# Kerf and Tab Width Explainer

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Jan 15

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This is an interactive explainer on constructing tab and slot projects.

When compensating for the kerf on these kind of projects we **add** or **subtract** the **kerf** value on the sections that are likely to be consistent because they are cut by the laser.

On the sections determined by the `materialThickness` we don't use the kerf value because there will always be some variation on the actual thickness of any given piece of material, so `materialThickness` is mostly useful for determining the height of the joints **but not for affecting the fit**.

## Kerf compensation on tabs

Half the kerf gets **added** on each side of the tab, and the tab height is `materialThickness`.

So in practice the tab is a rectangle with these dimensions `(tabWidth + kerf, materialThickness)`

## Kerf compensation on slots

Half the kerf gets **subtracted** on each side of the slot, and the slot height is `materialThickness`.

So in practice the slot is a rectangle with these dimensions `(tabWidth - kerf, materialThickness)`

## Slot and tab

This shows the interaction between the slot and the tab. Kerf value is exaggerated for demonstration purposes.

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