There are a few differences between the typical CNC router and the Maslow CNC. It isn’t unfair to say that the Maslow turns the CNC machine on its head, literally: The Maslow is a router that’s suspended vertically from two chains. It’s that simplicity that allows this machine to achieve a very low price, while still offering a 4-by-8-foot work area.
The Maslow CNC was designed from the ground up to be simple, large, and affordable. With an almost vertical work area, the Maslow won’t take up valuable garage or shop space. It’s an ideal entry into CNC or woodworking.
Summer 2024 means the latest Maslow 4 is finally here! According to the Kickstarter campaign, supporters should be receiving their kit any day now, and more should be coming in stock. To celebrate, let’s check out some great CNC projects to break in your new (or old) Maslow.
While some only require the kit and some wood, others require more materials and technical knowledge, but if the projects were made once, they can definitely be replicated!
Chairs & Tables
Everyone loves a bespoke table or chair. But finding that perfect piece can take years to find, let alone afford. With a Maslow CNC machine at your disposal, you can finally upgrade your Ikea dining sets.
Here are a few projects to help get the ideas flowing!
Fold Flat Chair
Folding chairs are a great way to handle unexpected guests without taking up outrageous amounts of space. This folding chair is not only practical but a great conversation starter!
The chair uses three common hinges to create the folding mechanism. This is an easy project that isn’t very time-consuming, with less than an hour of CNC cutting time. The clever nested design requires just a few tool passes to create the finished product.
You can see a few variations of the design and how it came to be on the Maslow CNC Forum.
- Designer: BarbourSmith
- Difficulty: Easy
- Where to find it: GitHub
Folding Table
This table has a unique design that allows it to neatly fold up so that you can easily carry it on the go to your next outdoor outing. It is designed with three legs to prevent rocking on uneven ground and to minimize the carrying weight.
The designer used a Maslow CNC to cut the plywood for the table and a MakerGear M2 to 3D print the shaft collar pieces in ABS. Other materials used are repurposed aluminum for struts and legs, 4-40 bolts, and clips. You can check out the process of designing this unique piece in Fusion on YouTube.
- Designer: OTandAT
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Where to find it: Thingiverse
Tree Table with Animal Chairs
This table set is straight out of The Lion King… that is, if Simba were friends with Emperor Kuzco. An animal-themed table and chairs are the perfect addition to any kids’ playroom. The table is designed after a beautiful tree, with chairs in the shapes of a lion, giraffe, ape, and llama. That’s a whole jungle (plus a llama) that can fit in a playroom!
The creation was modeled in Fusion and SketchUp, and the files are shared.
- Designer: Dag83
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Where to find it: Maslow CNC Forum
Picnic Table
A picnic table probably isn’t something you usually make on a CNC machine, but it’s totally possible thanks to the Maslow CNC’s large size!
This traditional picnic table is just as big as something you would find in the park, and it’s a pretty simple design. However, you will need some experience working with wood and the Maslow CNC.
You can also check out the designer’s video that shows how the project came along for further information.
- Designer: BarbourSmith
- Difficulty: Advanced
- Where to find it: Maslow Community Garden, GitHub
Forrest Gump Park Bench
The bench in the movie Forrest Gump is pretty iconic – and you can make one yourself if you have a Maslow CNC machine.
Whether you’re just a fan of the beloved film or if you’re in need of a bench, this model is for you! You can paint the bench for the classic look or you can add your own touch of color.
- Designer: BarbourSmith
- Difficulty: Advanced
- Where to find it: Maslow Community Garden, GitHub
Home Decor
To make your house a home, you need to go further than just furniture – you need decor. There’s no better way to decorate than by rolling up your sleeves and getting your hands dirty (or, more precisely, your CNC machine)!
Simple Nightstand
This nightstand is another great starter project because it doesn’t require much material. Plus, it’s easily customized (via post-processing, like painting) and simple to put together (the three legs are glued and screwed to the underside of the tabletop). With such quick assembly, you’ll have the perfect addition to your bedroom.
The creator also includes the Onshape model in case you want to tweak the design to your liking.
- Designers: jwolter, bar
- Difficulty: Easy
- Where to find it: Onshape, Maslow Community Garden, Maslow CNC Forum, GitHub
Mini Cube Shelf
Here’s an easy-to-assemble shelf that can be used as a bookshelf, plant display, or – as intended by the designer – a shoe rack. Once cut, this project only consists of 9 pieces that can be assembled like a big, 3D puzzle, but less complicated.
Considering the Maslow CNC has a 4-by-8-foot work area, this project can be tackled in no time. The designer suggests wearing gloves as well as avoiding nice clothes, especially when finishing with teak oil, a standard wood finish, or a paint job.
According to the designer, this cube shelf is designed to be sturdy enough to sit on. Detailed building instructions, design files in PNG format, and assembly guidelines are also provided.
- Designer: luxOthebot
- Difficulty: Easy
- Where to find it: Instructables
Knife Block
Want a helping hand to win the kitchen battles? This knife block is here to provide you with blades from his wooden armor. It not only keeps the countertop clutter-free, but it’s also a conversation starter guaranteed to break the ice.
While the original soldier’s shield can easily hold six knives of three different sizes, you can easily customize it to match your blades by tweaking the shared project files. You can even keep a sharpening steel in the soldier’s other hand and keep it in place with a strong magnet inside his helmet.
As evident by the interesting remakes of this project, it can be easily replicated on any CNC. All you need are plywood, some magnets, 6-mm dowels, wood glue, varnish, and felt pads. After cutting, all that’s left to be done is gluing and some sanding, especially around the edges.
- Designer: Christian Knuell
- Difficulty: Easy
- Where to find it: Instructables
Wooden Dish Rack
This wooden dish rack is a very functional piece of home decor. It can live next to your sink or hang on the wall for an equally appealing look. Its clean, modern style should complement most setups.
Although the construction is simple, this dish rack can hold plates, cups, and almost any other kitchen item you’d be throwing at it – er, placing on it. Drying dishes has never been this fun!
- Designer: BarbourSmith
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Where to find it: Onshape, Maslow Community Garden, GitHub
Wavy Wall Decoration
When you have a large open-wall space, it can be daunting to decide how to fill it. Why not consider a piece that wouldn’t look out of place in a modern art museum?
This large three-dimensional art piece could be the new centerpiece of any room. With 26 unique ribs, it’s a great CNC project. The creator also upped the game with cylinder lights, a toggle switch, and a transformer, so that the artwork has its own gleam.
- Designer: jfsicilia
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Where to find it: Maslow CNC Forum, Maslow Community Garden, GitHub
Unique Lawn Chair
This awesome lawn chair is a perfect addition to your lounge space! Not only is it a great conversation starter and a unique piece to make, but it can also fit two people. The design utilizes simple interlocking pieces to form the frame and wooden slats for the body.
If you want to keep this chair outside, make sure to pick a wood that’s suitable for outdoor use or to go through the necessary post-processing.
- Designer: kurt
- Difficulty: Advanced
- Where to find it: Maslow CNC Forum, Thingiverse
Garden Fence
Tired of that boring fence? This homeowner transformed their yard with a stunning custom garden fence. Forget uninspiring, repetitive designs – this fence showcases a captivating desert scene with mountains, cacti, and stones, precisely carved using a Maslow CNC. It’s also possible to tackle this project manually, although it will be more time and energy-consuming.
Basic tools such as chisels, hammers, sandpaper, circular saws, drills, and measurement tools were used for the finishing and assembly. Additionally, the fence is made of weather-treated plywood, with paint for extra protection.
The designer used GIMP for design, then Inkscape and a browser-based CAM software to prepare it for the Maslow CNC. Detailed design and assembly steps along with necessary files are shared so that you can create your own backyard oasis.
- Designer: Superbender
- Difficulty: Advanced
- Where to find it: Instructables
Fun & Games
Sometimes you do a project to fulfill a need. Other times, you do it for entertainment or to keep your significant other happy. If you love making things, why not make something fun?
These next projects are for the little kid inside all of us – in other words, the one who grew up and bought a Maslow CNC.
And while the first project is arguably more useful than fun, it has the potential to carry all your entertainment devices.
Cargo Box
It’s important to protect your cargo! Luckily, it’s never been easier to create improvised storage devices for our needs, a prime example being this cargo box. It can even work on a bike or motorcycle if you ever need more room – or if you just want to lug your Corgi around!
The designer’s included a few photos of how the model changes depending on its use, so you can pick the option that best suits your (or your pet’s) needs.
- Designer: AaronVerDow
- Difficulty: Easy
- Where to find it: Maslow Community Garden, GitHub
Minecraft Sword and Axe
Unleash your inner Minecraft warrior with these awesome Minecraft-inspired sword and axe projects! These toy replicas will bring the iconic pixelated style of the game right into your hands and are sure to turn you into a kid.
Originally created by the designer for their kids, the files are now free for everyone to enjoy and can be found at Maslow Community Garden. All you’ll need is some plywood and paint! So grab your tools, fight some mobs, and zombies, or embark on epic adventures – these replicas will add a whole new dimension to your Minecraft experience.
- Designer: madgrizzle
- Difficulty: Easy
- Where to find it: Maslow Community Garden, GitHub
Santa Sleigh
It’s never too early to start thinking about the holiday season, and making some festive creations with your machine should be on your to-do list!
This Santa Sleigh is sure to look good next to your Christmas tree or even outside in a white winter wonderland! You could go for an all-white look with gold details or add pops of color for more fun!
The designer also shared how the whole process came along, so you can get some tips for your own creations too.
- Designer: clintloggins
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Where to find it: Maslow Community Garden, GitHub
Biplane
Take off on an adventure with this DIY ride-on biplane! Originally a rocking toy, the design has been reimagined for an exciting ride-on experience. These sit-on toys are great to keep kids active and entertained as well as prepare them for the next level – riding a bike!
While the designer estimates a 1 hour 45 minute cut time and the provided G-code file is ready to use without modification, the success has yet to be confirmed by a third party so be sure to review it before cutting. Grab your tools, tweak as needed, and get ready for takeoff!
- Designer: BarbourSmith
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Where to find it: Maslow Community Garden, GitHub
Red Wagon Fighter Jet
Hold on tight, mini fighter pilots! This isn’t your average red wagon anymore – it’s a high-flying jet ready to conquer the skies (or at least the backyard).
Motivated by the desire to create an epic Halloween costume, Jakrro collaborated with user GMS10 to bring this incredible design to life. Their teamwork turned imagination into reality, crafting a one-of-a-kind project that will fuel hours of flight time and backyard adventures.
Imagine the look on your child’s face when they climb into the cockpit of this custom jet, complete with wings, a pointed nose, and maybe even some fun exhaust flames added on the back. So buckle up, the open skies await!
- Designer: Jakrro, GMS10
- Difficulty: Advanced
- Where to find it: Maslow Community Garden
Tabletop Arcade
Not everyone has room for a full-size or even cocktail arcade cabinet. Enter this tabletop arcade: The perfect solution for your nostalgic needs. Since it can be hard to fit all the internals into a tabletop arcade, you now have a great reason to use a Raspberry Pi emulator.
While it will require quite a bit of work in addition to the wood, the instructions come with a time-lapse of the project to keep you motivated!
- Designer: KingOfScolboa
- Difficulty: Advanced
- Where to find it: Maslow Community Garden, GitHub
Foosball Table
If making your own foosball table seems like an ambitious project, that’s because it is! Sure, you can easily buy a foosball table, but where’s the fun in that?
Opendesk has done a lot of the hard work to produce this great design, which comes with very thorough build instructions. The ball’s in your… half.
- Designer: Opendesk
- Difficulty: Advanced
- Where to find it: 3D Warehouse, Maslow CNC Forum
Personalized Signs
Thanks to the Maslow CNC’s large cutting area, there are a lot of opportunities to make big things, like signs! You’re not limited by what you can do in this department – you can put almost anything you want on your sign.
There are plenty of ideas online, like this one, and plenty of people have made large, personalized signs with their Maslow machines!
While this specific sign may not be one you’d go for, the designer offers a detailed tutorial so that you can learn how to design your own.
- Designer: morgenlandfahrer
- Difficulty: Advanced
- Where to find it: Instructables
License: The text of "The 20 Best Maslow CNC Projects" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.