Panel Design

  • Published on Jun 26, 2025
  • 2 minute(s) read
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This guide explains how to properly generate panels in MachineBuilder.

Selecting Surfaces

MachineBuilder includes functionality for generating panelled surfaces using materials like HDPE, acrylic, composites and sheet metal. 

Panels are created by using extrusion profiles as the edge perimeter of the panel.

Panel Generation Rules

To generate a panel, the following criteria must be met:

  1. The desired surface must be formed from a closed loop of extrusions.

  2. The loop of extrusions must be fully connected.

  3. The extrusions defining the perimeter must lie in the same plane.

Creating a Panel Using Multi-Select

  1. Hold Ctrl and select all extrusions that will form the outer perimeter of your panel. If vertical extrusions bisect the plane, it’s not necessary to select them as long as they are connected to the loop.

  2. Right-click on the highlighted extrusions and select Create Panel. This will open the panel generation window.

  3. If the Create Panel option is greyed out, it means one or more criteria are not met. Use the Connection Checker tool to verify connections.

Creating a Panel Using the Parts Library

  1. Navigate to the Panels section in the Parts Library, select the desired panel type, and hover over an extrusion that will form part of the panel perimeter.

  2. Use the arrow keys on the screen or your keyboard to cycle through available orientations.

    1.  A green panel will be generated on top of the extrusions.

    2. A blue panel will be generated within the extrusion’s slotted channel.

  3. Click the checkmark on the screen or press Enter to confirm your selection. This will open the panel generation window.

Basic Properties of Generated Panels

Material

Select the panel material from the dropdown menu. Materials are categorized into:

  • Plastics & Composites

  • Sheet Metal

Colour/Finish

This field appears as Color or Finish based on the selected material.

  • Choose from available options in the dropdown.

  • If greyed out, only one option is available for that material.

Thickness

Displays the panel’s thickness. Options vary by material. Thickness impacts properties such as position, panel strips, and mounting holes.

Position

Determines panel placement on the selected extrusions:

  • Outside: Rests on top of the extrusions.

  • Inside: Fits within the extrusion channels.

Panel Strips 

For 6.35mm or 5.59mm slotted panels, toggle this option to add panel strips. These fill excess space in the extrusion channel, reducing panel movement.

Auto-Generated Mounting Holes

For externally mounted panels, choose a hole type from the dropdown:

  • Countersink Hole: Uses recessed fasteners (requires >5.59 mm panel thickness).

  • Thru-Hole: Uses M8 fasteners, which protrude above the panel surface.

  • None: No holes are auto-generated.

Add Holes or Cutouts

Use this feature to create custom cutouts and fastener placements. (Covered in a separate section.)

Generating The Panel

After selecting the basic properties, select Generate Panel to create the panel in MachineBuilder. 

The panel will automatically generate cutouts around the majority of Vention components.

Creating Custom Cutouts

Layout

Left Panel

Tools for creating custom cutouts.

Center Window

A live preview of the panel in MachineBuilder, navigable like the standard environment. Inside the window are 4 toolbar icons:

  • Measurements: Constrain cutout positions.

  • Transparency: Toggle panel visibility between opaque and transparent.

  • Fit to View: Adjusts zoom to fully display the panel.

  • View Panel Top: Reorients the view to a top-down perspective.

Sketch Cutouts

Create rectangular or circular cutouts:

  1. Select a cutout type.

  2. Hover over the panel to choose the general location.

  3. Left-click to set the starting point.

  4. Drag to define the cutout size:

    • Rectangular: Sets length and width.

    • Circular: Sets diameter.

  5. Resize by clicking the cutout and editing the dimension fields.

  6. Constrain position using the Measurement Tool:

    • Select a panel edge as a reference.

    • Select the cutout to define its position.

    • Rectangular cutouts align by edge, circular cutouts by center point.

Custom Holes

Add custom hole locations for fastening outside-mounted panels:

  1. Select a Snap Increment for hole placement.

  2. Choose a hole type.

  3. Left-click along the panel’s perimeter to place holes (must align with extrusions).

Click Generate Panel to confirm al custom cutouts.