The cut sheets
1 sheet. 1220 × 2440 mm, 18 mm plywood. Total cut path 39.2 m.
Machine time for the whole unit: about 1.4 h best, 2.5 h typical, 5.8 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 1.2 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 261 min (4 h 21 min)
Fit-test coupon first (slot = tab + 0.1 mm), then cut 1 sheet(s): 39 m of cut path. The 1200 x 600 TOP is the biggest part; keep it flat on the honeycomb and cut inside-out.
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2
Remove char and sand about 70 min (1 h 10 min)
Brush char off every edge, 120 then 180 grit; round the desktop edge by hand (about 3 mm). Sand the side-panel windows.
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3
Dry fit the frame about 20 min
Stand SIDE-L and SIDE-R, slide the BACK-STRETCHER into both, add the DRAWER-DIVIDER and FRONT-APRON, then drop the TOP over all the tabs. Check the tab ends are flush with the desktop and the legs stand square.
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4
Dry fit drawer about 20 min
Assemble the drawer (finger corners, bottom with 4 tabs, face) and slide it on the two LEDGERs; it should run freely with 1.5 mm side play. Sand the finger pull slots.
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5
Pre-finish about 50 min
Oil or poly the desktop top, the drawer, and the inside faces now; mask the tabs and slots so the glue bonds.
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6
Glue-up frame (Titebond III) about 35 min
Glue the stretcher, apron, divider and ledgers into SIDE-L/R and the divider, then fit the TOP onto the tabs and clamp across the width. Wipe squeeze-out; 30 min clamp, 24 h before heavy use.
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7
Screws as clamps about 25 min
10 #8 x 1-1/2 in and 2 #8 x 1-1/4 in screws (3.0 mm pilots pre-cut): through each side face into the back stretcher edge; the drawer corners, bottom and face as the nightstand drawer.
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8
Monitor shelf and cable slot about 15 min
Glue MON-UP-L/R into their top slots (they stand on the desktop and their tabs come through underneath), then the MON-SHELF onto their upper tabs. Edge-band or sand the cable slot.
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9
Wall stabilizer / cleat (optional) about 15 min
Screw a Z-bar half to the rear face of the BACK-STRETCHER and the other half into studs to stop the desk creeping or wobbling. It is a stabilizer, not a floating-desk mount.
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10
Finish and pack about 40 min
Last coat, 24 h cure, felt pads under the 4 feet, load-test 60 kg on the desktop centre, flat-pack with corner guards (parts up to 1.2 m).
About 9 h 11 min for all 10 stages.
Materials and hardware
18 mm (3/4 in) birch or Baltic-birch plywood, 4 x 8 ft x 1 (hardwood-ply top is a CNC upgrade). Thickness 18 mm. 1 sheet.
Glue: Titebond III, about 5 oz.
Finish: hardwax oil or water-based poly, 3 coats on the top (about $15).
| Hardware | Qty | Each | Line |
|---|---|---|---|
| #8 x 1-1/2 in wood screws from model | 10 | $0.06 | $0.60 |
| #8 x 1-1/4 in wood screws | 2 | $0.06 | $0.12 |
| Aluminum Z-bar pair (wall stabilizer) optional | 1 | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Felt/rubber foot pads | 4 | $0.40 | $1.60 |
| Cable grommet (optional) 60 mm plastic | 1 | $3.00 | $3.00 |
| Wood plugs / filler | 1 | $2.00 | $2.00 |
| Hardware total | $19.32 |
Screws counted from the model: #8 x 1-1/2 in × 10, #8 x 1-1/4 in × 2.
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 | 1.4 h | 2.55 h | 5.85 h |
| Cost per unit | $144.70 | $146.66 | $152.26 |
| Gross margin | $280.30 | $278.35 | $272.74 |
| Gross margin % | 66.0% | 65.5% | 64.2% |
| Net after fees and labor | $167.80 | $165.85 | $160.24 |
| Gross profit per machine hour | $200.21 | $109.15 | $46.62 |
| Net profit per machine hour | $119.86 | $65.04 | $27.39 |
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 | 1.18 h | 0.31 h | 0.2 h |
| Cost per unit | $151.76 | $144.80 | $143.92 |
| Gross margin | $273.24 | $280.20 | $281.08 |
| Gross margin % | 64.3% | 65.9% | 66.1% |
| Net after fees and labor | $160.74 | $167.70 | $168.58 |
| Gross profit per machine hour | $231.56 | $903.87 | $1,405.40 |
| Net profit per machine hour | $136.22 | $540.97 | $842.90 |
Selling price, at the typical diode time
| Low price | Mid price | High price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selling price | $250.00 | $425.00 | $600.00 |
| Cost per unit | $146.66 | $146.66 | $146.66 |
| Gross margin | $103.34 | $278.34 | $453.34 |
| Gross margin % | 41.3% | 65.5% | 75.6% |
| Net after fees and labor | $8.34 | $165.84 | $323.34 |
| Machine hours | 2.55 h | 2.55 h | 2.55 h |
| Gross profit per machine hour | $40.53 | $109.15 | $177.78 |
| Net profit per machine hour | $3.27 | $65.04 | $126.80 |
ESTIMATE: 2.5 h (low-speed case 5.8 h, best case 1.4 h) of machine time per unit for 39 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 target $250-$600 (estimate); small computer desks widely sold ~$100-$400 [third-party estimates]
Try your own numbers
Change the sheet cost, hardware, selling price, labor rate, or machine time. Finish ($15.00) and packaging ($18.00) 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 2.8 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 | 1200 | 900-1600 mm (2nd divider/leg panel over 1400) |
| Depth | 600 | 450-800 mm |
| Height | 740 | 650-1050 mm |
| Thickness | 18 | 17.5-19 mm |
| Slot clearance | 0.1 | 0.0-0.2 mm |
| Plinth height | 100 | 90-150 mm |
| Drawer | 1 | 0 or 1 |
| Drawer width | 420 | 300-520 mm |
| Drawer length | 420 | 300-480 mm (must fit the depth) |
| Monitor shelf | 1 | 0 or 1 |
| Cable slot | 1 | 0 or 1 |
Safety notes
- Rated target 60 kg distributed on the desktop - UNVERIFIED; sag-test a 1200 mm top with 20 kg at the centre.
- Top is held only by through-tabs and glue: let the glue cure 24 h before loading.
- Stand-height (1000 mm) builds are less stable: fit the wall stabilizer and widen the stance (depth >= 650).
- Not a children's product.
Unverified / to test
- Desktop deflection with 18 mm ply over 1200 mm not tested; rear stretcher and divider are the only stiffeners.
- 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.
- Visible tab ends on the desktop surface (sand flush / cover with a desk mat or veneer).
- Drawer slides on plywood ledgers (no hardware slides).
- 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.