The latest version of Polyboard includes a new design element called External Zones which brings even more design flexibility to your projects.

They allow you to add spaces (or volumes) outside your main cabinet to which you can add a range of structures. These Zones can be applied to the top, bottom, back and sides.

Here we’re going to show you just a few of the possible applications in a series of videos.

Face Frames

Although it was possible to create face frames in Polyboard before the advent of External Zones, it’s become much easier to work with them now.

The video below provides an overview.

There is a bit of set up involved initially, but this does allow you a lot of space to custom design how you want your face frames to look, what materials to use, how you like them positioned and so on.

Once you’ve completed the set up, you can create a library of models and resize very quickly for new projects.

Fillers and shelving

Here we are adding an External Zone to either side of the cabinet, and appling a filler.

Instead of a filler, we could use this space for shelving, or just as easily use Polyboard’s free divisions feature for sloping shelves or add uprights or even shelves and uprights to create some nice partitioned storage.

shelving using side external zones in polyboard

Great for a walk in wardrobe, or for imaginative kitchen storage units. Please check out more features here of our professional kitchen design software.

Plinths

Add your External Zone below your cabinet and apply a plinth using Polyboard’s simple plinth feature.

If you would rather create a framework for your unit to sit on you can do that too.

Just like any other panel, you can apply toolings to it as well, for example to create a curved panel like the one below.

plinth with curved tooling and batons in Polyboard

Check out the Advanced Plinths video for more information on how to do this. This can also be found on our Polyboard carcass video tutorials page.

Upper strips

Just like plinths, Polyboard has an upper strip feature to help you manage built-in floor to ceiling cabinetry. The feature can be accessed as soon as you’ve created an External Zone above your unit.

Batons

This is a nice application of an External Zone added to the back of a cabinet.

In particular where you need one or more batons to fix your unit against a wall, or to add strength and rigidity to your project. The video below shows a very quick way to do this, adding a shelf and resizing to create the baton.

Automatic resizing, cut lists and plans

We’ve shown just a few applications, but there are many more.

In every case the structures we’re adding are included in the cut list, plans and CNC files. Hardware can also be applied on a per unit basis, or much better by application of a manufacturing method. All hardware will be included in the output too.

And if we change the dimensions of the project, these External Zone elements will automatically resize and be updated in the manufacturing files.

Great for fast, error free design, production and assembly.

How to test Polyboard

Please register for free here, then download and start a design in Polyboard. All design features are available in the free version.

All our Polyboard video tutorials can be accessed here.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment or contact us here. We also offer online demonstrations.

Thanks for reading.

3 Comments

  1. sheds NZ on March 28, 2021 at 1:30 pm

    Thank you very much for face frames fillers plinths using polyboard, it’s difficult for me to get such kind of information most of the time always… I really hope I can work on your tips and it works for me too, I am happy to come across your article.

  2. guettaoui on April 19, 2020 at 8:06 pm

    bonsoir ses tres interessant comme logiciel .
    je voudres savoir sil existe des modeles dan la bibliotheque pour des conception de cuisine

    • Stefan on April 20, 2020 at 12:21 pm

      Thanks for your message. We have kitchen models in the Quick Design libraries for you to use. However, you would normally set up your own specific models built to your preferences. You can then open them and resize very quickly for new projects.

      The QD libraries also include lots of pre-configured manufacturing methods. These describe your production preferences e.g. what hardware to use, how to set up your carcass, how to apply edging. You apply these to your models and you can edit the methods we have if required.

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