Installing Cam Lock Connectors: Step-by-Step Guide for the 15 mm Cam Hole in the 32 mm System

November 1, 2025

A cam lock connector (often referred to as a Minifix fitting) is a two-part furniture fitting consisting of a cam housing and a connecting bolt that joins engineered wood panels at a 90-degree angle securely and reversibly.

The installation of connecting fittings requires the highest precision. If carcase components are not joined precisely at right angles, this leads to uneven gaps, sticking doors, or jammed drawer runners. This guide is aimed at joiners, fitters, and skilled DIY enthusiasts who want to construct furniture carcases professionally. The principle resembles an anchor that pulls itself into the material when turned, clamping the panels together seamlessly.

Installation takes approximately five to ten minutes per joint, provided the tools are correctly adjusted. The difficulty level is medium to high, as tolerances of more than 0.5 mm inevitably result in misaligned edges.

The 32 mm System as a Foundation

In professional cabinet making, the positioning of drill holes is based on the 32 mm system. This grid dimension defines the centre-to-centre distance between holes (always 32 mm or a multiple thereof) as well as the setback of the front row of holes from the front edge of the cabinet, which is standardised at 37 mm.

When constructing a carcase designed to accommodate drawer systems or hinges later on, adhering to this grid is strictly necessary. The runners for a cabinet pull-out system are standardised to these 32 mm centres at the factory. If the carcase becomes skewed due to inaccurately placed cam connectors, the mechanical components will jam.

Required Tools and Materials

For correctly machining chipboard, MDF, or solid wood, you require specific drilling tools. Standard metal drill bits will tear out the surface coating of the boards.

Drill or powerful cordless drill driver
Forstner bit (15 mm diameter)
Lip and spur wood drill bits with centring tip (5 mm and 8 mm diameter)
Depth stop (drill stop collar) for all drill bits used
Drilling jig or dowel guide for the 32 mm system
Screwdriver (PZ or PH drive, matching the cam housing)
Rule, marking gauge, and pencil
Cam lock connectors (consisting of a 15 mm housing and matching bolt)
Optional: Wooden dowels (8 mm) to increase shear strength

Step-by-Step Guide: Installing Cam Lock Connectors

The following guide is based on the most common dimensions: a board thickness of 16 mm and a connecting bolt with a drilling distance of 34 mm. The drilling distance denotes the measurement from the panel edge to the centre of the 15 mm cam housing hole.

1. Mark Dimensions and Position the Drilling Jig

Place the two panels to be joined side by side. The first panel receives the cam housing (usually the shelf or horizontal panel), while the second panel receives the thread of the connecting bolt (usually the side panel). On the horizontal panel, mark the drilling distance of 34 mm from the end face. The lateral positioning of the connectors should be symmetrical, for instance 37 mm from the front edge and 37 mm from the rear edge, to remain compatible with the hole line grid.

2. Drill the 15 mm Cam Hole

Chuck the 15 mm Forstner bit. This blind hole will later accommodate the cam housing. With a panel thickness of 16 mm, you must not drill all the way through. The typical drilling depth for a standard cam housing is 12 mm to 12.5 mm. Fit a depth stop to the drill bit to prevent piercing the outer face. Place the centring tip exactly on the mark (34 mm from the edge) and drill perpendicularly into the material. Vacuum out the wood chips thoroughly afterwards.

3. Edge Bore for the Bolt Channel

Now, a channel must be drilled from the edge of the panel into the newly drilled cam hole. The bolt will later pass through this channel. Use the 8 mm wood drill bit. The hole must be positioned exactly in the centre of the edge of the 16 mm thick panel (i.e. at 8 mm). Drill horizontally into the edge until the drill bit visibly enters the 15 mm cam hole (drilling depth at least 34 mm). A dowel jig is indispensable here to prevent the drill bit from wandering.

4. Drill the Matching Hole for the Connecting Bolt

Now take the side panel (the vertical board). This is where the connecting bolt will be anchored. Transfer the exact position of the edge bore onto the face of this panel. Use the 5 mm wood drill bit. The drilling depth depends on the thread of the bolt, typically 11 mm or 12 mm. You must also use a depth stop collar here.

5. Insert the Components

Screw the connecting bolt into the 5 mm hole of the side panel using a cross-head screwdriver. The thread must disappear completely into the wood, leaving the threadless shank visible. Press the 15 mm cam housing into the blind hole on the horizontal panel. Pay attention to orientation: there is a small arrow or open flank on the housing. This mark must point exactly towards the 8 mm edge hole.

6. Assemble the Carcase and Lock into Place

Slide the horizontal panel with its edge up to the side panel so that the fitted bolt slides into the 8 mm channel. The head of the bolt must now be visible inside the 15 mm cam housing. Insert the screwdriver into the cam housing and turn it clockwise (usually around 180 to 210 degrees). The internal cam mechanism grips the head of the bolt and pulls both panels together under high pressure. The joint is now locked firmly in place.

Areas of Application in Professional Furniture Construction

This joining technique forms the structural backbone for almost every cabinet-style unit. When constructing a sturdy sideboard for TV or a lowboard for TV, the joints must withstand the heavy weight of equipment as well as dynamic loads when opening flaps or doors.

Cam connectors are also indispensable in large-format units, such as a wardrobe for 2 people. They allow the wardrobe to be assembled flat on the floor and then raised upright without the joints tearing out under leverage forces. To support the load capacity, additional 8 mm wooden dowels are almost always inserted alongside the cams to absorb shear forces.

These connectors are equally popular in kitchen cabinetry. A wall cabinet holding a dish drying rack for wall cabinet is subjected to constant humidity and varying weight loads from crockery. Here, the tightening torque of the cam connectors must be precise so that no moisture can penetrate the joints of melamine-faced panels. The same applies to overhead wall units fitted with a gas strut for heavy flap doors. The force in Newtons exerted by the stay on the carcase during closing requires an absolutely rigid 90-degree connection between the cabinet panels.

Another example is office furniture. In the assembly of desks featuring an integrated desk cable grommet, Minifix connectors ensure the required stability of desk side panels and modesty boards.

Common Installation Mistakes

Drill bit wandering in the edge face: If the 8 mm hole in the board edge is not drilled at an exact 90-degree angle, the drill bit will break out through the side of the panel, ruining the workpiece. Always use a drill guide.
Cam hole drilled too deep: If the 15 mm Forstner bit is used without a depth stop, the centring point can punch through the decorative finish on the visible side of the furniture. On 16 mm boards, the margin for error is only a few millimetres.
Incorrect tightening torque: If the cam housing is forced past its point of resistance, the zinc die-cast alloy of the fitting will break or the chipboard will crack. The housing should only be tightened hand-tight until distinct resistance is felt.
Missing wooden dowels: A cam lock pulls panels together, but it does not prevent lateral shifting under load. Always insert at least two additional wooden dowels per joint line.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

What board thicknesses is the 15 mm cam housing suitable for?

The standard 15 mm diameter housing is designed for panel thicknesses of 15 mm, 16 mm, 18 mm, and 19 mm. The depth of the cam hole and the position of the edge bore must be adjusted to the respective material thickness (the edge bore is always positioned precisely in the centre of the board thickness).

Can cam lock connectors be reused?

Yes. The major technical advantage of these fittings is non-destructive disassembly. By turning the housing anti-clockwise, the lock releases, allowing furniture components to be taken apart without damage and reassembled later.

Which drilling distance is correct: 24 mm or 34 mm?

This depends on the length of the connecting bolt used. Shorter bolts require a drilling distance of 24 mm (distance from the edge to the centre of the 15 mm hole). Longer bolts require 34 mm. The 34 mm dimension provides slightly higher leverage stability and is preferred for deep cabinets.

What should I do if the 5 mm hole for the thread is stripped?

If the thread of the bolt no longer grips the chipboard, a threaded insert (screw-in insert with an internal metric thread) can be fitted. To do this, the hole is drilled out to the outer diameter of the insert. An eccentric connecting bolt with a metric M6 thread is then used instead of the wood thread.