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ABOUT THE DESIGN
ABOUT THE DESIGN
The Open Storage Cabinet is a strong shelving
unit capable of holding heavy objects and han-
dling a long span without deflecting or sagging.
It gets its strength from interlocking shelves
and dividers that tab into pockets, milled into
the symmetrical outer cabinet. This frame
forms a strong, rigid structure called a Vieren-
deel truss. The cabinet’s interlocking shelves
and dividers, made from ½″ (12mm) material,
tab into pockets on the cabinet interior, made
from standard ¾″ (19mm) plywood.
AtFAB_STG.skp offers a version with graduated
compartments, in a versatile size and golden
ratio proportion that works as nicely in a work-
shop as it does a living room. With the paramet-
ric app, you can make your own version of the
cabinet with dimensions and shelf configura-
tions tailored to your needs.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Like the One to Several Table in Chapter 13, the
Open Storage Cabinet has many functional
uses. It can house tools and equipment in your
workshop or books, collections, and electronics
in your living room. Before you begin, define
your program, so you can make clear decisions
about dimensions and shelf spacing, as well as
materials and finishes. Tap into your creativity,
as you alter the design and select finishes for a
particular use. Since the Open Storage Cabinet
requires more decisions than other projects,
consider your choices in an integrated way.
Relate “everything to everything,” so you can
produce a cohesive design.
ESTABLISH A PROGRAM AND
DIMENSIONS
“Develop a Program” on page 224 in Chap-
ter 10 presents a full array of considerations in
developing a program for your project.
If you plan to customize the project, take some
time to map out other design criteria. Will your
Open Storage fit into a specific space? Will it sit
against a wall or divide two spaces as a parti-
tion? Should it be tall or short? Will its shelves
store a particular collection of items, or must
shelves be sized for flexibility? Will your Open
Storage Cabinet accommodate electronics
with wires?
When you have defined a general program,
detemine where your storage cabinet will be
situated. Thoroughly measure the space, mak-
ing sure to note electrical outlets and other ele-
ments that might get in the way.
Also take an inventory of items you plan to
store and display. Note the exact dimensions of
specific items that you anticipate: the depth of
file boxes, height of a robot toy collection, over-
all dimension of power tools, etc.
From this research, define the length, width,
and depth of your Open Storage Cabinet, as
well as the required compartment size. Make a
note of these dimensions to use later.
SELECT MATERIALS
Let the program help you with your decisions
about materials, finishes, and fasteners. A
refined plywood and finish might be desirable
for displaying a coveted collection in your living
space. A utilitarian, durable material with a
hard or resilient coating may be preferred if
your storage cabinet will endure more wear and
tear from storing tools in your workshop. Refer
to Appendix B for selecting and sourcing
appropriate materials and fasteners, and “Fin-
ishes for CNC Projects” on page 210 for guide-
lines on adding a finish.
To make AtFAB_STG.skp, you need two sheets
of 4'x8’ ¾″ plywood for the outer cabinet and
one sheet of 4'x8'x ½″ for the shelves and
dividers. This layout leaves extra room on both
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DESIGN FOR CNC
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