Howto model raised panels in FreeCAD

Contents

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 00:14 Rectangular raised panel using a chamfer
  • 01:10 Arched raised panel using a chamfer
  • 01:31 Simple rectangular raised panel using a sketch
  • 03:39 Creating a curved profile with a sketch
  • 05:03 Creating a curved profile that fails

Raised panels are decorative panels that are inserted into a frame for use as a cabinet door or the side of a cabinet. They are used instead of solid timber so that wood movement can be managed, and also to reduce the weight of the furniture. Raised panels typically have a decorative pattern on the outside of the front face, and they can be created on a tablesaw, a router table, or by hand.

This video demonstrates two methods of designing raised panels within FreeCAD's Part Design Workbench.

Simple profiles using chamfers

There is also a Chamfer Tool in the Part Workbench if you prefer that workbench, but this video uses the Part Design Workbench.

The simplest type of raise panel to design uses a chamfer or bevel. This is achieved in FreeCAD using the Chamfer Tool in the Part Design Workbench. The chamfer is created by using the Two distances mode which allows you to define the length and depth of the chamfer. The parameters of the Two distances mode that we are interesting in are:

  • Size - This is the length of the chamfer from the edge of the panel towards the middle;

  • Size 2 - This is the depth of the chamfer down the edge of the panel;

 

Complex profiles using the Subtractive Pipe tool

Chamfers create simple, effective panels but if you want to design something with a bit more style, you need to use a sketch to define the profile and the Part Design Workbench's Subtractive Pipe Tool to apply the sketch to the panel. The process is actually quite straightforward, but not as easy as using a chamfer.

  1. [OPTIONAL] Create a datum pane on one edge to avoid complications with the topological naming problem;

  2. Create a sketch on the datum plane or edge;

  3. Select the sketch then start the Subtractive Pipe Tool;

  4. Add all the edges that you want the sketch to be applied to. Remember to click on the Add Edge button before selecting each edge. The edge will turn red when it has been added;

  5. Set the Corner Transition parameter to Right Corner;

  6. Click the Ok button to create the panel;

Warning

I have found that that the design of the sketch used to define the profile can cause the Subtractive Pipe Tool to produce incorrect results. The cases where I've had issues with the tool have involved defining a decorative profile on the top and a rebate 1 on the bottom using the same sketch. I don't really know why it occurs, but the problem is most likely to occur when there is minimal gaps between the two sets of geometry which is easy to do in FreeCAD.

I guess this is a form of warning that you may not be able to actually make the raised panel in practice, but it does seem a bit odd for it to be occurring in the digital world.

This error DOES NOT occur all the time so you might not even encounter it.

Final thoughts

Raised panels add style to an otherwise plain piece of furniture, and it is useful to be able to design them using FreeCAD. The profile you design is limited to your imagination and the router bits that you have available to you, but you should be able to come up with some very decorative profiles for your projects.

  • 1That's a rabbet for you Americans