Flip Side Operations

Flip Side Operations on all Parts. (Video is outdated but still applicable.)Parts may be “flipped” at the part editor and operations may be added or modified on the “filp-side” of the part. To flip a part over, edit the part then select the “Flip” button.

Flipside Operations are now Automatic for Shelves and Partitions. Operations on partitions are now complete since flip side operations are possible. This includes dados from fixed shelves and stretchers, adjustable shelf holes, line bore holes, hinge holes and drawer guide holes. Partitions now dado into drawer stretchers and drawer stretchers will now dado into partitions (depending on the arrangement of the parts in the interior of the cabinet).

Operations on the back side of the part show as light-dotted lines so they may be aligned with operations on the front side of the part. Flip side operations are not accessible until the part is flipped over as shown below. The flip side is indicated in red at the top of the window and the operations show up in the list box at the bottom of the window. To machine these flip side operations, the part or the sheet must be flipped over at the optimizer.

In the optimizer, flip side operations may be handled in several ways. At the Patterns Tab, the edit menu offers two options. First, the entire sheet may be flipped to machine the sheet of parts on the flip side. A “Squaring cut” along the short and long edge about 0,0 can be added so the sheet may be referenced in the correct position when it is flipped so the front and back operations will align properly. Or you can setup the Flip Dowel setup in the Machine Library and use holes and dowel pins to accurately align the flipped sheets.

When the sheet is “Flipped”, the cutout operation will not be applied in gcode. The parts are only cutout at the primary side. Only the “Flip-side” operations will be machined when the sheet is flipped. The “Flip Sheet” icon at the upper right will also flip the sheet (and be present indicating that flip-side operations are present on some parts). Once the sheet if flipped, when the tool paths are calculated, an option to add a “Squaring Cut” or Bore for Dowel Pins will be prompted.

If added, this cut will trim the short and long edges about 0,0 to “Square the sheet” such than when it is flipped over to machine the main face, it can be aligned at 0,0 on the router table or holes will be drilled to match holes drilled in the spoilboard (so that front and back side operations will align properly).

If parts have operations on the flip side ONLY, they can be flipped on the sheet for machining. Click Edit -> Flip Parts. This will flip those parts in the sheet and eliminate the need for flipping the sheet or creating separate flip-part files for those parts.

If the Flip Parts option is selected and parts have machining on both sides, the parts will NOT be flipped and will remain highlighted in GREEN. These parts require flipside machining.

Any individual part may be flipped in the nest. Simply right click on a part and click the “Flip” button.

Parts may also be flipped in the optimizer at the Parts Tab. Click on the “Edit” pencil for any part in the list then click the “Flip” button.

Individual Part Files for processing Flipside Operations per part.

Added single part processing for parts with backside operations. If backside operations are present on any parts in the job, there is a checkbox at the optimize tab which will place each part with backside ops in a separate file placed at 0,0 (or apply an offset for fixture setup). Gcode will be generated for each part’s flipside operations (Cutout operation will be performed in the nest along with all other parts). A picture of the part on the router table may be printed for orientation purposes. Gcode for these parts may be done individually or as a batch.