What should I get to make furniture

Hi all,
I am interested in setting up a small workshop for producing furnitureand I need something that I can use to cut from foam to wood, plywood and plastics. I plan to do pieces like the attached picture, mainly in wood but I also want to try with plastics and other materials. I would also use it to make foam prototypes.
Not sure if I should get a laser cutter or a cnc or both? I would probably start small and then if things go well might upgrade to a higher end machine. So for now ideally I am looking for something affordable that could do the job. If anyone can give me some input or recommendations on a set up that would be great!

Many thanks,

For most people building furniture, a CNC is usually added to a full compliment of woodworking machinery.

And I've never seen anyone building furniture cutting parts with a laser.

A nice band saw and good sanding machine, + assorted power hand tools


Acoustic and Electric guitars and Basses.

I am mostly interested in organic shapes that are difficult or very time consuming to produce with other methods, something similar to this project:

Brazil by Daniel Widrig | Dezeen

and the attached picture

any thoughts on what type of cnc machine could have been used here? :)Attachment 319634

That looks like heat steam press mouldings by massive press. If it is CNC it would be huge multi axis


Acoustic and Electric guitars and Basses.

no the first project is cnc milled, and then the different parts are glued together, the second is similar but each piece is laser cut and then glued

Ok wow that's a lot of glue up nice


Acoustic and Electric guitars and Basses.

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I am mostly interested in organic shapes that are difficult or very time consuming to produce with other methods, something similar to this project:

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They're also difficult and time consuming to build with a CNC.
The ones in the link are cut on a 5 axis cnc router, which run well north of $100,000.

What's your budget for a machine?
Do you have any other tools at all?

I disagree. Both examples look to me like they were cut from sheet stock and layed up to create depth. That is simple on a large format 2.5D machine.

Search from CNC Routers, a 4' x 8' machine would be more than large enough. I can't recommend a manufacturer, but maybe someone else could chime in. You could DIY, but you would be burning time making a machine instead of making furniture...

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I disagree. Both examples look to me like they were cut from sheet stock and layed up to create depth. That is simple on a large format 2.5D machine.

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Yes, the pics here are simple flat sheets cut on a standard CNC. But if you click on the link he posted, it has a "round" chair that says it was done on a 5 axis.

From the link, 5-axis is stated. However, no where near a $100k machine. It shows about a 6" gluelam block that all the parts were made from, so a low travel Z axis (12" or less) with an A and B axis would do the job. Likely no simple "off the shelf" solution, but the Doughty Drive plan machine would be fully capable. Then, of course, the hard stuff begins... Designing the parts, and doing the 5-axis CAM. BobCAD offers a lower priced 5-axis CAM (~$5k). But now the money is the easy part, the learning curve will be the killer...

So, OP, are you wanting to do things like the images you posted (actually pretty easy) or the chair in the link (orders of magnitude more difficult)?

Many thanks for all the replies, below my answers:


What's your budget for a machine?

the budget would be between 5 - 10 k but if I can find something for less, as long as it does the job it would be great

Do you have any other tools at all?

I don’t have any tools, I am very interested in generating everything with the CNC. I have a strong background in 3d modeling but a complete newbie with cnc/fabrication, I hope the learning curve is not so steep!

are you wanting to do things like the images you posted (actually pretty easy) or the chair in the link (orders of magnitude more difficult)?

I would like to develop both types of designs, I would probably start with the simple ones similar to the picture, and progress to the more complex type as in the link once I get more experience with the cnc machines. Probably a set up I could update as I progress would be ideal but not sure if this is possible.

That 5 axis Doughty Drive plan machine is an interesting model, I believe it can also be built as a 3 axis and then upgraded, although it looks quite a complicated setup, you have an idea of what a setup like this would cost to build? Are there companies that sell them pre built or half built?

Then the 4' x 8' CNC Routers, look like a good starting option, but so many alternatives! not sure which would be the right one for me. Hope someone can give me some insights for a good buy.

Many thanks!

If you're content to make flat cutouts from sheet material and glue them up like contour relief maps, then you can probably accomplish that within your budget, especially if you're willing to do some machine-building. Go for a 4'x8' machine with a low Z axis, so you can deal with full sheets and get a good quality of cut. Getting into 3-axis 3D carving would be the next step, and 5-axis carving is the step after that (or 2 steps after, if you consider a rotary 4th axis). Don't forget to budget for a good dust-collection system; you'll need that.

And sorry, but the learning curve is VERY steep. Not to discourage you, but trying to make sure you have a clue of what lies ahead. You would do well to find a CNC mentor in your area. Ideally you could find someone with a machine that could make parts like you want. You would then be able to see what it would really take to do what you have in mind before spending too much. Your budget "could be enough", but you will need to be VERY efficient in your purchases. No one will be able to spoon feed you the answers, you will need to determine for yourself what will work best. Best of luck, and I hope to see some posts of your new furniture in a year or two!

As great as cnc machines are, I can't imagine you won't still need an assortment of power and hand tools, drop saw, rip saw, sanders, etc.

Doing melamine is one thing, but I generally find machining wood can require a little or a lot of attention with an array of suitable tools depending on the design and materials used.

cheers, Ian

as the photo you attched. a 5axis machine would do the job.
but it is not cheap for the machine.
if this is your first cnc machine.
i don't recommend you to buy such machine.

Jack