puzzle joints

[Michael Kowalczyk]

Is anyone using the puzzle joints successfully? Trying to build a few cabs with 3/4" white MDF core melamine and it seams to show the tenon side of the joint but not the mortise in the nest. When it is written to CNC, it comes up with error tool not found. It is looking for a tool between .375 and .125. Even though I have both a 3/8" bit and a 1/4" set up for operation 3 and 4 it doesn't recognize them. As it is nesting it also has errors that it looks for tool operation 15 to over 165 but there is only room for 50 operations.

here is a copy of the .nc file zipped. look at line 252.

jpg is the error message I was getting.

twd file zipped of the project also

Any help would be appreciated

laundry room cabs.zip

this is the nc file

(7.42 KiB) Downloaded 319 times

laundry room cabs_1.zip

This is the TWD file

(448.41 KiB) Downloaded 313 times

[Brad McIntosh]

One thing that I seem to recall is that you have to use a 3/8" tool for the outline tool/operation.

[Michael Kowalczyk]

Hey Brad,
Thanks for the post but can you guys keep that arctic air up there?
I will try to use 3/8 as outline and see if that changes anything.

Also if you are using 2 sided white melamine, will the mortise side of the joint be a flip op? or if the 3/8 tool used as outline will answer the question it self?
Thanks,

[Jason Susnjara]

Hi Mike,

Since you are using 2 sided material, you should not have to flip any parts for the puzzle joint.

[Michael Kowalczyk]

Hey Jason,
Happy New Year. Hope all is well with you and your family.
That's what I was kinda figuring but when I did a f3 f6 it would not show up.
So is there a layout for setting up the tool #operations?
I have the most current CN 5.49 and the Thermwood controller is 5.05.

can you do a print screen or just type out what the recommended settings would be to do the puzzle joints. I have a set of lockers we are using as a (Beta V6) test set so my guys can see how it works.

I have a 1/2" viper bit in #5 as my outline tool
I have a 3/8" viper bit mortise tip in #6
I have a 1/4" viper bit mortise tip in #7

Do I need another bit or should these be enough to accomplish these joints?

Thanks,

[Jason Susnjara]

Hi Mike,

Happy New Year to you as well. The family is great. Hope the same for you.

I have been mistaken in my earlier posting. If you have a face frame with a mid stile, you will have a flip op on the top and bottom rail or mid rails. If you are worried about the flip ops, we have implemented a new procedure that allows you to cut the flip ops first within the sheet;

1. place sheet on table
2. cut the flip ops
3. flip the sheet
4. place sheet on table
5. cut out the parts

In control nesting, the pocket should show up in the nest diagrams. If you have a tool that fits the parameter for cutting the puzzle joint, then try changing the clean up pass (within CN) to 0.

If you are still have problems, please run the export tool from CN and send to cabinets@thermwood.com and an explanation of what is going on.