Measure the two openings
Measure both rectangular openings and the vertical separation. Offsets X and Z locate the LOWER opening center relative to the upper center, with signs in the two plan directions. At least one offset must be nonzero. This differs from the upper-opening offset convention in the general rectangular funnel.
Positive X follows the opening length; positive Z follows its width. Read the signed LOWER-center offsets on this page, not the upper-center offsets used by the general funnel.
How the flat patterns are calculated
For a centered shape, dx = (upper length − lower length) / 2 and dz = (upper width − lower width) / 2. True face heights are √(H² + dz²) for the length-edge panels and √(H² + dx²) for the width-edge panels. A corner edge is √(H² + dx² + dz²). With offsets, each panel uses its own perpendicular setback and along-edge shift.
Each four-corner panel is unfolded by an isometry: all four edges and both diagonals match the 3D panel. The assembly animation rotates each panel rigidly about a reference edge. It does not interpolate or stretch the sheet.
Default example
800 × 600 mm → 400 × 300 mm · H 500 mm True face height: 583.10 mm / 500.00 mm / 500.00 mm / 640.31 mm.
Fabrication and assembly method
- Inspect the four rectangular panel blanks. These are separate panels, not a continuous tray blank.
- Mark each true trapezoid outline on its blank. Red lines are the panel cut boundaries.
- Cut the four panels to the marked outlines; the separated panels show their finished boundaries.
- Assemble the panels about their lower reference edges and join the corner seams. These edges locate assembly; they do not imply a retained material hinge.
Ideal sharp, zero-thickness panel geometry. Panel dimensions exclude kerf, bend allowance, seams, overlap tabs, fasteners and the openings cut in the parent tray. The assembly is a separate-panel method; confirm the actual joining detail.
Independent TrayNeo panel-development method. Reference-product correspondence remains under review.
Geometry references
Rectangular transition: face-height equations ↗NPTEL · True-length development ↗
Related calculators
Other rectangular funnel method ↗All numbered methods ↗