So you’ve mastered your new CNC router and the software needed to run it. You’ve created clamps, signs, and maybe a toy or two among other great things. But now it’s time to step things up and build something really stunning. Maybe even a piece of furniture!
The internet is a forest, with good furniture plans hiding among the trees. In this article, we’ll help you uncover the best sources for CNC furniture plans, from a variety of vendors and organizations.
Given the vastness of what’s out there, we chose sites that include complete plans, preferably with detailed pictures accompanying the instructions, that have designs that should be easily downloadable in STL or DXF format, and we also looked for those that include finished projects that should show off your skills. (Otherwise, why bother?) Some of the websites also include the possibility of purchasing the parts already made, in case you’re looking to get to the furniture building directly.
Our focus is on models that lie within the capabilities of a medium-size CNC router like an X-Carve or a Shapeoko, with one option specifically catering to the Maslow CNC router. This means we’ve skipped sites focused on beds and other large furniture pieces, although many of the sites listed here still offer bigger projects for you 4 x 8 folks.
Let’s get started!
AtFab
AtFAB, founded by architects Anne Filson and Gary Rohrbacher, is a manifestation of the maker movement’s spirit of self-sufficiency and technological empowerment. This platform hosts a collection of customizable furniture designs, reflecting the ethos of DIY furniture creation.
The standout feature of this set of creations is its flexibility. Users can adapt the furniture designs to their specific needs using customization applets, allowing for alterations in size and dimensions. Whether you’re a hands-on maker or prefer outsourcing production through Opendesk, AtFAB accommodates both approaches.
- Plan completeness: Excellent
- Formats: DXF
- Variety: Wide
- Quantity: 16 (main collection)
- Cost: Free
- Skill level: Moderate
Obrary
Obrary houses a small collection of free 3D models of handsome furniture and accessories. Its founders set out to create a place for supporting the community of makers, and they’ve done an excellent job curating its contents.
There are plans for 39 CNC router-created objects, about a third of which are 3D furniture models. The zip file downloads include either DXF or STL files and supporting documentation. Downloads are free, and objects are covered under a Creative Commons license that includes commercial production, if you’re so inclined.
Several of their models are quite unique. The Alex chair, for example, provides a live-hinge spring-like back and seat, adding comfort to what is, at its heart, a plywood chair. Need a beehive? They have 3D models for those too.
- Plan completeness: Very good
- Formats: DXF, STL
- Variety: Decent
- Quantity: ~40
- Cost: Free
- Skill level: Very high
Maslow Community Garden
The Maslow Community Garden serves as a collaborative hub for users of Maslow CNC machines. This community platform embodies the spirit of open-source design sharing, enabling members to collectively contribute and maintain project design files.
What sets this source apart is its decentralized approach. Linking each project to the Maslow forums and storing files in GitHub repositories fosters a sense of ownership and cooperation among users. This unique system ensures that no central organization controls design files, emphasizing community-driven development.
The website’s automatic regeneration every five minutes keeps the platform up-to-date and reflects the dynamic nature of the Maslow CNC user community. For those seeking an open, decentralized space to collaborate on CNC projects, the Maslow Community Garden is a valuable resource to explore.
- Plan completeness: Varies, but usually excellent
- Formats: DXF, SVG
- Variety: Wide
- Quantity: 40
- Cost: Free
- Skill level: Moderate
Thingiverse
What list of maker sites would be complete without Thingiverse? Although most commonly known for 3D printable objects, searching for “CNC furniture” delivered close to 100 results. The plans range from stools and chairs to corner and dining tables, and they even include a rocking horse! Some clearly show their CNC roots, although designs like the Shaker bench can easily pass as handmade.
As with all the 3D designs from Thingiverse, downloads are easy and instructions are generally pretty good. Models are covered by a Creative Commons license and commercial use is usually not allowed.
- Plan completeness: Varies, but usually excellent
- Formats: DXF, STL
- Variety: Decent
- Quantity: ~100
- Cost: Free
- Skill level: High
Instructables
Instructables is a versatile platform for sharing tutorials across various domains, with a notable focus on digital fabrication. Maintained by Autodesk, it offers a wide array of user-generated content, making it a valuable resource for DIY enthusiasts.
One particularly interesting niche in the community is CNC furniture design. Users share detailed plans and step-by-step instructions for crafting unique pieces. The variety of designs available under the “CNC furniture” search term is impressive, catering to different tastes and skill levels.
The platform’s strength lies in its community-driven nature, as users freely contribute their expertise. However, the sheer volume of content can be overwhelming, and quality may vary. Nonetheless, Instructables remains a valuable hub for those seeking hands-on guidance in various creative endeavors.
- Plan completeness: Variable
- Formats: DXF, STL, SVG
- Variety: Wide
- Quantity: 250+
- Cost: Free
- Skill level: Varies
3axis.co
3Axis.co lists hundreds of CNC furniture plans and models in a variety of downloadable formats. Models range from 2D plywood cut-and-assemble pieces (DXF format) to more elaborate carvings in STL format.
The download information is hard to find (scroll down, on the left) as the site is crowded with conflicting sponsored ads. There’s also no search function, just some limited download format filters.
The good news is that this is a treasure trove of free 3D furniture models in usable formats. Some patient paging will reward you with many good project options.
- Plan completeness: Excellent
- Formats: DXF, STL
- Variety: Very wide
- Quantity: 300+
- Cost: Free
- Skill level: High
Inventables
Inventables, producer of the X-carve CNC router, offers pages of downloadable CNC furniture plans on their website. As can be expected, all of the objects are suitable for a medium-size tabletop CNC router.
Plans come with detailed instructions, and their robust user community is ready to help with questions. The only catch is that the plan needs to be opened in Easel. This shouldn’t be a problem since Easel is available free from Inventables if you agree to share your new designs with the site.
Since we mentioned Inventables, we should also mention Carbide3D. Their Shapeoko is just as versatile as the X-carve, and it’s fully capable of making furniture. We looked through the Carbide3D retail and community sites, and while there were tons of projects, a way to select just the furniture projects eluded us. If you know a quick way to find them, please add a comment below.
- Plan completeness: Excellent
- Formats: Zipped SVG
- Variety: Decent; mainly cut and assemble plywood
- Quantity: ~20
- Cost: Up to $10
- Skill level: High
DXFdownloads
DXFdownloads offers a long list of both DXF- and STL-formatted CNC furniture plans, depending on whether you’re cutting or carving. The site offers two business models: Participate by uploading your own plan and earn points towards downloads or simply buy points and download a plan. Models range from a couple of dollars to around $20.
The site isn’t well curated, and some of the furniture appears a little rough. Regardless, browsing through the site is sure to turn up something perfect for that little corner in the bedroom.
- Plan completeness: Excellent
- Formats: DXF, STL, SVG
- Variety: Decent; mainly cut and assemble plywood
- Quantity: 150+
- Cost: Up to $20
- Skill level: Moderate
Yeggi
Yeggi is a search engine for printable models, but we used the term “CNC carved furniture” to find over 2,300 models in a variety of formats, from hundreds of vendors, while “CNC furniture” yielded a little over 1,600 designs. One especially nice link took us to a post on CGTrader, which feels and looks a lot like Etsy.
Yeggi links to both free and paid downloads, turning up a few gems we hadn’t seen elsewhere. These cabriole legs on CGTrader, for example, come as STLs, cost four bucks to download, and should do well with a mid-size router.
- Plan completeness: Variable
- Formats: DXF, STL
- Variety: Wide
- Quantity: 1,600+
- Cost: Up to $30
- Skill level: Moderate to high
Etsy
As long as you’re willing to pay for a CNC furniture plan, Etsy qualifies as a comprehensive and reliable source of downloads. Plans range from accessories and fit-together lamps to stand-alone benches, tables, chairs, and the occasional polar bear.
Files are generally available in DXF format. Most are described as laser-ready, but they’ll work perfectly well for a CNC router setup. Etsy plans tend to be a bit more pricey than some of the other sites, since most come with a guarantee and assistance from the seller. Although there’s no mention of Creative Commons licensing, vendors are accessible and often willing to work with folks who want to go commercial.
- Plan completeness: Good to excellent (plus access to the author in many cases)
- Formats: DXF, STL
- Variety: Wide
- Quantity: 3,000+
- Cost: $5-$50
- Skill level: High
Bonus: The Book
Finally, we couldn’t leave without mentioning Design for CNC: Furniture Projects. Available at Amazon, this is the first book to buy when you’re ready to design your own CNC furniture.
The authors are the founders of the previously mentioned AtFab. They offer a wealth of experience, tips, and tricks for new designers.
Readers are also invited to download sample files, complete project models, and tutorials on using common CAD tools to design their own projects. The book is worth it, even just to learn the art of placing tabs and slots in the right places with the right size.
License: The text of "CNC Furniture Plans: 10 Best Sites & Services" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.