An open-source CNC plywood chair that turns a downloadable cut file, one sheet of material and basic fasteners into full-size furniture.
Compare the documented build with the purchase reference.
Check the source for the exact model, availability and what is included.
Check comparison evidence →Allowance for one full plywood sheet, fasteners, finishing and modest CNC access. A commercial CNC service can cost more than the material itself.
Includes: 1200×2400×19 mm sheet; About 30 fasteners; Basic finish; Low/modest CNC access allowance.
Not included: CNC machine ownership; High commercial cutting fees; Delivery of full-size sheet.
Build evidence recorded 4 Sep 2026. Currency conversions are approximate.
Material and CNC access are the meaningful costs here. A generic retail chair is not a matched alternative to an open CNC furniture design, so CAIBI does not claim a saving.
| No. | Source specification |
|---|---|
| 01 | One sheet of 4×8 ft × 3/4 in (approximately 1200×2400×19 mm) sheet material for the chair and test pieces |
| 02 | Approximately 30 fasteners |
| 03 | Optional finish such as paint |
Start from the creators’ current AtFAB collection and keep the original 3D, test and cut files together so later edits can be checked against the source geometry.
AI + YOUDo not assume nominal 19 mm or 3/4 inch material is exactly that thickness. Measure the real sheet in several places because the slot-and-tab fit depends directly on stock thickness.
YOUThe documented workflow calculates a scaling percentage from actual versus nominal thickness. AI can check the arithmetic and explain the geometry, but the measured value must come from the real material.
AI + YOUAssign the correct profiles/holes, tool diameters and cut order, then machine the provided test geometry before committing the full sheet.
AI + YOUUse the physical test piece to judge slot fit, material variation and machine accuracy. Adjust the file/CAM setup if needed rather than forcing a poor joint or assuming the CAD is wrong.
YOUSecure the sheet correctly, confirm clearances and run the validated CNC job. Machine supervision, dust control and safe workholding remain human responsibilities.
YOURemove tabs, sand edges and apply any desired finish before final assembly where that finish would otherwise be difficult to reach.
YOUDry-fit the chair, predrill and add the fasteners following the source sequence. Check every joint and the assembled chair for movement, damage or poor fit before treating it as usable furniture.
YOUUse the AtFAB 5-30 Minute Chair prompt. Compare what different models deliver, then add what happened when you tried it.
No reviewed results yet for AtFAB 5-30 Minute Chair. Add the first result →
The prompts below are CAIBI helpers for this build. They are not presented as instructions from the creator.
Each prompt tells AI to keep the original project source as the reference and to flag anything you must verify on the real build.
Use the published files and instructions as the baseline.
OUTSOURCE A PROCESSGet specialist fabrication doneYou do not necessarily need to own every capability used here: Large-format CNC router, CAD/CAM software, Drill and bits, 1/4 inch end mill, 1/8 inch end mill, Measuring tools, Sanding and finishing tools.
Current Filson & Rohrbacher primary source providing the open-source file package for the 5-30 Minute Chair and the wider AtFAB collection.
DOCSDesign for CNC: 5-30 Minute ChairAuthor-led fabrication chapter covering the design files, sheet requirement, test piece, scaling, CAM/toolpaths, cutting, fit evaluation and assembly.
COMMUNITYV1 Engineering maker buildIndependent first-hand LowRider CNC build using inexpensive plywood; the maker reports the chair was easy to make, comfortable and sturdy.
COMMUNITY100kGarages AtFAB buildsIndependent record of multiple physical 5-30 Minute Chair builds and modifications by students and fabrication shops.
COMMUNITYMaslow CNC AtFAB file discussionIndependent user report showing that editing/manipulating the AtFAB vector files can be awkward in some modern CAD workflows, a useful counterweight to the simple download-and-cut success cases.
The current Filson & Rohrbacher AtFAB page continues to offer the 5-30 Minute Chair open-source file package. The authors’ Design for CNC chapter gives a detailed fabrication route, and independent maker records show successful physical builds and custom variants. CAIBI has not personally CNC-cut this chair, so exact machine time and fit remain workshop-dependent.
Open source ↗This is a clean CAIBI example of digital design becoming useful conventional furniture. AI can help interpret the files, explain CNC joinery, calculate material-thickness scaling, plan CAM and explore cosmetic or dimensional changes. The value is in learning digital fabrication and adapting an open design, not in assuming a chair is automatically cheaper because the files are free.
Evidence: Strong
Actual time, cost, changes and outcomes appear here after submitted builds are reviewed.
Be the first builder to report ↓What happened when you actually tried to make it.