Product Studio

Visible directly in the construction step — suggests a starting system and the most useful next action.

Starting system tiles

Picks one of the released starting systems (box/crate, open crate, six-window house, desk organizer, Free Builder) and sets dimensions, material, and base shape accordingly.

Next-step button

Runs the currently most useful action directly — depending on build state, e.g. choose a part, add a base panel, add a wall, confirm placement, focus the product, generate cut parts, or send to Artboard.

Show first steps

Expands a list of the typical build steps with a keyboard-shortcut hint; completed steps are highlighted.

Start base panel / wall

Only visible when the builder is currently focused on the first build step: inserts a base panel or a wall directly as the first part.

Inspector area next to Guided Start: determines which starting system and base dimensions the product is built from.

Product family

Filters the list of selectable starting systems by category.

System

Picks the specific starting system within the filtered family and resets dimensions, connection type, and build plan to that system's starting values.

Product dimensions (width / depth / height)

Sets the outer product dimensions in millimeters; for parametric starting systems the whole build adjusts live to the new dimensions.

Shelves

Only visible for shelf/display and desk-organizer systems: number of horizontal shelf levels.

Back panel

Only visible for systems with a back-panel option: shows or hides a closed back panel.

Front edge (wave height / wave count / arc rise)

Only visible for the shelf/display template: chooses a straight, wavy, or arched front edge; for wave also wave height and count, for arc the arc rise in mm.

Columns / rows

Only visible for grid/cube systems: number of compartments horizontally and vertically.

Right-hand tool palette in the 3D view, grouped into Edit, Build, Production, and View.

Select

Default tool: select parts by clicking in 3D or in the part tree; Shift-click extends the selection.

Move (key G)

Moves the selected part in X/Y/Z steps (step size adjustable); global/local axes and center/origin pivot can be toggled. Automatically detects contact with neighboring parts for a possible plug connection.

Rotate (key R)

Rotates around X/Y/Z in adjustable degree steps, or directly to 0°/90°/180°/270°; orientation presets (e.g. flat/upright) apply a predefined build position. Rotation visibly snaps at 0, 15, 30, 45, 90, 180, and 270 degrees.

Scale (key S)

Changes width/height in percentage or millimeter steps, or per edge (left/right/top/bottom) — the opposite edge's position stays fixed.

Measure

Shows width, depth, height, diagonal, and area of the selected part; with two parts selected via Shift, also shows the direct distance plus the distance to the nearest snap point.

Snap / snap grid

Toggles snapping on/off, sets the grid step, and chooses the snap mode (all automatic, grid only, part centers, edge centers, corners, connector/holes, material thickness). "Snap part" snaps the selected part to the nearest target, "Snap Z" snaps only the height to the grid.

Add part (key A)

Opens the shape and part library to insert a new physical part (see its own section).

Set connection

Opens the connector workbench for the selected part (see its own section).

Cutout (key C)

Opens the cutout and opening library to add a cutout to the selected part (see its own section).

Generate pattern

Duplicates the selected part once, as a row of three, or as a column of three.

Material

Automatically switches the display to material mode (shows real material colors/thicknesses).

Visibility

Automatically switches the display to the transparent (ghost) mode.

Validate

Switches to the production display mode and shows production confidence, part count, real cut features, constraints, and open notes; for issues that can be auto-fixed, a button applies the suggested improvement directly.

Export

Immediately triggers generation of the cut parts from the current 3D state.

Choose build plane (keys 1–6, 0)

Determines which plane newly inserted or moved parts travel on: floor, front, back, left, right, selected face, or free (0). Prevents parts from landing on the wrong plane due to 3D perspective.

Toggle flat / upright

Tilts the selected part between a flat and an upright build position.

Advanced orientation

Applies a predefined build position (e.g. front, side, floor) directly instead of rotating manually via X/Y/Z — faster than individual axis rotations.

Transform readout

Permanent overlay on the right of the viewport: shows current rotation per axis, position and size of the selected part, the active tool mode, a context-aware build hint, and the keyboard shortcuts for the most important functions.

Shape and part library, opened via the "Add part" tool or key A.

Shape library

Shows ready-made part presets by category (panels, structure, model elements) to click or drag; automatically sets size, function in the product (e.g. base, wall, shelf, divider, brace, rail, wheel, axle, door, window), and material thickness.

Sketch plate

Inserts a flat, freely editable rectangular plate as a new part.

Vector

Inserts a free vector part with editable polygon points.

Import SVG

Imports your own SVG file as an editable vector part.

Insert setup

After picking a shape: shows a transparent (ghost) preview in the build space; width, height, material, function in the product, orientation, and position can be adjusted before confirming.

Insert part

Places the prepared part into the product model for good; automatically detects contact with neighboring parts and offers a matching plug connection when relevant.

Repeat insert

Enabled: after placing, the same shape is immediately ready to insert again. Disabled: after placing, you switch directly to editing the new part.

Cancel insert

Discards the current placement preview without creating a part.

Connector workbench for the selected part — opens via the "Set connection" tool.

None

Removes an existing connection from the selected part.

20mm teeth

Applies a tab/slot connection with finger-joint teeth to the selected edge. Vextrify calculates tooth count and position automatically from the edge length — only whole 20mm teeth are produced.

Edge (top/right/bottom/left)

Sets which edge of the part carries the tooth joint; tooth count and length are recalculated for the new edge.

Create plug connection

Appears when a moved part gets close enough to another: automatically creates a real tab with a matching slot between the two parts.

Cutout and opening library for the selected part — opens via the "Cutout" tool or key C.

Cutout library

Ready-made opening shapes to click or drag directly onto the part: window, cable slot, round hole, slot hole, handle, vent, freeform.

Cutout setup

After picking a shape: position and size can be set by dragging directly on the part or via millimeter fields, before the cut is applied for good.

Apply cutout

Commits the prepared cutout as a real cut feature on the part.

Cancel cutout

Discards the current cutout preview without creating an opening.

Second main step of the workflow: edits exactly the face of a part selected in 3D, in a flat millimeter view. Requires a part to be selected in 3D first.

2D view (part)

Shows the selected face as a top-down view with a safe-margin marker; existing cutouts appear as clickable rectangles, with the active cutout highlighted.

Center window / opening

Adds a new, centered window cutout to the current face.

X / Y / Width / Height

Millimeter-precise input fields for the position and size of the selected cutout on this face.

Delete cutout

Removes the currently selected cutout from this face; also available via the Delete key while a cutout is selected in the 2D view.

Back to 3D

Leaves the 2D panel view and returns to 3D construction without losing the part selection.

Project structure

Summary of the current product: sheet count and number of open notes at a glance.

Part tree

List of all parts in the product to click directly; highlights the currently selected part.

Assembly group list

Groups related parts; each group can be individually collapsed, hidden, or isolated (solo view of only that group). Clicking a group selects all of its parts together.

Construction history

Shows the most recent build steps (insert, move, rotate, scale, cutout, connect, material, delete, duplicate, change system) as a short, traceable list.

Material thickness

Sheet thickness in mm, affects all newly created parts and the automatic connection calculation.

Laser kerf

Corrects all cut dimensions for your laser's real cut width, so plug connections and dimensions fit exactly after cutting.

Material groups

Overview of all materials/thicknesses used in the product.

Sheet width / sheet height / part spacing

Only visible in the cut-parts step: size of the cutting sheet and minimum gap between cut parts for nesting.

Construction mode

Selects the overall connection system for the whole product (e.g. finger-joint/tooth connection); the description below explains the effect on fit and stability.

Lid

Only visible for the box template: lid closed or open.

Connector summary

Shows the number of real cut connections and the product's overall assembly intent at a glance.

Alternative to manual construction: a free-text product idea is turned into a producible starting model.

Product brief

Free-text field for the product description (e.g. "holder for acrylic signs, wavy front, with contact faces or 20mm teeth"); the basis for the automatically generated starting design.

Direction

Controls the rough build direction: automatic from the brief, holder/mount, free part, or display/stand.

Use case

Primary purpose: general, present, hold/carry, protect/enclosure, organize, mount/wall.

Priority

Weights the design toward balanced, maximum stability, fast to cut, material-saving, or showpiece.

Special requirements

Additional free-text field for details such as wall mounting, cable pass-through, extra stability, or a visibly rounded front.

Integration

How additional elements get incorporated: auto, plug-in, screw, glue, slide-in, or overlay — feeds into the design as an instruction.

Estimated load (kg)

Expected load on the product in kg — feeds into the build plan's stability planning.

Build-plan assistant (materials, openings, motion, look, connection idea, modularity)

Extended free-text and selection fields for material mix, required openings, moving parts, desired look, connection concept (plug-in, screws, glue, slide-in, fold, magnetic, mixed), and modularity (single piece, stackable, expandable, multi-part) — refine the automatically generated build plan.

Review build plan

Interprets the inputs and shows an overview (parts, connectors, modules, sheets, assembly connections, motion paths), the buildable/needs-review status, the individual build steps, and assumptions and open questions before final generation.

Create product

Builds the plan directly into a real, editable product model without showing the overview first.

Continue building freely

Carries the current state directly into Free Builder instead of continuing with the guided build plan.

Third main step: generates the real cut parts on sheet from the current 3D state.

Generate cut parts

Calculates the cut parts from the current product model; if the model is changed afterward, Vextrify marks the result as stale and requires regeneration before export.

Live validation

Ongoing construction check with status ready, review, needs work, or blocked; shows production confidence as a percentage and the most useful next improvement, including one-click apply when it can be fixed automatically.

Optimize material use

Re-arranges the cut parts on the configured sheet dimensions to reduce material waste.

Cut parts on sheet

Preview of each cutting sheet with all placed parts and part numbers, plus a separate part list with dimensions.

Exploded view

Lists every part individually with its dimensions, matching the exploded 3D view.

Notes

Shows remaining manufacturing notes with code and description, or a confirmation that there are no issues.

Export package

Lists all generated production files with path and file type.

Download ZIP

Downloads the complete export package as a ZIP file.

Send to Artboard

Hands the cut parts to a new Production Artboard project as real SVG objects with a cut layer, product source, and mm sizing.

Build 3D / 2D panel / Review cut parts

Switches between the workflow's three main steps; "2D panel" only becomes usable once a part is selected, "Review cut parts" only once the current product model is exportable.

Display (solid, material, transparent, X-ray, technical, connectors, cutouts, isolate, production)

Switches the visual display in the 3D viewport, e.g. real material colors, a transparent preview, an X-ray view, a technical view, or highlighted connectors or cutouts.

Finished view / exploded view

Shows the product either assembled or in an exploded view with visible spacing between parts.

Undo / redo

Reverts or restores the most recent build step (up to 30 steps); also available via Cmd/Ctrl+Z.

• Turn on Repeat insert when placing several identical parts in a row — after each placement the same shape is immediately ready again instead of switching to editing.
• The tooth connection ("20mm teeth") calculates count and position automatically from the edge length — you never need to work out the tooth count yourself, just choose the edge.
• Undo/redo remembers up to 30 steps along with a short construction history — worth checking before starting over after a failed experiment.
• Assembly groups can be isolated solo or hidden — useful when a complex product with many parts gets cluttered in the 3D viewport.
• The guided build plan is optional: you can choose "Continue building freely" at any time and keep working manually in Free Builder instead of following the automatic suggestion.
• "Optimize material use" re-arranges the cut parts on the sheet to reduce waste — worth running right before downloading or sending to the Artboard.