Cabinet Vision Cabinet Design: Assembly Building, Construction Methods, and Material Selection

Cabinet Vision Cabinet Design: Assembly Building, Construction Methods, and Material Selection

I've designed thousands of cabinets in Cabinet Vision for custom kitchen, bath, and commercial casework projects. Cabinet Vision is the industry standard for cabinet and casework design in North America, used by custom cabinet shops and large commercial manufacturers alike. Its parametric assembly system — where changing one parameter updates all related parts — is the core of efficient cabinet design.

Cabinet Vision Overview

Cabinet Vision's product line includes:

• Solid Essential: Entry-level for small shops
• Solid Standard: Mid-level with more features
• Solid Advanced: Full-featured for complex casework
• Solid Premium: Top-tier with all modules
• Screen-to-Machine (S2M): Direct integration with CNC machines

Setting Up a New Project

Step 1: Create a Project

1. File → New Project
2. Set project parameters:
   • Project name: e.g., "Johnson Kitchen"
   • Units: Imperial (inches) or Metric (mm)
   • Default materials: Set default board, edge banding, and finish
3. Define the room:
   • Wall dimensions: Length, height, depth
   • Door/window openings: Position and dimensions
   • Ceiling height: For tall cabinet calculations
4. The room appears in the plan view

Step 2: Configure Defaults

1. Go to Defaults (Settings → Defaults)
2. Set default parameters:
   • Cabinet height: 34.5" (base), 84" (tall), 30" (wall)
   • Cabinet depth: 24" (base), 12" (wall), 24" (tall)
   • Toe kick height: 4"
   • Toe kick depth: 3"
   • Back insertion: Rabbet, dado, or flush
   • Construction method: Frameless (European) or Face Frame (American)
3. These defaults apply to all new cabinets but can be overridden per cabinet

Construction Methods

Frameless (European/32mm)

1. Set construction method to Frameless
2. Characteristics:
   • No face frame — doors and drawers cover the entire front
   • 32mm system for hole placement
   • Full overlay doors and drawer fronts
   • Clean, modern appearance
   • Typically uses 5/8" or 3/4" board
3. Parameters:
   • Door overlay: Full (covers entire face) or partial
   • System hole spacing: 32mm standard
   • Edge banding: All exposed edges
   • Assembly: Confirmat screws, dowels, or cam locks

Face Frame (American Traditional)

1. Set construction method to Face Frame
2. Characteristics:
   • Solid wood face frame attached to the cabinet front
   • Doors and drawers fit inside the face frame opening
   • Traditional American appearance
   • Typically uses 3/4" board with 3/4" or 4/4" face frame
3. Parameters:
   • Face frame width: Typically 2" stiles and rails
   • Rail and stile joinery: Mortise and tenon, cope and stick, or pocket screws
   • Door opening reveal: Gap between door and face frame (typically 3/8" to 1/2")
   • Face frame attachment: Pocket screws, biscuits, or dowels

Building a Cabinet Assembly

Step 1: Place a Cabinet

1. Click Add Cabinet in the toolbar
2. Select the cabinet type:
   • Base cabinet: Floor-mounted, 34.5" tall
   • Wall cabinet: Wall-mounted, 30" tall
   • Tall cabinet: Floor-to-ceiling, 84" tall
   • Vanity: Bathroom base cabinet, 30" tall
3. Click on the wall to place the cabinet
4. The cabinet appears with default dimensions

Step 2: Modify Cabinet Parameters

1. Select the cabinet
2. Right-click → Properties
3. Adjust dimensions:
   • Width: Cabinet width (e.g., 36")
   • Height: Cabinet height (e.g., 34.5")
   • Depth: Cabinet depth (e.g., 24")
4. Adjust internal configuration:
   • Number of doors: 1, 2, 3, or 4
   • Door style: Select from door library
   • Drawer configuration: Number and position of drawers
   • Shelves: Number of adjustable shelves
   • Partitions: Internal vertical dividers

Step 3: The Parametric Assembly System

Cabinet Vision's parametric system means:

1. Change the cabinet width from 30" to 36"
2. All parts automatically update:
   • Bottom panel widens to 36"
   • Top panel (or nailer) widens
   • Back panel widens
   • Side panels reposition
   • Doors resize or add a third door
   • Shelves widen
3. No manual part editing needed — the assembly rebuilds automatically
4. This is the core efficiency of Cabinet Vision

Step 4: Material Assignment

1. In the cabinet properties, go to Materials
2. Assign materials to each part category:
   • Box (sides, top, bottom, back): Plywood, MDF, particleboard
   • Face frame: Solid wood (maple, oak, cherry, paint grade)
   • Doors: Solid wood, MDF (for painting), or slab
   • Drawer fronts: Match doors or different material
   • Shelves: Match box material or solid wood
   • Toe kick: Match box or solid wood
3. Set material thickness:
   • 3/4" plywood: Standard for box parts
   • 5/8" plywood: Lighter weight, less expensive
   • 1/2" plywood: For backs and light-duty shelves
   • 4/4 solid wood: For face frames (3/4" finished)
4. Set edge banding:
   • Type: PVC, wood veneer, or solid wood
   • Thickness: 0.5mm, 1mm, or 2mm
   • Color: Match board surface or contrast

Step 5: Hardware Placement

1. Go to Hardware in the cabinet properties
2. Select and place hardware:
   • Hinges: Concealed (European) or surface mount
     • Full overlay, half overlay, or inset
     • Soft-close option
   • Drawer slides: Side-mount, undermount, or center-mount
     • Full extension or 3/4 extension
     • Soft-close option
     • Length: 14", 16", 18", 20", 22"
   • Knobs/pulls: Select from hardware library
   • Shelf pins: Metal or plastic, 5mm or 1/4"
   • Cabinet legs: Levelers or decorative
3. Hardware is placed automatically based on the cabinet configuration
4. Adjust hardware positions if needed

Door and Drawer Styles

Door Library

1. Cabinet Vision includes a door library with common styles:
   • Shaker: Flat panel with square frame
   • Raised panel: Center panel with raised profile
   • Flat slab: Solid flat panel (modern)
   • Arch top: Cathedral arch at the top
   • Mullion: Glass insert with grid dividers
2. For each door style, set:
   • Rail and stile width: Typically 2" to 2.5"
   • Panel raise: Profile and height
   • Outside edge profile: Ogee, round, bevel, or square
   • Inside edge profile: Cove, bead, or square

Drawer Fronts

1. Match the door style or choose a different style
2. Common drawer front styles:
   • Slab: Flat panel matching door material
   • Shaker: Matching shaker door style
   • Raised panel: Matching raised panel door style
3. Set drawer front height based on drawer box height

Modifying Individual Parts

Part-Level Editing

While the parametric system handles most changes automatically, you can edit individual parts:

1. Select the cabinet
2. Right-click → Edit Parts
3. Select the part to modify:
   • Side panel: Change dimensions, add notches, modify edge banding
   • Bottom panel: Change material or thickness
   • Back panel: Change insertion method (rabbet, dado, flush)
   • Shelf: Change quantity, position, or material
   • Face frame: Change width, add profiles
4. Changes to individual parts override the parametric defaults
5. A warning appears if the part no longer matches the parametric rules

Custom Parts

1. Add custom parts to a cabinet:
   • Trays: Pull-out trays or dividers
   • Roll-outs: Roll-out shelves with slides
   • Dividers: Vertical or horizontal dividers
   • Custom panels: Filler panels, valances, soffits
2. Custom parts are added to the cut list and CNC programs

Common Cabinet Types

Base Cabinet with Doors and Drawers

1. Place a base cabinet (34.5" tall, 24" deep)
2. Set width (e.g., 36")
3. Configure as 2 doors + 3 drawers (drawer bank on one side)
4. Add 2 adjustable shelves behind the doors
5. Assign materials and hardware
6. The parametric system generates all parts

Wall Cabinet

1. Place a wall cabinet (30" tall, 12" deep)
2. Set width (e.g., 30")
3. Configure as 2 doors
4. Add 2 adjustable shelves
5. Assign materials and hardware

Tall Pantry Cabinet

1. Place a tall cabinet (84" tall, 24" deep)
2. Set width (e.g., 24")
3. Configure as 1 door + internal roll-outs
4. Add 4-5 roll-out trays with full-extension slides
5. Assign materials and hardware

Island Cabinet

1. Place two base cabinets back-to-back
2. Add a top panel for the island countertop
3. Add decorative panels on the exposed sides
4. Configure doors/drawers on both sides

Common Issues

Cabinet Doesn't Fit the Wall

• Check wall dimensions and cabinet width
• Use filler panels to close gaps
• Adjust the cabinet width to fit

Doors Are Wrong Size After Width Change

• Check the door configuration (number of doors)
• Verify door overlay settings
• Check if the parametric system is set to auto-resize doors

Parts List Has Wrong Quantities

• Verify the cabinet configuration (doors, drawers, shelves)
• Check for duplicate cabinets
• Rebuild the assembly (right-click → Rebuild)

Material Costs Are Too High

• Switch to less expensive materials for hidden parts
• Use 5/8" instead of 3/4" where structurally acceptable
• Reduce edge banding on hidden edges
• Use standard sheet sizes to minimize waste

Summary

Cabinet Vision's parametric assembly system is the foundation of efficient cabinet design. Set up the project with room dimensions and default parameters. Choose the construction method (frameless or face frame) based on the project style. Place cabinets, modify dimensions, and configure doors, drawers, and shelves — the parametric system automatically generates and updates all parts. Assign materials to each part category (box, face frame, doors, shelves) and place hardware (hinges, slides, knobs). The door library provides common styles (shaker, raised panel, slab, arch top). For custom modifications, edit individual parts to override parametric defaults. The most common issues — fit problems, door sizing, and quantity errors — are addressed with filler panels, door configuration checks, and assembly rebuilds. Cabinet Vision's parametric approach means you design at the assembly level, not the part level, dramatically increasing design speed and accuracy.