Create sketchup drawing of box with finger joints and splayed sides

[bfblack]

I am trying to build the breakfast tray shown in the attached jpg file. breakfast tray table v3.skp (584.2 KB)

The instructions are sufficiently complete that I don’t need a drawing. However, before I make saw dust, I like to have a complete SketchUp drawing. Unfortunately, when I complete the drawing for the sides and back and then put the pieces together, I need to know the splay angle (measured from the vertical). The ends of the back are first mitered at 15 deg and then a router is used to create the fingers of a box joint; see scene “side clamped to router table”. If the joinery was a mitered corner instead of box joint, a 15 deg miter angle yields a splay angle of 15.542 deg; I built this box in SketchUp to confirm these compound miter numbers. I blindly thought if the sides and back were splayed at 15.542 deg, everything would fit perfectly. As shown in the scene “box assembled 15.542 deg”, I do not get a perfect match. I even tried a 15 deg splay angle and that did not work either. Ironically, you can build the box (missing the front) without ever knowing the splay angle. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[DaveR]

Hi Ben! This looks like a fun project. Are the edges of the fingers supposed to be parallel to the bottom of the tray? If so, I think you’ll have difficulty cutting them with a straight or spiral router bit. Are the corners supposed to be mitered box joints? Would you like to look together?

[bfblack]

Dave: The questions you asked are best answered by opening the skp file I included with the original post. I am not being evasive but a picture is worth a thousand words. If you meant “look together” via zoom or something similar, the answer is a definite yes.

[DaveR]

I do have your file open. I guess I would cut them like this:

@bfblack

If you meant “look together” via zoom or something similar, the answer is a definite yes.

Can we work out something for tomorrow? Maybe drop me a PM.