# Columns, beams and notching

Last updated: October 25, 2026

Notching means cutting away the part of a module’s carcass that runs into an obstacle such as a column or beam; moducut can notch all modules that overlap an obstacle with one command. This page explains adding obstacles, automatic notching and cutting notches by hand.

> **Short answer** Add the obstacle to size with **Room Design › Column** or **Beam**, place the modules in front of it and press **Room Design › Notch** (Alt + O). Modules that overlap the obstacle are notched, and the back panel is split to follow the notch.

## Adding columns and beams

1. Press the **Column** (Alt + K) or **Beam** (Alt + R) button on the ribbon.
2. In the Dimensions section of the window that opens, enter Width (along the wall), Length (from the wall into the room), Height and Height from floor.
3. In the Position section, type which wall the obstacle is on and its distance from the corners and from the wall; for an obstacle against the wall, the distance from the wall is 0.
4. Press **OK**.

An obstacle running from floor to ceiling is added as a column, others as a beam. A beam is really a free box with the dimensions you give it, so with this button you can add a beam hanging from the ceiling as well as a service box sticking out of the wall.

## Moving an obstacle

You can drag the obstacle in the 3D view to move it. To place it by measurement, right-click the column and choose **Edit position**, or open the Column / Beam tab of the Room Editing window with **Room Design › Room**. On this tab you can also add new obstacles with **+ Column** and **+ Beam**; if there are several obstacles, choose the one to edit from the list at the top.

## Automatic notching

1. Place the modules in front of the obstacle, in their normal positions.
2. Press **Room Design › Notch**. moducut finds the modules that overlap the obstacle and cuts them; the number of notched modules is reported at the bottom of the screen.
3. Check the result with **View › X-Ray** (Alt + X).

If there is no overlap, a "No overlap to notch was found" message appears. If you move the column later, the notch made for it updates on its own. Notch parts appear in the cut list and in nesting under their own category; in Nesting Settings, the Notch Parts box lets you choose whether these parts go into the layout.

## Cutting a notch by hand

If you need to notch a module without an obstacle, open the module in design mode and choose the **Notch** tool on the left rail. The Notching Operations window has the list of notches on the left, a live preview from the top and side in the middle, and the settings on the right.

- **Add Vertical Notch.** At the back-left or back-right corner, full height; you enter the width and back depth.
- **Add Horizontal Notch.** On the top-back or bottom-back edge, full width; you enter the height and back depth.
- **6-Way Notch.** Cuts a box-shaped notch by measurement from the right/left, bottom/top and back/front.

Enter the settings and press **Apply Notch**, then **Save** when done. Remove a notch in the list with **Delete**; **Clear All Notches** removes all notches on the module.

## Notching settings

On the Settings › General Settings › Notching page you decide whether notches run the full length of the beam or column, end to end, and set the PVC setting for notch parts. For PVC you can choose no banding, exposed faces, faces inside the cabinet or all faces.

> **Tip:** To see how the back panel was split after notching, turn on View › X-Ray and look at the module from behind.

## Frequently asked questions

### I moved the column; do I need to notch again?

No. If a notch was made for a column, it updates on its own when the column moves. If a new module overlaps the obstacle, press Notch again.

### How does notching appear in the cut list?

Notched parts appear in the cut list with their notched dimensions; extra parts created by notching are in the Notch Parts category.

### Can I undo notching?

Yes. Ctrl + Z undoes the last operation. You can delete notches cut by hand one by one in the Notching Operations window in design mode.