32mm System Basics
The 32mm system is a method of indexing cabinet components. All cabinet componets are sized in 32mm increments and located some increment of 32mm apart. This article covers the basics - system holes, indexing and construction holes.
System Holes
The 32mm system of building cabinets utilizes a series of 5mm holes that are spaced 32mm apart. Generally these system holes are in two rows running from top to bottom of the cabinet sides (panels, also known as bulkheads, standards, jambs or gables). The 5mm holes spaced 32mm apart are the heart of the European method of cabinet construction. Ultimately the 32mm system is a method of indexing cabinet parts and hardware.
There is a vast quantity of hardware available that uses mounting holes some increment of 32mm apart. The most common are European hinges and slides. European hinges mount to the panel with a plate that has two holes spaced 32mm apart. European slides require that the back system row is some increment of 32mm from the front row because their mounting holes are spaced in increments of 32mm. Both hinges and slides also require that the front system row be 37mm from the front edge of the panel. While there are both advantages and disadvantages to having the rear system row be 37mm from the back edge, it doesn't matter what the distance from the system rows to the back of the panel is.
Indexing Faces
Since slides and hinges are vertically spaced some increment of 32mm apart, drawer and door faces need to be sized in increments of 32mm. While there are numerous other considerations and applications related to 32mm spacing and indexing, the drawer and door faces are the most important. A primary rule of the 32mm system is that all door and drawer faces will be some increment of 32mm tall (less reveal) and their edges will center on or between system holes. The most common method of decreasing system efficiency is to break this rule.
Construction Holes
When building a cabinet we have a couple options. The basic European cabinet is simply a box with feet attached to the bottom. The box is typically assembled using 8mm dowels placed in construction holes. While dowels are the traditional method, a popular alternative to dowels is a special screw called a confirmat screw. Both methods require boring holes into the ends of all horizontal members. With dowels we also need to use a series of clamps or have a case clamp. Construction holes don't need to be on the system hole grid and can be done away with alltogether. Alternatives typically involve some combination of dadoes, staples and/or self-tapping screws. With this method we are primarily using the system to index hardware and doors/drawer faces.
Another method of construction is to use system holes as construction holes. This method simplifies the system and is well suited for those with minimal tooling. Instead of using dowels or confirmat screws we can build our boxes with special hardware. By using something like the Rafix connector we can avoid both endboring and clamping. In some cases, all we need are system holes to build a cabinet. Deeper cabinets, such as kitchen base cabinets, will require additional holes between system rows to provide structural integrity. While this is the most common application for connectors like the Rafix, there is no reason why you can't use them with the construction hole method. With this method we are using the system holes to index the cabinet cross members (cabinet top, bottom, dust rails, etc.) as well as hardware and door/drawer faces.
Comments [ new ]
- Re: 32mm System Basics
- Posted by gerardo cicenia on Sunday, 24-Aug-2008
How can we made doors & drawers fronts in 32mm increments if we have to increase the height of the carcase by the thickness of the furniture floor?
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This problem I think is new because of the new slides like quadro types? how can we made?
- Re: 32mm System Basics
- Posted by Dave Lers on Monday, 25-Aug-2008
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I added Quadro 40 and 50 slides (old catalog/specs) to the drawing I did for the Full Overlay Stackable Boxes article.
The Indexing Wood Drawer Boxes article should explain the center registered drawer faces. The Quadro 40's have a 2.5mm offset so all boxes heights will be 5mm plus some increment of 32mm. The 50's have a 30.5mm offset and boxes will be 61mm and up. I'll add an undermount example to that article later.
The 40's could work with 3/0 reveals but that tweak needs an article of its own (on the to do list).
I added Quadro 40 and 50 slides (old catalog/specs) to the drawing I did for the Full Overlay 
Another possibility is top registration. In this case, top registration gains drawer space (+ 32mm on all but the bottom drawer). As in the drawing, when the bottom face is 32mm bigger than the face above, the bottom two drawer boxes will be the same size.
