A step-by-step guide to enabling materials for use in DESIGN.
DESIGN Properties tell INNERGY how a material should behave when it is used in DESIGN — its thickness, its colors, and how it is drawn and modeled. A material only becomes available in DESIGN after its DESIGN Properties are filled in. The most important property is the Material Type (the DESIGN Type), which sets the kind of material you are working with and controls the other properties you need to provide.
Choose a DESIGN Type
The Material Type is the first thing you set on a material’s DESIGN tab. The six DESIGN Types and what each is used for are below.
DESIGN Type | What it is used for |
Panel | Sheet goods that form the body of a product — cabinet boxes, ends, tops, and shelves. Panels support a grain direction and trim allowances. |
Board | Solid or dimensional lumber for rails, stiles, and face frames. Boards support a grain direction. Use this when the material is a board rather than a full sheet. |
Banding | Edgebanding applied to the exposed edges of panels. Banding needs only the basic properties so the edge is represented correctly. |
Laminate | A surface material laminated onto a substrate, such as high-pressure laminate or veneer. Laminate supports a grain direction and trim allowances. |
3D Model | Hardware and accessories shown as a 3D model — appliances, sinks, or fittings. After the basic properties, you attach the model in the DESIGN Material Editor. |
Connector | Hardware that joins or operates parts — fasteners, hinges, drawer guides, and pulls. Connectors use a placement method and can use the DESIGN Material Editor. |
Enter the DESIGN Properties
Once you select a Material Type, INNERGY shows the properties that apply to it. They fall into the groups below.
Basic properties (all types)
These appear for every DESIGN Type and must always be completed:
• Material Thickness – the finished thickness of the material, in inches.
• Rough Thickness – the rough thickness used for some calculations, such as board footage.
• Face Color, Core Color, Back Color – the colors used to represent the material’s face, core, and back.
• Section Hatch – the hatch pattern shown when the material appears in a section view.
Grain Direction (Panel, Board, Laminate)
For Panel, Board, and Laminate types, set a Grain Direction so parts are oriented correctly. The options are None, Length, or Width.
Trim allowances (Panel and Laminate)
Panel and Laminate types let you set oversize trim allowances on each edge — Trim Leading Width, Trim Leading Length, Trim Trailing Width, and Trim Trailing Length. These add extra material that is trimmed off during fabrication.
Set up a Connector
When the DESIGN Type is Connector, choose a Connector Placement method. The method controls where the connector sits on a part and which measurements you provide. After completing a method, choose whether to Show Hinging on the part.
Placement method | What it is used for |
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Edge Position | Places connectors along an edge using a start position, end position, maximum spacing, and an edge-to-center distance. Use when connectors sit a set distance in from the edge. |
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Edge Overlay | Places connectors along an edge using a start position, end position, and maximum spacing. Use for connectors that sit directly on the edge line. |
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Array | Places connectors in a grid using top, bottom, left, and right positions plus maximum vertical and horizontal spacing. Use for connectors spread across a face. |
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Face Pull | Places a pull or handle on the face of a part. The vertical and horizontal directions are each set From Edge (with a measured position) or Centered. |
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Drawer Guide | Defines a drawer guide using gap, height, length, extension percentage, and a bottom-to-center distance. Use for drawer slide hardware. |
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| Tip 3D Model and Connector materials show a DESIGN Material Editor button once the basic properties are filled in. Use it to attach the 3D model or position the connector in DESIGN. |
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Apply DESIGN Properties to a material
1. Open the Material Library and select the material you want to set up.
2. Open the material’s DESIGN tab to view its DESIGN Properties.
3. Choose the Material Type that matches the material (Panel, Board, Banding, Laminate, 3D Model, or Connector).
4. Enter the basic properties: Material Thickness, Rough Thickness, Face Color, Core Color, Back Color, and Section Hatch.
5. Complete any additional properties shown for the type — Grain Direction, trim allowances, or Connector Placement details.
6. For 3D Model or Connector materials, click DESIGN Material Editor to attach the 3D model or position the connector.
7. Click Save Changes. The material is now enabled and ready to use in DESIGN.