: “Wood Drawer Side ...Microvellum Release Notes | Build 26.1.0529.641
The following release notes apply to Microvellum build 26.1.0529.641. BSB Docking Size Fix An issue was reported to be occurring in Microvellum BSB 2026: when adjusting the size of a docked Microvellum palette, users found that the palette would ...Adding Custom Hinges and Mounting Plates (Foundation Library)
Hinges and mounting plates are classified as hardware items within the Foundation library, and as such, the process for adding hinges and mounting plates does not differ greatly from other pieces of hardware, though with the variety of cabinet ...Apply Render Materials
The Apply Render Materials interface is a Microvellum function that allows one to assign specific render materials to database materials within one’s material library. Using this interface, one can efficiently control and visually align one’s ...Microvellum Release Notes | Build 26.1.0520.641
The following release notes apply to Microvellum build 26.1.0520.641. Assign Render Material A new option has been added to the Library Specification Groups interface: Assign Render Material. This new interface displays the Microvellum material ...