KEYCREATOR 3D Direct Modeling Software
KeyCreator Lesson KC9121
Creating a Simple Base Cabinet Assembly
The KeyCreator Assembly management tools are
extremely powerful and they provide the astute user
with an easy way to manage large, complex
assemblies. There are many cases, however, where
you can get your work done quicker by using our
traditional assembly approach, creating all of the
components in one file, each on a unique level.
This approach is ideal for assemblies with a small
number of parts and it is especially useful when you
are contemplating making a family of models.
In this exercise we’ll create the simple 24 inch wide
base cabinet shown to the right.
Now this could just as easily be a more
complicated cabinet with a drawer and kick
relief like the one illustrated to the left.
We’ll keep our design simple to illustrate
some basic ideas.
We’re going to create this model with a 24
inch width and then save our work. In our
next lesson we’ll see how we can quickly
make a family of cabinets from this part with
almost no effort at all!
We’ll start with a new file in View 2. (The Front View.)
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KEYCREATOR 3D Direct Modeling Software
We’ll be using the CREATE RECTANGLE BY WIDTH
HEIGHT Function for the next few construction steps.
Use any Anchor Option and type 24 for the Width and 3 for the
Height. Using the Cursor Option, click on the screen to place
the rectangle. (This rectangle will be used to generate the
counter top for the cabinet.)
Now, select a new construction color. (I’m
going to use red. In this type of modeling we
will use a different color for each part to make
selection of the profiles easier in the extrusion
steps.)
Use the CREATE RECTANGLE BY WIDTH HEIGHT Icon again and this time select
the TopLeft Anchor Option.
Type 0.5 for the Width and 30 for the Height.
Using the EndEnt Option, click on the bottom left
corner of the first rectangle.
Your screen should now look like this: (The red
rectangle will make the left side of the cabinet.)
Next, select a new construction color (I’m going to
use cyan.) and once again use the CREATE
RECTANGLE BY WIDTH HEIGHT Function.
This time, select the BotLeft Anchor Option.
Type 23 for the Width and 3 for the Height.
Using the EndEnt Option, click on
the bottom, right corner of the red
rectangle.
This rectangle will make the
bottom front stretcher for the
cabinet.
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KEYCREATOR 3D Direct Modeling Software
Select a new construction color again. (I’m going
to use magenta.)
Using the CREATE RECTANGLE BY WIDTH
HEIGHT Function, use the BotLeft Anchor Option
and type 23 for the Width and 0.5 for the Height.
Using the EndEnt Option, click on the top, left
corner of the previous (cyan) rectangle that you
made.
Your screen should now look like this:
Now, click on the XFORM MIRROR COPY Icon.
Select the red rectangle that represents the left side of the
cabinet.
Then, click on the 1 Pos V Option.
Using the CtrMid Option, click on the top edge of the top,
rectangle that represents the counter.
This creates a rectangle for the right side of the cabinet.
Now, we can use a new construction color (I’m going to use
blue.) and the CREATE RECTANGLE BY CORNERS Icon
to quickly sketch a rectangle for the inset door by using the
EndEnt Option and clicking on the opposing corners of the
opening.
Next, switch to the Isometric View. (View 7.)
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KEYCREATOR 3D Direct Modeling Software
Your screen should look like this:
Now, click on the EXTRUDE Icon.
Type 23 for the Length and use a 0 draft angle.
Select the green rectangle and the magenta rectangle
and hit the ENTER Key. Then, click on the rearwardfacing vector.
This creates the counter primitive and the floor panel.
Use the EXTRUDE Function again and extrude the
two red rectangles backward 23 inches. This makes
the sides.
Then, extrude the cyan rectangle and the blue
rectangle back 0.5 inches to make the bottom front
stretcher and the door.
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KEYCREATOR 3D Direct Modeling Software
You can use the SHELL Function with a wall
thickness of 0.75 to quickly convert the counter
primitive into a counter with backsplash. Select
the top face, side faces, and front face to open.
At this point we have a basic cabinet assembly.
We could add any number of additional features,
including handles, hinges, etc.
We’ve got enough goodies here already to use
for our next tasks, so we’ll stop creating at this
point.
Now it’s a good idea to take a moment at this point to move each piece to
a unique level and label the level. Use the MOVE ENTITIES TO LEVEL
Function to do this.
Once you have all of the parts on
unique levels, you can proceed to
make associate layouts for each part
with dimensions for shop
fabrication.
You can also make an assembly
drawing with all of the parts
displayed.
If you need help doing this, spend some time working on the lessons on creating layouts
and detailing.
When you are done, save this file and call it “KC9121.”
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