This free project explains everything you need to build not only an outdoor bench but also a small side table. Right now there is a shiny sunny but cold weather outside my window but I know in just a few days pllans will get much woodworking plans maker 100 weather and outdoor activities will be here — finally! You will get step by step detailed process of this tutorial in the source linked tutorial. You can even exclude one of them from an arbor woodworking plans maker 100 swing set frame. Tip of the Day.

Our free woodworking plans come straight from the pages of Woodsmith, Shopnotes, and Workbench magazines. Looking for a strong, simple drawer joint? We show you how to make two types of locking rabbet joints. This handy dispenser keeps all your most commonly used grits of sandpaper within easy reach. A push block doesn't have to be a scrap piece, thrown away after one use. This version is designed with a comfortable, practical handle and a replaceable body.

It's difficult to combine quick and easy hardware storage with portability. These stacking hardware totes give you both. First the vendor of Sketchup, Trimble, offers the new version only on the web — which means that they can limit the access easily — in contrast to the old version that would run forever on your local computer. Secondly the ruby scripts such as the cutlist addon mentioned before no longer work in the web version.

You can still add drawings but the lack of the cutlist addon is really bad news for all woodworkers. Thirdly Sketchup is not parametric and the free version is missing some critical features such as Boolean operations that make it very hard to use it for single shape 3D printing models or any sculpting work.

The same is by the way true for Onshape. Which brings us to the next solution on the list: Fusion Fusion is perfect and comes with all the features you ever wanted. It is parametric, has an easy user interface, allows for sculpting, creates CAM paths for your CNC and can create renderings as well as technical drawing.

Now you might argue that it is pure paranoia. Why would a respected company such as Autodesk offer a solution for free, build up a community, invest in the product just to discontinue it or charge money for it? The reason is pretty simple. They are driven by shareholder value. If you feel uncomfortable with putting all your eggs in one basket given that the rent for this basket might be a few hundred bucks going forward have a look at FreeCAD.

That means you can download and modify the source code of the software. Even if the website closes down you will always be able to use the software and adopt it to your needs. FreeCAD is still under heavy development but it comes with a fully parametric design system and is able to create gcode as well as technical drawings.

While FreeCAD was at the publishing of this article a bit clumsy when it comes to multipart assemblies a lot has changed and I published a post on FreeCAD for woodworkers and a detailed instruction on multi-part assemblies.

It might be more difficult to get used to the software but for us the benefit of using an open source solution easily outweighs the more difficult learning curve. The last tool on the list is a bit of a niche solution. With OpenScad you create your model with a simple programming language. We mainly use it to create models that need complex parameters like these voronoi vent covers and to create parametric models for Thingiverse.

When we draw something we usually use Inkscape. We also use Inkscape to send designs directly to the vinyl cutter. For the laser cutter we only needs a free 2d CAD solution. When a lot of parts have to fit on a single sheet we use the open source software deepnest. When a 3D printed design such as this router jig needs to be configured with a lot of parameters we create it in OpenScad to make it easier for people to configure their own version on Thingiverse.

For creating or modifying STLs from Thingiverse or other sources Blender is the most convenient tool. It is easy to cut away part of the model, merge several models together or modify the mesh. We are not experts on the CNC and while using Fusion never managed to wrap our heads around the more complex options of adaptive paths and all the other advanced CAM features.

For us this lack of features is actually an advantage as it means we have less possibilities to mess things up. For woodworking and metalworking projects choosing the right free CAD solution is quite difficult. We did some models in Fusion and are missing the the possibility to create a cutlist. FreeCAD has some possibilities to create a bill of material — which is a very good starting point to create a cutlist in another software such as cut micro.

Arranging several parts in FreeCAD is either simple or parametric. Moving parts in FreeCAD is easy but these connections are not parametric. As soon as this feature is stable FreeCAD should be able to provide everything you need to model furniture. Till then we will have to work with assembly options rather on the level of Sketchup than what Fusion is offering. This approach is described in this article. This was a quick overview of the free CAD software we are using. Are we missing something?

What software do you use? Let us know in the comments. January 17, March 20, August 8, May 23, As woodworkers we are a small customer group. But creating a solid is really simple in FreeCAD. Just open the program, select the part workbench and click on the cube icon. Change the dimensions in the parameter panel and you are done. I have been making things as far back as I can remember.

My Family was never wealthy but we were creative and had what we needed because we could make it ourselves. Back in my renting days when I Woodworking Workbench Plans 100 moved about quite a lot, my furniture never seemed to fit right for the way I wanted to decorate. I had always thought about a cad program but never had the opportunity to work with one. I learned simple drafting by hand and didnt own a computer in those days.

Download it Here. I am also a propenent of Open Source solutions. I have recently begun learning to use FreeCad for my woodworking projects, and I appreciate the tutorials you have provided here. FreeCAD is a great solution. Very informative. Thank you for taking the time to help us new people out here.

I am wanting to design small wooden boxes for some of my electronic hobby circuit boards. So I looked into a cheap CNC machine to make wooden boxes. Really, 6 flat objects with holes in the right places to put together to make a box.

Starting the search was a bit overwhelming. Your video really shed a lot of light onto what I need. I think Inkscape might be just what I need. Any recommendations on a small CNC machine that will work well with thin wood and Inkscape? Thanks again. Have a look at my articles about the K40 laser cutter. There are some easy to use box makers that provide you with a ready to cut file: This is the box maker I use.

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