Domino Connect System ... tolerances?

[fritter63]

Hey all, haven't been by in awhile.... where does the time go? (and where do all the projects come from that keep me busy?).

Anyway, expecting to receive my CNC upgrade kit next week (Avid CNC) that will expand my machine to a 4x8 capacity. Will be able to just slap a full sheet of ply down and have it start cutting cabinet parts for me.

So.... first up on the list will be custom pantry and closet cabinet upgrade. Planning using the Domino Connector System for easy assembly in the closets.

However, I want to take a different approach. When I have the CNC cutting the panels for me, dimensioning them and then also cutting the 5mm holes for the 32mm system, I want to also have it cut the hole for the domino connectors, the one that is typically made with the drilling jig AFTER the domino slot has been cut.

The idea is to have the CNC cut the (10 mm?) hole for me that would normally be cut by the drilling guide, and then have it scribe a light line showing where to position the domino for making the cut into the end of the panel.

So the question is, how much tolerance will be there for the connectors? If I do this, the domino mortise could be off by thousands of an inch (compared to the domino mortise actually defining where the side hole goes). Will this be a problem? Or will things still fit together? Should I just cut a WIDE domino mortise or do they need to be the narrowest setting?

Thanks!

 

[afish]

Full disclosure I havent used the domino connectors but by looking at them you need to cut the domino hole on the narrow setting.  The connector expands outward to the narrow sides if the mortise is wide then the connector wont tighten to anything.  Since you are using a CNC I would look at other KD offerings too.  The Festool connectors look nice but are more geared toward those who dont have cnc capabilities.  Not saying the festool ones are bad and would work fine for you.  However anyone doing A lot of KD fittings with CNC would be looking at other options since they cost $2.30+ each depending on which connector.  That would be fine for a small job like yours but if you have any plans to do large scale projects or jobs those connectors will kill your bottom line. 

To answer your question on placement I would make some test pieces to find out the exact edge to center distance for the connectors using the pins or paddles on your domino then cnc the connectors to correspond with your domino that should work for the outermost dominos and then you would have to make a jig for any mid panel connectors. That should also do away with needing any type of scribe line. It will take a little more work up front but once your jig is made and measurements figured it will go much faster. 

 

[fritter63]

The connector expands outward to the narrow sides if the mortise is wide then the connector wont tighten to anything.  . 

doh, good point, forgot that detail

To answer your question on placement I would make some test pieces to find out the exact edge to center distance for the connectors using the pins or paddles on your domino then cnc the connectors to correspond with your domino that should work for the outermost dominos and then you would have to make a jig for any mid panel connectors. That should also do away with needing any type of scribe line. It will take a little more work up front but once your jig is made and measurements figured it will go much faster.

oh, that's a great idea! The middle is typically just a domino anyway so prob no need for the jig. But the paddle approach is the perfect solution.

 

[afish]

Yes or you can use the cross stop #498590 if you want more adjustability on where the connectors go or instead of a homemade jig and not just the standard 37mm from the edge to center of mortise.

 

[Cheese]

So the question is, how much tolerance will be there for the connectors? If I do this, the domino mortise could be off by thousands of an inch (compared to the domino mortise actually defining where the side hole goes). Will this be a problem? Or will things still fit together?

Should I just cut a WIDE domino mortise or do they need to be the narrowest setting?

Here are your 2 basic connectors:

203166

[attachimg=1]

203168

[attachimg=2]

In both cases, the round metal center section with the setscrew is held in place with the black plastic collar. Once the hole and the domino recess have been machined in the wood, the round metal center section is dropped in the hole and then the plastic collar is placed in the domino recess and very forcibly pushed into position to center/locate and retain the round metal piece.

The diameter of the hole is 15 mm, however, because it's the black plastic collar that retains and locates the metal center section, that  15 mm hole could be enlarged to 16 mm or larger and everything would still work. That helps your situation.

[attachimg=5]

Another bonus round for you is that the connector shaft does have some wiggle room both to the left and to the right.

[attachimg=3]

[attachimg=4]

If you are planing on using this type of connector shaft to thread into a 5 mm diameter hole, I'd suggest using a drill press to guide the connector so that it threads into the hole in a proper 90º position. If you just do this by hand the vertical part of the connectors will be splayed all over the place, it isn't pretty.

[attachimg=6]

One last thing, that 15 mm diameter hole is counterbored into the domino recess by 3 mm.

[attachimg=7]

 

[Josh2]

[member=44099]Cheese[/member] Totally unrelated but which LED light, powersource etc are you using? I will have to get some in a month or so.

 

[Cheese]

[member=44099]Cheese[/member] Totally unrelated but which LED light, powersource etc are you using? I will have to get some in a month or so.

[member=72953]Josh2[/member]
I've standardized on 2 different lighting suppliers. For lighting that will be used a lot and will see long on-times such as kitchen/bath under-counter lighting I use & recommend Diode LED.https://www.diodeled.com

In this particular case, this cabinet stretcher uses 2' of LED strip and the cabinet has 20 drawers so I needed 40' of LED strip. Purchasing Diode LED the cost would have been $750 just for the LED's. Plus covers, plus driver, plus connectors.

So, because these LED's won't be lit a lot, maybe 1-2 minutes per day, I opted for Lighting Ever. The 40' of LED's cost $40.https://www.lepro.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-reYoK366wIVEL7ACh04IA5VEAAYASAAEgLX9PD_BwE

The cover that's in the photo is a Diode LED product.

For drivers I purchase Meanwell exclusively from Mouser. They are extremely reliable, come in a small package and are inexpensive. Besides, Diode LED recommends their use.https://www.mouser.com/Power/Power-Supplies/LED-Power-Supplies/_/N-axgjt

 

[afish]

I just had a gander at the Festool website and looked at the connectors (KV D8) Festool claims tolerance of 1.4mm