3DCW - Cabinet cutout - how to do it

[JCBrown]

I have been trying out the cabinet cutout as indicated in Patricia's e-book, in the 3D part. First, making a 3D object doesn't work, the Cabinet cutout becomes unavailable. So I tried a 2D and the Cabinet Cutout option is available.

I created a 3D rectangle with a thickness, then a 2D shape, a smaller rectangle, over top of the 3D rectangle and gave it the elevation of the top of the 3D shape. Now I see the 2D shape on the top of the 3D shape, but no cutout. Tried extruding the 2D shape, it didn't make a cutout either.

I imported a cabinet from bath furniture, marble countertop, ungrouped, found the elevation and thickness of the top, created a 2D rectangle on it at the elevation of the countertop (E + thickness), clicked on Cabinet Cutout. I see the 2D shape but no cutout.

Obviously I'm missing something. §o how do I apply the 2D rectangle to the 3D shape to get the cutout?

Thanks,
John

[Patricia G.]

Hi John,

The cabinet cutout mentioned in my eBook is not located in the 3D section, it is located in the "Properties bar" section (3DCW Power Tool) => the cabinet cutout is one of the tools available in this bar. As you can see, it becomes available only when you draw a 2D shape.

If you create a 3D sink using the 3DCW Power Tool and you add a 2D cabinet cutout to your object, this cutout becomes integrated to the sink and this set will create the cutout in the cabinets created with the Cabinet Tool (Floor Tab) because the sink + cutout set becomes a component.
The cabinet cutout doesn't work with imported cabinets or cabinets developed with the 3DCW Power Tool.

In addition, in my eBook (page 136), I developed this issue extensively explaining 4 situations with texts and an image => the title is "Important considerations to place a sink"

Hope this helps

Patricia

[JCBrown]

Hi Patricia,

Thanks for your answer but we're not there. I should have repeated the subject - I'm in 3DCW and I'm referring to page 255 in your e-book. The Cabinet cutout is an option in 3DCW when a 2D object is created.

See my post - I made a 3D rectangle and put a 2D rectangle with cabinet cutout on it. All I want to do is to get a hole in my 3D rectangle, within 3DCW.

Your book says "this shape, applied on a cabinet counter will create a cutout ."

How does the program know that my 3D rectangle is or is not a cabinet counter?

I have no idea how this thing is supposed to work. Help?

Thanks,
John

[Patricia G.]

Thanks for your answer but we're not there. I should have repeated the subject - I'm in 3DCW and I'm referring to page 255 in your e-book. The Cabinet cutout is an option in 3DCW when a 2D object is created.
See my post - I made a 3D rectangle and put a 2D rectangle with cabinet cutout on it. All I want to do is to get a hole in my 3D rectangle, within 3DCW.

Yes, I understood your question perfectly and you don't need to repeat your subject: this is exactly what I answered. I will try to answer again.
The page 255 of my eBook describes the tools in the properties bar of the 3DCW, as I stated. The Cabinet Cutout (3DCW) is one of the tools in the properties bar of the 3DCW Power Tool.
In the 3DCW Power Tool, there are 2 sets of tools => 2D and 3D. If the 2D toolset is activated, the Cabinet Cutout is available. Otherwise, it is grayed out.
Please, check the image attached (named "2D shapes activate the Cabinet Cutout button in the Properties bar of the 3DCW.jpg") => using the 2D Toolset, I drew a rectangle => the cabinet cutout is activated in the Properties bar (right of the screen)

Your book says "this shape, applied on a cabinet counter will create a cutout ."
I have no idea how this thing is supposed to work. Help?

Yes, my eBook says "this shape, applied on a cabinet counter will create a cutout" . This is exactly how it works!!!
In the second image attached (named "Showing the difference between a sink component and a sink object.jpg") you can see the difference between a sink component (with cutout) applied to the cabinet on the left and a sink as a 3DCW object (without cutout) applied to the cabinet on the right.
The sink with the cutout cuts a hole in the counter (pointed in red in the image). The sink without the cutout doesn't cut the hole (pointed in blue in the image)
As I stated in my previous post, in order to create the holes, the cabinets (including doors, countertops, etc) must be created with the Cabinet Tool (floor tab), pointed in green in the image.
Again, as I stated, you will find more information checking the page 136 of my eBook. Although this section is not part of the 3DCW chapter, it explains your options placing a sink, so you can decide the best approach.

How does the program know that my 3D rectangle is or is not a cabinet counter?

It is not a 3D rectangle. It is a 2D rectangle to be applied on the counter => the 2D rectangle created with the Cabinet Cutout (3DCW) creates a transparent area on the countertops created with the Cabinet Tool

Patricia

[JCBrown]

Hello Patricia,

Didn't have time to get back on this until now.

Well, I would never have figured this cabinet cutout thing without your help. The TFP manual really needs work, a lot of it. Who would have thought that first you make a 2D object in 3DCW, return it all by itself to TFP, stick it on the top of a cabinet dropped in by using the Cabinet tab, and it would make a hole in it.

I really expected that it would do something in 3DCW. A useful but undocumented feature.

Thanks again,
John

[Patricia G.]

Hi John,

You're welcome! 
Glad to know that my explanation and my eBook helped!

In TFP, the Power Tools are integrated with the program as well as the results. So, if you create a table using the 3DCW (for example) and you add this table to your design, the same table will appear in the BOM (Bill of Materials) of the Estimator Power Tool (for example). The same happens with the cutout => you create it with the 3DCW, but it affects the cabinets in the hub of the program.

Now, regarding the manual... as you know, I don't work for IMSI. So, I don't know why this feature was not included in the manual.

Good luck with your project

Patricia