I can visually draw it out myself fine, its just working out the exact lengths I need. Say if I wanted the sides (16mm thick) sitting on top of the bottom piece (900mm in length), I then need to minus the width of the wood on either sides (32mm) from the total length of the bottom piece which gives me 868mm length and what ever width I need for the glass tracks to rest on.. so thats the exact measurement i need to send in to get it cut.. kinda hard to explain.. Reason I was asking was because I wanted to see if there was an easier way to calculate the exact measurements, I've done it plenty of times before but I think I've also measured and re-drawn a thousand times before I actually send it in to get cut. I started to confuse myself when I was trying to work out the measurements for a storage cabinet to fit under an existing enclosure - and started to think there must be an easier way to do this!
Usually the easiest way is to break it down into an equation:
H = (D-(2xT))-G
H is the Height of the panel of glass
D is the overall height dimension of the enclosure.
T is the thickness of your material
G is the allowable clearance for the glass panel
If you have a support beam from which the track sits on, the equation becomes H = (D-((2xT)+S))-G
G is calculated as:
- Measure the overall height of the top track (B).
- Measure from the top of the floor or bead to the upper edge of the bottom track (A).
- Measure the overall height of the bottom track (C).
Eg.
A = 7
B = 15 (This is always at least the height of A, however as tolerance you want to allow 2mm, this means B is actually 17)
C = 10
G = ((C-A)+B)-A
G = ((10-7)+17)-7
G = (3+17)-7
G = 20-7
G = 13
If you use the same brand of track all the time, then once you have calculated G the equation for H will always give you the exact dimension for your glass panel.
This will become your standard equation and no drawings and checking dimensions are required.
Eg. Of this standard equation in use:
You have an enclosure of 950mm high. There is a 50mm high support beam at the top and you have your glass track installed. You have calculated your G value as 13mm. Your enclosure is constructed from 16mm MDF.
H = (D-((2xT)+S))-G
H = (950-((2x16)+50))-13
H = (950-((32)+50))-13
H = (950-82)-13
H = 868-13
H = 855mm
That's enough maths for one night I think