Stitching joins a part with a second, «lower» part into a single double part of increased thickness. This is how thickened fronts, aprons and worktop overhangs are made from an ordinary board, without buying a thick panel. The form opens from the part's operations menu (the «Stitching» button).
One stitching per part
A part can have only one stitching. If it is already added, the message «Stitching added» is shown instead of the form — to change the parameters, open the stitching for editing in the operations history; to remove it, delete the operation.
Stitching type
The stitching type is chosen from the type library set up at the production site. The type defines exactly how the upper and lower parts join and what profile (step) is formed on the edge. Next to the field there is a «?» button — it shows a picture of the selected type so you can see the joint geometry.
The list shows not all types, but only those that fit the part: each type has a minimum length and width, and if the part is smaller, such a type will not appear in the drop-down. So for small parts the choice of types will be shorter.
Strip width
The «Strip width» field appears only for overlay stitching types (from the third type onward). It is the width of the added strip in millimetres; the allowed range is from 70 to 120 mm. For the first two types the field is not needed and is not shown.
Material of the lower part
The lower part can be of the same material as the part or of a different one — this depends on the stitching type:
- Type 1 — the lower part is of the same material as the part (only its material remains in the list).
- Type 2 — the lower part is of a different material (the part's own material is removed from the list).
Materials for which stitching is forbidden by a setting (the «do not use in stitching» flag) are not shown in the list.
Edge of the lower part
The «Edge of the lower part» field appears only if the chosen stitching type implies edging of the joint. Then the edge for the lower part is selected here from the order's edge list. If the type does not provide an edge, the field is hidden.
Texture on the lower part
The «Texture on the lower part» toggle (on by default) indicates whether the grain direction on the lower part should be taken into account. Turn it off for materials without a pronounced texture, so as not to constrain the cutting with extra direction requirements.
Thickness of the double part
The program calculates the thickness of the resulting double part itself from the thicknesses of both parts: for type 1 the part material's thickness is taken, for the others — the thickness of the chosen lower-part material. If the thickness cannot be obtained (the material is not selected or its thickness is not set), the message «Problem getting the material thickness» appears on adding — choose a correct lower-part material.
Checking the part's edging
Stitching increases the part's thickness, so the edge already glued to the part must match the new thickness in height. If some side of the part is edged with an edge that does not fit the double thickness, the add button becomes inactive and the block «The part's edging needs to be changed» appears below with a list of problem sides. Right there you can choose a suitable edge for each side — after that the stitching can be added.
Adding and saving
The button at the bottom of the form is «Add» for a new stitching or «Save» when editing. While there are unresolved edging remarks, the button is locked.
If you need standard stitching without setting all the fields, it can be enabled with a single toggle right on the part card (see the article «Quick stitching with a single toggle»).