Picture/photo frame generator

[marauder37]

I would like to generate picture/photo frames similar to this YouTube tutorial

It is a 3-layer design meant to be cut from 3mm plywood/MDF. Basically it makes a pocket that a piece of clear acrylic slides into. The layers are:

• back layer that the picture will be glued to. A rectangle with the full dimensions of the final frame, with an etched rectangle marking where to glue the picture, and a mounting hole hidden by the top layer
• middle layer to hold a piece of acrylic. 3 strips joined with dovetails.
• top layer. In the video, this is another rectangle with the full dimensions of the final frame, and a window cut out that is smaller than the piece of acrylic.

Some options that would make the design in the video more flexible/useful:

• assemble the top layer from 4 strips joined with dovetails, instead of cutting from 1 rectangle, to minimise material use
• generate a matting part to be cut from cardboard/matboard instead of the acrylic sheet

I would try to make this generator myself, but I can't find any examples of joining parts with dovetails, so I'm not sure where the best place to start is.

[florianfesti]

Finger joints are just another type of edge. They are available as d and D edges. See https://github.com/florianfesti/boxes/blob/master/boxes/generators/shadowbox.py as an example that is already pretty close to what you want. Although https://github.com/florianfesti/boxes/blob/master/boxes/generators/airpurifier.py has pieces that are closer to those above.

These pages of the API docs might also be helpful:

• https://florianfesti.github.io/boxes/html/api_parts.html#the-edges-parameter
• https://florianfesti.github.io/boxes/html/api_existing_parts.html
• https://florianfesti.github.io/boxes/html/api_edges.html

[marauder37]

Thank you! I came back to say that I just saw the air purifier and its pieces looked similar. But you were quicker!

Shadowbox is also quite close, I'll look at them both.

Now I just need to stop myself from building an air purifier

[florianfesti]

I am totally not taking any responsibility for any air purifiers you build.

[marauder37]

p.s. I did build an air purifier, because an air filter just showed up out of nowhere and it would be a shame to waste it. But I heroically resisted all impulses to over-engineer it or do a good job.