Project · Sanga

Plywood stool from nine CNC-milled parts

A stool that looks like a simple box is built from nine CNC-milled parts of 12 mm birch plywood, each with its own job. The seat locks the ribs in position. Four slotted ribs cross each other and carry the load. Four side panels close the box and keep it rigid. The finished size is 300 × 300 × 450 mm.

Assembled birch plywood stool, 3D render. — The assembled stool. 3D render from the CAD model.

Exploded view of a plywood stool: one seat, four slotted ribs and four side panels. — Exploded view: one seat, four slotted ribs, four side panels. 3D render from the CAD model.

By the CAD model, the plywood volume is 8,544 cm³, which is 21% of the volume of a solid 300 × 300 × 450 mm block. The calculated mass is about 5.8 kg, assuming a plywood density of 680 kg/m³; the stool was not weighed. We have not calculated sheet nesting for this design, so the 21% is not a sheet-yield figure.

Outline drawing of a 300 × 300 × 450 mm plywood stool. — Outline drawing, 300 × 300 × 450 mm.

The nine parts

Part	Qty	Size, mm	Role
Seat	1	300 × 300 × 12	Locks the ribs
Slotted rib	4	300 × 12 × 447	Crossing ribs carry the load
Side panel	4	230 × 12 × 447	Closes the box, keeps it rigid

Cutlab made these stools, and they stand in Sanga. Have a drawing, a model or only a sketch? Send it, and we will tell you which parts can be cut as flat plywood pieces and how they fit together. Quote usually within one working day.

Send a drawing, model or sketch

More on the process: CNC cutting and milling, file preparation guide, CNC file formats explained.