Box Project

Learn basic tools to create a Box with Comb Joints

Step 1: First Panel

Open a new document and Selct the Top Down view

Change the view to Orthoganal

Drag a BOX shape from the toolbar onto the workplane

Step 2: Resize

Click on the squares around the edges of the box and adjust the size to 60 x 60mm

Step 3: Creating a Comb Joint

Drag a TRANSPARENT BOX onto the workplane

Adjust the width to be 6mm - length can stay the same

Move the box to be aligned with the top corner of the main cube

Drag the transparent cube 3mm into the main cube

Drag the transparent cube 9mm vertically

Step 4: Create More Combs

You can select the transparent cube and copy and paste it

Drag these copies so that they are 6mm away from each other (you can count the squares or look at the measurement shown on the screen)

Repeat this until you have 4x transparent cubes

Step 5: Complete the Comb All the Way Around

Select all 4 and then copy them again, dragging them to the other side

Make sure they are 3mm away from the edge

Repeat the copy process again, but this time rotate the copies 90degrees and align 3mm away from the top edge

Remember - they must be 9mm away from the edge!

Step 6: Finish the Comb Joint

Copy the top transparent cubes one last time and drag them down so that they are 3mm inside the base line.

Select all the objects and click on the GROUP icon

The transparent cubes now become holes and cut the main box

Step 7: Creating the Other Panels

Return to the TOP view and return to Orthagraphic mode

Drag another cube into the workspace and make sure this is 60x 60mm as well

Align it so it overlaps the inner line of the first panel

Click on the first panel and then on the lightbulb icon to hide it

Step 8: 2nd Panel Comb Joint

To align the model you will need to make sure that no panels overlap each other.

Therefore, you will need to cut out the areas that Panel 1 has as a "comb"

Drag a Transparent Cube into the workspace and make it 6mm thick

Align it with the top corner then drag it 9mm Left (into the cube) and 3mm vertically down away from the edge

Create a copy and drag this 3mm away but also drag it out (right) by 3mm

Copy this again 4 more times making sure they are all 6mm from the edge

Step 9: Create the Other Side

Select all the Transparent boxes and Copy and Paste them

Drag them to the other side

Align the top one so that is 9mm inside the main panel and 3mm away from the top edge

Select all the remaining boxes and drag them so that they are 3mm inside the panel and aligned with the bottom edge

Step 10: Creating the Base Comb

Select a Transparent Box and rotate it 90 degrees

Align it with the top cutouts and make sure it is 6mm apart from the inside edge

Copy and Paste 2x further copies making sure these are also 6mm apart

Step 11: Grouping the Objects

Select all the objects and Group together - cutting out the combs as a result

Click the Lightbulb icon and the original panel should appear - you should notice all your comb fingers and cutouts lining up.

If there are any changes required select the new panel and then select UNGROUP

This will bring back the Transparent Boxes and you can adjust as needed

Step 12: Create the Left and Right Panels

Drag a box object into the workspace

Make it 60 x 60mm and align it to the inner edge of the base panel

Hide Panels 1 and 2 using the Lightbulb icon

Step 13: Create the Comb Joints

Drag a transparent box into the workspace and make it 3mm thick

Align it with the bottom corner of the panel

Drag it so that it is 9mm inside the panel

Copy and Paste this box, Align this with the edge and then move it in by 3mm inside the panel

Drag another Transparent Box into the workspace and make this 6mm wide

Align this with the edge and then drag it in by 3mm

Copy and Paste this a further 3x

Note your transparent boxes should align with the top edge

Step 14: Copy and Mirror for the Other Side

Select all your Transparent boxes

Copy and Move them to the other side of the panel

Select the Mirror Tool and then click the Down/Up arrow to mirror the selection and then drag these in place

The 4x 6mm cutouts should be 3mm away from the edge

The thinner sections should be 9mm and 6mm away from the edge

Step 15: Right Hand Side

Copy the 6mm Transparent Boxes and move to the right hand side

Rotate and then move so that is 3mm inside the panel and 6mm away from the lowest cutout

Copy and paste this 2x times

Select all objects and Group

Bring back all objects to check the alignment

Step 16: Mirror the Side Panel

Show all components

Select Panel 3 and copy and paste it moving it to the other side of Panel 1

Make sure to align it to the inner most edge

Use the mirror tool to flip it and check alignment

Repeat with Panel 2

Step 17: Adjusting the Height of the Panels

Move to Perspective view and rotate the camera to see the edges of the boxes

Select all the panels

Click the central box under the UP arrow

Change the height to 3mm

Step 18: Assemble the Box

Select a Panel

Use the Rotate arrow along the edge to rotate the panel by 90degrees - so it is now upright

Move the Panel so it fits in the slots

Note: You can change views, rotate around, Zoom in and use the rounded triangle arrows to move the panel. The closer you zoom, the more accurate it will be

Repeat for all panels

Take a screenshot and add it to your workbook