The cut sheets
1 sheet. 1220 × 2440 mm, 18 mm plywood. Total cut path 32.3 m.
Machine time for the whole unit: about 1.2 h best, 2.2 h typical, 4.9 h slow. Based on reported 120 W-class diode speeds, multiple passes at 18 mm. One timed scrap cut will replace this.
A commercial CO2 flatbed is about 1.0 h in the sourced case. That number is an assumption, not a cut on this machine.
Sheet 1 carries a fit-test coupon: cut it first and try the tab in the slot before you cut the rest. Hover or tap a part below to light it in the model.
Build stages
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1
Cut the sheets about 216 min (3 h 36 min)
Load sheet 1 on the honeycomb bed, run the fit-test coupon first (slot = tab + 0.1 mm), then cut sheet 1 and sheet 2 from the DXFs (CUT layer). 1 sheet(s), 32 m of cut path; keep the air assist on and the cut order inside-out (holes and slots first).
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2
Remove char and sand about 60 min (1 h)
Pop parts out, brush the char from the cut edges, 120 then 180 grit on faces and edges; ease the top and shelf corners. Wipe with a damp rag.
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3
Dry fit about 15 min
Stand SIDE-L and SIDE-R, push BOTTOM and MID into their slots, then TOP, then the two rails. Check square, check each tab ends flush with the outside face. No glue yet.
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4
Finish the loose parts first about 45 min
Seal / oil all 3 ADJ-SHELF boards and the inside faces before glue-up (glue will not stick over finish, so mask the tabs and slots).
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5
Glue-up (Titebond III) about 30 min
Lay SIDE-L flat. Glue and tap in BOTTOM, MID, the 1 divider(s), RAIL-BOT and RAIL-TOP, then fit SIDE-R and clamp. Last: seat TOP on all tabs. Wipe squeeze-out at once. Work time about 10 minutes, so do it in two halves if alone.
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6
Screw-clamp the joints about 15 min
6 #8 screws (3.0 mm pilots are already cut): #8 x 1-1/2 in through each side face into the BOTTOM and MID edges, and down through the TOP into the side edges; countersink and plug the 4 top screws. Square the case while the glue sets.
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7
Cleat and anti-tip anchor about 25 min
Screw the unit half of an aluminum Z-bar (1 in) across the rear face of RAIL-TOP (it sits in the 20 mm rear recess). Mount the wall half level into studs. ALWAYS also fit an anti-tip strap: screw it through one of the two 6 mm holes in RAIL-TOP into a stud. Required on every unit above 900 mm tall.
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8
Finish about 40 min
Two coats of water-based poly or hardwax oil, 180-grit between coats; 24 h to cure before packing.
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9
Shelf pins, test, pack about 25 min
Press in the shelf pins (rows at [928.0, 1152.0, 1376.0] mm above the floor; 23 pin rows available at 32 mm pitch), load-test with 20 kg per shelf, then flat-pack: 1 sheets of parts in one 1.3 x 0.4 x 0.25 m box with corner guards.
About 7 h 51 min for all 9 stages.
Materials and hardware
18 mm (3/4 in) birch or Baltic-birch plywood, 4 x 8 ft (1220 x 2440 mm) x 1. Thickness 18 mm. 1 sheet.
Glue: Titebond III, about 4 oz.
Finish: water-based poly or hardwax oil, 2 coats (about $12).
| Hardware | Qty | Each | Line |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelf pins, 5 mm, steel/brass (pack of 24) 4 per adjustable shelf | 1 | $5.00 | $5.00 |
| #8 x 1-1/2 in wood screws counts from the model; 3.0 mm pilots cut in the parts | 6 | $0.06 | $0.36 |
| Aluminum Z-bar French cleat, 24-36 in pair optional wall-hang; laser cannot cut the 45 deg bevel | 1 | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Anti-tip furniture strap kit (ASTM F3096 style) mandatory on tall units | 1 | $6.00 | $6.00 |
| Wood plugs / filler for top screws | 1 | $2.00 | $2.00 |
| Felt/rubber foot pads under the 4 feet | 4 | $0.40 | $1.60 |
| Hardware total | $26.96 |
Screws counted from the model: #8 x 1-1/2 in × 6.
Profit estimate
Estimates and assumptions. Every dollar figure on this page is a planning estimate, not a quote and not a promise. Sheet price, hardware, fees, labor, and machine wear are assumptions. Machine time is based on reported 120 W-class diode speeds, multiple passes at 18 mm. One timed scrap cut will replace this.
Diode machine time
These three columns are the same unit at the mid selling price. Best, typical, and slow are the diode estimates. Based on reported 120 W-class diode speeds, multiple passes at 18 mm. One timed scrap cut will replace this.
| Best | Typical | Slow | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Machine time | 1.22 h | 2.18 h | 4.91 h |
| Cost per unit | $146.03 | $147.67 | $152.31 |
| Gross margin | $168.97 | $167.33 | $162.69 |
| Gross margin % | 53.6% | 53.1% | 51.6% |
| Net after fees and labor | $79.97 | $78.33 | $73.69 |
| Gross profit per machine hour | $138.50 | $76.76 | $33.14 |
| Net profit per machine hour | $65.55 | $35.93 | $15.01 |
Commercial laser (assumptions)
These columns are assumptions, not a cut on this machine. ASSUMPTION. Sourced case: 300-600 W CO2 flatbed, single pass at ~600 mm/min (vendor 480-720), 60 m/min rapids, 5 min/sheet, $8/h operating cost. What-if cases: a machine 10x / 20x faster than the diode mid cut+travel time (not sourced for 18 mm ply).
| Commercial CO2 (assumption) | What-if 10× (assumption) | What-if 20× (assumption) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Machine time | 0.99 h | 0.28 h | 0.18 h |
| Cost per unit | $151.88 | $146.20 | $145.40 |
| Gross margin | $163.12 | $168.80 | $169.60 |
| Gross margin % | 51.8% | 53.6% | 53.8% |
| Net after fees and labor | $74.12 | $79.80 | $80.60 |
| Gross profit per machine hour | $164.77 | $602.86 | $942.22 |
| Net profit per machine hour | $74.87 | $285.00 | $447.78 |
Selling price, at the typical diode time
| Low price | Mid price | High price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selling price | $180.00 | $315.00 | $450.00 |
| Cost per unit | $147.67 | $147.67 | $147.67 |
| Gross margin | $32.33 | $167.33 | $302.33 |
| Gross margin % | 18.0% | 53.1% | 67.2% |
| Net after fees and labor | -$43.17 | $78.33 | $199.83 |
| Machine hours | 2.18 h | 2.18 h | 2.18 h |
| Gross profit per machine hour | $14.83 | $76.76 | $138.68 |
| Net profit per machine hour | -$19.80 | $35.93 | $91.67 |
ESTIMATE: 2.2 h (low-speed case 4.9 h, best case 1.2 h) of machine time per unit for 32 m of cut path in 1 sheet(s) on a 120 W diode, 18 mm plywood. Machine time, not material, is still the limit on profit per hour, but a single test cut on scrap will replace this range with a real number.
All dollar figures are planning ESTIMATES / ASSUMPTIONS, not quotes, not guaranteed. Sheet prices: 4x8 ft 18 mm birch plywood $70-110, basic plywood $55-75 (assumption). Machine time uses a sourced RANGE for a 120 W diode on 18 mm ply (low 120 / typical 300 / high 600 mm/min effective, i.e. after multiple passes; taken from reported speeds for a 120 W-class diode); ACMER publishes no 18 mm ply feed rate, so none of it is measured on this machine. Machine wear/electricity $1.70 per machine-hour (assumption). Labor valued at $25/h for the "after labor" line only. Marketplace fees 10% (assumption, e.g. Etsy-style).
Where the price band came from: custom plywood bookcase target $180-$450 (estimate); Etsy plywood bookcases $135-$330; Amazon cube shelf ~$42 [third-party estimates]
Try your own numbers
Change the sheet cost, hardware, selling price, labor rate, or machine time. Finish ($12.00) and packaging ($15.00) stay put. Machine wear follows the machine-time choice: $1.70 per hour on the diode estimates, $8.00 per hour on the commercial assumptions. Fees stay at 10% of the selling price. Labor uses the planned 2.3 h at the rate you type.
Still an estimate. Based on reported 120 W-class diode speeds, multiple passes at 18 mm. One timed scrap cut will replace this. The commercial rows are assumptions, not a cut on this machine.
Parameters
These are the knobs for a custom order. The model on this page uses the defaults. Stay inside the limits.
| Parameter | Default | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 800 | 400-1000 mm |
| Height | 1600 | 600-2000 mm |
| Depth | 300 | 220-450 mm (>= 0.15 x height) |
| Thickness | 18 | 17.5-19 mm |
| Slot clearance | 0.1 | 0.0-0.2 mm |
| Plinth height | 100 | 90-150 mm (0 = floor standing) |
| Mid shelf height | 700 | bottom bay >=250, top bay >=250 mm |
| Adjustable shelves | 3 | 0-8 |
| Dividers | 1 | 0-3 |
| Pin hole | 5 | 5.0 or 6.0 mm |
| Pin pitch | 32 | 25-50 mm |
Safety notes
- Anchor to a wall stud with an anti-tip strap on every unit (ASTM F3096 style); mandatory above 900 mm.
- Not a clothing-storage unit (STURDY Act applies to dressers >= 27 in); not a children's product (no CPSIA testing).
- Rated target 20 kg per 800 mm shelf (UNVERIFIED - load test one shelf to 40 kg before selling).
- Keep depth >= 0.15 x height; heavy items low.
Unverified / to test
- Machine time is an estimate (120 W diode on 18 mm ply, sourced range, not measured on this machine); cut time and profit/hour depend on it.
- Shelf load rating and deflection not tested (18 mm ply, 800 mm span).
- Pin-hole size depends on the pin you buy.
- Optional 1/4 in back panel not modeled or nested; rails give racking strength only with glue.
- Price band is an estimate from a survey of similar pieces for sale.
Downloads
Meadowlark Models. Numbers on this page are estimates. Machine time is based on reported 120 W-class diode speeds. One timed scrap cut will replace it.