The document describes how 3D solid modeling was used to help a church furniture manufacturer cut pews to intersect at a 155 degree angle. The model allowed the engineer to virtually "slice" the pew and generate drawings showing the specific cutting angles needed for each part. This helped reduce installation time and rework by providing accurate instructions for cutting matching parts that could be easily assembled on site.

1. Application of 3D Solid
Modeling to Installation
of Church Pews
A church furniture manufacturer was
challenged to cut its pews to
intersect at a 155 degree angle.

2. The Floor Plan:

3. The Desired Product:

4. The Situation:
Personnel must cut seats, backs, and back
rails at compound angles as separate parts
so that they could be assembled correctly in
the field.
Engineering needed to provide simple
drawings to communicate orientation of parts
and cutting angles for miter saws to shop
personnel.

5. Action #1:
I created a 3D solid
model of the pew
and “sliced” it at a
155° angle.

6. Plan View of the Pew

7. Action #2:
I selectively activated drawing layers,
changed coordinate systems,
added dimensions and angles,
and printed drawings of each part.

8. The back was laid on the saw table
and cut at a 3° angle but the blade had
to be tilted…

9. at an angle of 12° to the table of
the saw.

10. The back cap had to be cut at a 12°
angle but the saw blade had to be
tilted…

11. at an angle of 3° to the table of the
saw.

12. The seat bottom had to be cut at
almost 12.5° but the blade must be
tilted…

13. at an angle of 88.5° degrees to the
table of the saw.

14. Results:
Installation time was reduced because
installers did not have to re-cut parts in the
field.
Re-work was reduced at the factory because
parts were not sent back to be
remanufactured.
Customer satisfaction increased due to higher
quality appearance and faster installations.

15. Completed in February, 2004 by:
Stephen C. Martin
(615) 669-9363
http://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenclydemartin