Nest-fix: CNC Hardware for Nesting
Hidden hardware for nesting CNCs
• Easy to fit • No need for edge drilling • Flush to panel surface
The Problem
Joint assembly of 2 panels in a modern knock down cabinet should be:
- Strong
- Quick to set up with standard tools
- Easy to mount and dismount without damage
- As invisible and discrete as possible
- Sit flush to the panel face for easy flat packing
- And not interfere with other hardware and design features
2 Types of CNC Manufacturing
Traditional point to point
- Accommodates traditional hardware and edge drilling
- Mini-fix and dowel common and efficient method
- Parts are pre-cut and machined one at a time on the CNC
- Great for high volumes of identical parts minimising set up time
- Additional first stage required cutting panels on a saw
- Labour intensive; continuous attention required
Nesting
- Complete sheet placed on vacuum table
- Parts cut and machined in same operation
- Faster and more efficient small to medium production
- No need to cut parts from the sheet material with a saw
- Once running, the operator is free to work elsewhere
- Machining on the panel face only, no edge drilling
So...with nesting you cannot use Mini-fix cams as normal because you cannot edge drill
Current nesting hardware solutions are limited - although they do not require edge drilling, they are:
- Highly visible on the panel face
- Never flush so they impede other hardware/design elements
- Require special tools for assembly
- Cannot be dismounted and re-assembled
The Solution...Nest-fix
All current nesting hardware limitations are addressed allowing the use of a traditional Mini-fix embedded in the panel
- Fully machined with a 3 axis nesting CNC without the need for edge drilling
- Very strong and easy to apply
- No special tools required, only a hammer and screwdriver
- Flush to the panel surface and nearly invisible
- Assemble and dis-assemble multiple times without compromising the strength of the joint
How to use
3 axis CNC machining
Using Polyboard or a similar design software the hardware machining patterns are placed along the edges of the cabinet parts.
The individual parts are nested onto the sheet materials using OptiNest or a similar nesting program and the nesting map is loaded into a CAM software like VCarve to produce the machine files.
In the CAM software tool path organisation the nest-fix "T" slots are cut before the part outlines so that maximum vacuum hold down is maintained.
Nest-fix machining in Polyboard