# Stopped dado joint (blind housing)

> What is a stopped dado?

- Category: Joinery › Edge & case joints
- Kind: Hardware
- Basis: Xem Studio design — geometry computed in the generator from traditional proportions
- Page: https://xemstudio.com/objects/stopped-dado-joint/ · JSON: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=stopped-dado-joint · Plain text: https://xemstudio.com/objects/stopped-dado-joint/sheet.txt
- License: dimension sheet CC BY 4.0 (Xem Studio); files Xem Studio Design License (free to use and sell from, not to redistribute as files: https://xemstudio.com/license/)
- Use in every chat: add https://xemstudio.com/mcp as a connector (https://xemstudio.com/use-with-ai/)

## Overall (mm)

| length | width | height |
|---|---|---|
| 90.0 | 80.0 | 100.0 |

**Exact dimensions.** True size, with no printing tolerance added.

## Notes

- Woodworking joint drawn for 3D printing: the parts lock together by shape, so a print can be joined without glue or screws. Drawn at true size with the parts line to line (zero gap) in their assembled position — add your printer's fit allowance to the mating faces (your AI or slicer can do this).
- A dado that stops short of the front edge, so the joint is hidden from the front; the shelf is notched to suit.

## Sizes

| dimension | value |
|---|---|
| stock | 15 mm side, 10 mm shelf, 80 mm deep |
| parts | side panel, shelf |
| dado | 10 × 5 mm, stopped 10 mm from the front |
| shelf notch | 5 × 10 mm at the front corner |
| assembles | the shelf slides in from the back |
| holds | shelf loads; the front edge shows no groove |

## Where the files are

- Xem Studio: [Joinery design (geometry computed in the generator from traditional proportions)](https://xemstudio.com/) — web — Xem Studio design

## Free STEP/STL (3 parts, Xem Studio Design License, Xem Studio)

Index: https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/stopped-dado-joint/index.json · license: https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/stopped-dado-joint/LICENSE.md

- stopped-dado-joint-side-panel: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/stopped-dado-joint/stopped-dado-joint-side-panel.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/stopped-dado-joint/stopped-dado-joint-side-panel.stl) — Side panel: dado stopped 10 mm short of the front edge
- stopped-dado-joint-shelf: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/stopped-dado-joint/stopped-dado-joint-shelf.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/stopped-dado-joint/stopped-dado-joint-shelf.stl) — Shelf notched at the front corner to fit
- stopped-dado-joint-assembled: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/stopped-dado-joint/stopped-dado-joint-assembled.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/stopped-dado-joint/stopped-dado-joint-assembled.stl) — All parts in their assembled position (each part its own solid)

## Questions

**Why stop a dado?**

So the front edge shows no groove.

## Fits with

- [Dado joint (housing joint)](https://xemstudio.com/objects/dado-joint/)
- [Sliding dovetail joint (dovetail housing)](https://xemstudio.com/objects/sliding-dovetail-joint/)