Bespoke Kitchen Manufacturer Designs Contemporary Wine Rack with Cabinet Vision

The premier CAD/CAM solution for the manufacture of bespoke woodwork, Cabinet Vision from Planit is capable of much more than simply making square boxes, as Kent-based Stoneham plc can testify.

Manufacturing quality kitchen furniture since 1864, family-owned Stoneham’s uses only the finest materials, combining the knowledge and skill of its craftsmen with the latest engineering and technology.

Cabinet Vision is proving instrumental in helping Stoneham – a user of Alphacam software for several years – to achieve and maintain its high standards of excellence. With demand for the company’s quality kitchens increasing considerably over the past few years, attention is being focused on using the system to its full potential.

“We are able to create two-dimensional drawings in Cabinet Vision which are automatically converted into a 3D model with all cutting lists and drilling patterns specified for the product,” explains works director Mike Stoneham. “The drilling patterns are then directly downloaded to the controllers on one of our three CNC machining centres (2 Biesse and 1 Busellato) and the parts automatically and accurately processed. At the same time, the software generates a full and detailed drawing for each operation, which is a really tangible benefit for us, as all of our kitchens are hand-built to order.”

Because Stoneham designs and manufactures furniture to a highly bespoke level, requests are often received for out-of-the-ordinary products. A recent example was the design of a contemporary curved wine rack – which would have been a complex and time-consuming operation before installing Cabinet Vision.

The project was completed successfully with all drilling patterns ready for the machine tools and a highly detailed exploded drawing produced for the machine operators and designers.

“The operator who produced the unit commented on how easy it was to make and the time that has been saved since integrating the system into the workshop,” says Mike Stoneham. “Machine-ready code is produced in seconds, directly from our designs to one of the CNC machining centres.”

Cabinet Vision enables users to closely control their whole business process – from design through to CNC machining and assembly. It enables individual pieces to be designed and visualised as photorealistic 3D images before automatically converting them to fully associative assemblies, cutting lists, component nests and machining programs – all at the touch of a button.
About Stoneham plc

Stoneham’s factory and workshops in Kent are staffed by 75 skilled workers and current turnover is around £6.5 million. Ranging from traditional to contemporary styles, all of its furniture is distinguished by a high level of design and technical innovation. Stoneham kitchens are typically sold to the mid and top end of the market but also have a thriving contracts department to meet an increasing demand from architects, specifiers and developers. For further information visit www.stonehamkitchens.co.uk

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