If you’re lucky enough to have a CNC machine at home, the world’s your oyster when it comes to making useful items in a pinch. CNC, which stands for “computer numerical control,” refers to a machine that moves automatically based on pre-programmed instructions from a computer. Basically, they’re a DIY enthusiast’s dream tool.
If you enjoy IKEA but hate the crowds, this list is for you! It includes a variety of useful CNC files that will help you make everything from organizers for cleaning up messy workspaces to combs for bad hair days.
These handy CNC jobs can save you time and money with little to no effort, depending on your experience level. All of the designs on our list are free and come packed with functions. Now, without further ado, let’s get started!
Desktop Organizer
If you have some sample pieces of 3-mm plywood and want to turn it into something you can use and be proud of, check out this project. This is where grumpy_scrambler‘s design comes into play. This maker went out of their way to create a lovely desktop organizer that can be cut from some basic sample wood.
Judging by the photos, they used 3-mm birch wood and a nice oil stain. With the different mounting options and “bending” of the wood, this is a great way to make a lasting impression while also having some fun during the making process.
- Who designed it? grumpy_scrambler
- How makeable/popular is it? This organizer has over 500 views and 9 downloads!
- Where to find it? Cults
Adhesive Tape Dispensor
Who doesn’t love to cut and assemble something that they will end up using in their daily life? It’s really the ultimate sign that you have a CNC machine. When assembling this, you can appreciate the amount of design work that goes into something that looks so simple. The creator opted for 4-mm plywood for this build, with 10 cm length, 7 cm height, and 4 cm width.
You could choose to paint this, but we really like the aesthetic the raw material provides. This project makes us wonder what other office supplies we can make as an excuse to burn and cut stuff.
Reusable Filament Spool
When it comes to saving the planet, we can all do our part. With this reusable spool design, we can easily see how the creator saw a problem with how many spools were being thrown away and wanted to help make a difference.
Something that goes hand-in-hand with this project is that there are now options to buy filament without a spool. We love seeing CNC milling and 3D printing taking steps to become more eco-friendly. If more companies could see the benefit of selling spool-less filaments, it would really cut down on the amount of plastic being thrown away.
- Who designed it? ProtoParadigm
- How makeable/popular is it? We’re happy to see that eight people were ready to download this file and help cut down on plastic waste.
- Where to find it? Cults
Book Stand
When you see a simple design like this, you may think to yourself, “I could have made that!” Well, you didn’t. But Fujisama did! The beauty of this design is that it’s simple to cut and make, yet it can add striking visual appeal to your living space. You can use it to hold books or display photos.
This maker has provided the FreeCAD file with instructions on how to make sure your STL file comes out perfectly. While you are there, you can add a nice design of your choice to really make this project your own.
- Who designed it? Fujisama
- How makeable/popular is it? With only seven downloads, we hope that this cool model will enjoy a new wave of popularity.
- Where to find it? Printables
Calipers
How cool is it that we can now cut our own tools? Gone are the days of breaking a tool and having to wait for the replacement or making last-minute trips to the store. We understand that you may already have a caliper on hand, but this doesn’t mean that all your friends and family also have one!
The creator of this design has gone out of their way to try and make it as easy as possible for the person cutting it. One way they do this is by making it a single file so you can cut all the parts from one piece of material. You have the freedom to separate the cutting and marking points if you would like. The creator also provides detailed information to help you during the making process.
- Who designed it? ShayWalters
- How makeable/popular is it? With 70 likes and 2 remixes, we can see others are enjoying these calipers as much as we are.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Wide Tooth Comb
How often do you get to mix CNC with your personal grooming routine? Hopefully not that often. Yet, here you are. Staring at the comb you just cut from wood. It has got to be a point of pride every time you use this beautiful creation, just knowing you made it yourself.
If you comb over the notes provided by the creator, you can see this is a perfect project for the desktop CNC because it doesn’t require much space. If you have some scrap material on your hands and don’t know what to do with it, this comb is the perfect project.
- Who designed it? ZenziWerken
- How makeable/popular is it? With four makes and one remix, it’s clear that people don’t like having messy hair.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Measuring Device for Screws
We have all been there, wondering where that little screw goes. No more! If you have a CNC and a screw in your shop with an unknown value, this project will ensure that you never have to deal with that again. Considering it’s such a simple design, it’s funny that more people don’t already have this.
By using the holes that you cut out, you can find the width of the bolt in millimeters, represented with a capital M. Then, you just move it over the right side of the board to find its length. And just like that, you will know if you are actually holding an M5 x 20. After cutting, make sure to compare the accuracy of this project to confirm it’s dialed in properly. We’d hate to see you running around with a screw loose.
The sizing range for this is anywhere between M3 and M12, continuing on to cover lengths from 5 mm to 110 mm. It’s easy to print a few of them and leave one in the shop, house, and your vehicle. Now, if only there was something on this list to help us figure out where to store all these screws. Ah, yes! That leads us to our next project.
- Who designed it? rrene
- How makeable/popular is it? Let’s be real, you often don’t know you need this device until you need it. So far, it has two makes.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Customizable Parts Box
Holy customization, batman! We all can appreciate a tidy workspace. If you are noticing a lot of clutter in your work area, why not put your CNC machine to work? We can easily see the reason why this customizable organizer is so popular.
The provided Adobe Illustrator file has all of the options you may need. This includes all of the sizes, joints, stoppers, and even label holders ready to slice. With some stain or paint, you can really bring out the beauty of this project by customizing it to match the aesthetic of any room.
- Who designed it? Mutsuki
- How makeable/popular is it? Now we’re talking! The 1,620 likes, 6 makes, and 5 remixes show that the one thing we can all appreciate is organization.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Stead-i-Cam
We love innovation. However, it doesn’t always come easy. When you look at this camera stabilizer, you can see that it’s not going to be a quick project. It will take some time and dedication. Not to mention, the necessary materials range from common items like bearings to more unusual things like bicycle handles.
However, the creator provides detailed instructions and a video showing how to assemble your new rig. One thing that would be useful is a new version since this one is from 2012, believe it or not. We would be willing to bet that there are more ways to take this project to the next level.
- Who designed it? frits297
- How makeable/popular is it? With over 3,00 downloads, it’s clear others appreciate smooth video. We’re here for a less shaky tomorrow.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Travel Bedside Phone Holder
One of the first things we noticed when looking at this project was that it wastes very little material. Some cuts can leave a lot of small scraps that people aren’t sure what to do with and often end up tossing. This phone stand is significantly shaved down to reduce waste.
Since most small CNC machines should be able to tackle this stand, it will probably be fairly easy for beginners. It doesn’t use any glue or extra parts for assembly. There are also no metal parts, making it a good travel companion.
- Who designed it? ZenziWerken
- How makeable/popular is it? There are 230 likes, 2 makes, and 2 remixes, and we can understand why. After all, everyone has a phone!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
License: The text of "The 10 Most Useful CNC Files" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.