Understanding Cabinet Back Parameters
Cabinet back parameters control how Mozaik builds the unfinished and finished backs of your cabinets — their placement, recess, joinery to surrounding parts, and dado options. These settings affect your cut list, part sizes, and CNC operations.:
Back Parameters
Backs — Cabinet Unfinished Backs
Controls which cabinet types receive an unfinished back panel. Choose from four options:
- All Cabinets — All base and wall cabinets receive an unfinished back.
- Base Only — Only base cabinets receive an unfinished back.
- Wall Only — Only wall cabinets receive an unfinished back.
- None — No unfinished backs are generated.
BkRecess — Unfinished Back Recess
Sets the distance from the back edge of the case to the outside edge of the unfinished back. This value also determines nailer placement: if BkRecess is greater than or equal to nailer thickness, the nailer will be placed behind the back.
Back Joint Parameters
The following parameters define how the back panel meets each surrounding part. Each uses the same five joint options:
- Plant On Back — The surrounding part sits against the back panel.
- Case Depth — The surrounding part extends past the recessed back to match the full cabinet depth.
- Flush With Back — The surrounding part extends flush with the back edge of the unfinished back.
- Q Tenon Blind Dado — The back is dadoed into the surrounding part using the BkBlindDado and BkQDado parameter values.
- Dado [Part] Into Back — The surrounding part is dadoed into the back.
| Parameter | Joint Location |
|---|---|
| BkUE | Back / Unfinished End — Base and Tall cabinets |
| BkUEW | Back / Unfinished End — Wall cabinets |
| BkTB | Back / Top — Base cabinets |
| BkTW | Back / Top — Wall and Tall cabinets |
| BkBB | Back / Bottom — Base and Tall cabinets |
| BkBW | Back / Bottom — Wall cabinets |
| BkFE | Back / Finished End — all applicable cabinets |
BkBlindDado — Blind Dado Setback for Backs
Sets the setback distance for all blind dado back joints. Applies to every back edge where a joint parameter is set to Q Tenon Blind Dado.
BkQDado — Qualified Tenon Thickness for Backs
Sets the tenon thickness for all Back Qualified Tenon Blind Dado joints. Blind dado edges are activated by setting the applicable BK joint parameter to Q Tenon Blind Dado.
Note: Backs are machined inside-up on the CNC. All backs with qualified tenons require flipside operations. Fasteners applied to back joints can be moved to the flipside in the fasteners library so all back operations can be machined on one face. Backs can be quickly flipped in the optimizer.
BkFHB — Full Height Plant On Back (Base Cabinets)
- No — The back stops at the bottom edge of the base cabinet bottom.
- Yes — The back extends past the bottom and runs flush with the bottom end of the cabinet.
BkFHW — Full Height Plant On Back (Wall Cabinets)
- No — The back stops at the bottom edge of the wall cabinet bottom.
- Yes — The back extends past the bottom and runs flush with the bottom end of the cabinet.
BkPar — Dado Partitions into Backs
- Yes — Partitions are dadoed into the back panel.
- No — Partitions are not dadoed into the back.
BkFS — Dado Fixed Shelves into Backs
- Yes — Fixed shelves are dadoed into the back panel.
- No — Fixed shelves are not dadoed into the back.
Finished Back Joint Parameters
These parameters define how a finished back meets the cabinet ends. Each uses four joint options: Plant On Back, Mitred, Flush With End, and Dadoed Into End.
| Parameter | Joint Location |
|---|---|
| FinBkUE | Finished Back / Unfinished End joint |
| FinBkFE | Finished Back / Finished End joint |
Quick Reference
| Parameter | Controls |
|---|---|
| Backs | Which cabinets receive an unfinished back |
| BkRecess | Back recess depth / nailer placement |
| BkUE | Back-to-unfinished end joint (Base/Tall) |
| BkUEW | Back-to-unfinished end joint (Wall) |
| BkTB | Back-to-top joint (Base) |
| BkTW | Back-to-top joint (Wall/Tall) |
| BkBB | Back-to-bottom joint (Base/Tall) |
| BkBW | Back-to-bottom joint (Wall) |
| BkFE | Back-to-finished end joint |
| BkBlindDado | Blind dado setback for back joints |
| BkQDado | Qualified tenon thickness for back joints |
| BkFHB | Full height back on base cabinets |
| BkFHW | Full height back on wall cabinets |
| BkPar | Dado partitions into backs |
| BkFS | Dado fixed shelves into backs |
| FinBkUE | Finished back / unfinished end joint |
| FinBkFE | Finished back / finished end joint |
Common Issues
- Back not generating: Check the Backs parameter — confirm the cabinet type is included in the selected option.
- Back positioned incorrectly in the case: Review BkRecess. Also check whether BkRecess is interacting with nailer thickness to move the nailer unexpectedly.
- Dado not appearing on back or surrounding part: Confirm the applicable joint parameter is set to Q Tenon Blind Dado, and that BkBlindDado and BkQDado are set to non-zero values.
- Qualified tenon operations missing from CNC output: Backs machine inside-up. Qualified tenon operations require flipside operations — verify these are configured in the fasteners library.
- Full height back not extending past the bottom: Check BkFHB or BkFHW — must be set to Yes.
Troubleshooting
- If back joint changes aren't reflecting in the model, close and reopen the room file to force a refresh.
- BkBlindDado and BkQDado only have an effect when at least one joint parameter is set to Q Tenon Blind Dado. Setting values with no blind dado joints active will have no result.
- FinBkUE and FinBkFE only apply when a finished back is present. If no finished back is assigned to the cabinet, these parameters have no effect.