The cut sheets
1 sheet. 1220 × 2440 mm, 18 mm plywood. Total cut path 25.9 m.
Machine time for the whole unit: about 1.0 h best, 1.8 h typical, 4.0 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 0.8 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 sheet about 173 min (2 h 53 min)
Cut the fit-test coupon first (slot = tab + 0.1 mm), then the sheet from the DXF (CUT layer): 26 m of path. Cut small holes and slots first, outlines last; air assist on.
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2
Remove char and sand about 45 min
Brush the char off every cut edge, then 120 and 180 grit. Ease the top edges by hand. Sand the drawer pull slot.
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3
Dry fit about 15 min
Stand SIDE-L and SIDE-R, push in the SHELF and BACK tabs, then the TOP. Check every tab is flush and the carcass is square. No glue yet.
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4
Pre-finish about 40 min
Stain or seal every face now (oil or poly). Mask the tabs and slots so the glue bonds to bare wood.
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5
Drawer box about 25 min
Glue the finger-jointed DRW-SIDE/FRONT/BACK corners, drop in DRW-BOTTOM through its side tabs, and drive the 8 corner and bottom screws (3.0 mm pilots are pre-cut). Check for square.
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6
Glue-up (Titebond III) about 25 min
Glue the SHELF and BACK into SIDE-L, add SIDE-R, then set the TOP over all four side tabs. Clamp across the width; wipe squeeze-out.
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7
Screws as clamps about 25 min
30 #8 screws in all: #8 x 1-1/2 in through the side faces into the shelf, back and top edges (hidden at the sides, heads on top get filled); #8 x 1-1/4 in for the drawer runners and face. Pilots are laser-cut.
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8
Runners and drawer face about 20 min
Screw the two RUNNERs to the inside of the sides from the outside, drop the drawer on them, then fix DRW-FACE with a 1.5 mm reveal from inside the drawer front.
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9
Optional French cleat about 20 min
For a wall-hung version: glue CLEAT-BACKER-A and -B to the rear face of BACK (before the drawer goes in), screw an aluminum Z-bar to layer B, and put the wall half into two studs. Skip for floor standing.
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10
Finish and pack about 30 min
Final coat, 24 h cure, felt dots under the 4 feet, flat-pack the drawer parts with the carcass in one box.
About 6 h 58 min for all 10 stages.
Materials and hardware
18 mm (3/4 in) sanded plywood (basic birch-faced or cabinet ply), 4 x 8 ft x 1. Thickness 18 mm. 1 sheet.
Glue: Titebond III, about 2 oz.
Finish: wipe-on poly or hardwax oil, 2 coats (about $8).
| Hardware | Qty | Each | Line |
|---|---|---|---|
| #8 x 1-1/2 in wood screws from model | 20 | $0.06 | $1.20 |
| #8 x 1-1/4 in wood screws runners and drawer face | 6 | $0.06 | $0.36 |
| #8 x 1-3/4 in wood screws cleat backer, optional | 4 | $0.08 | $0.32 |
| Aluminum Z-bar French cleat pair optional wall-mount version (seller-claimed 150 lb per pair) | 1 | $8.00 | $8.00 |
| Felt/rubber foot dots | 4 | $0.30 | $1.20 |
| Hardware total | $11.08 |
Screws counted from the model: #8 x 1-1/2 in × 20, #8 x 1-1/4 in × 6, #8 x 1-3/4 in × 4.
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 | 1.02 h | 1.79 h | 3.98 h |
| Cost per unit | $93.81 | $95.12 | $98.85 |
| Gross margin | $96.19 | $94.88 | $91.15 |
| Gross margin % | 50.6% | 49.9% | 48.0% |
| Net after fees and labor | $33.44 | $32.13 | $28.40 |
| Gross profit per machine hour | $94.30 | $53.00 | $22.90 |
| Net profit per machine hour | $32.78 | $17.95 | $7.14 |
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 | 0.81 h | 0.24 h | 0.16 h |
| Cost per unit | $98.56 | $94.00 | $93.36 |
| Gross margin | $91.44 | $96.00 | $96.64 |
| Gross margin % | 48.1% | 50.5% | 50.9% |
| Net after fees and labor | $28.69 | $33.25 | $33.89 |
| Gross profit per machine hour | $112.89 | $400.00 | $604.00 |
| Net profit per machine hour | $35.42 | $138.54 | $211.81 |
Selling price, at the typical diode time
| Low price | Mid price | High price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selling price | $120.00 | $190.00 | $280.00 |
| Cost per unit | $95.12 | $95.12 | $95.12 |
| Gross margin | $24.88 | $94.88 | $184.88 |
| Gross margin % | 20.7% | 49.9% | 66.0% |
| Net after fees and labor | -$30.87 | $32.13 | $113.13 |
| Machine hours | 1.79 h | 1.79 h | 1.79 h |
| Gross profit per machine hour | $13.90 | $53.01 | $103.28 |
| Net profit per machine hour | -$17.25 | $17.95 | $63.20 |
ESTIMATE: 1.8 h (low-speed case 4.0 h, best case 1.0 h) of machine time per unit for 26 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: Assumption: $120-$280 band for a handmade-style custom nightstand; mass-market nightstands run roughly $60-$150 [third-party estimate, unverified]
Try your own numbers
Change the sheet cost, hardware, selling price, labor rate, or machine time. Finish ($8.00) and packaging ($8.00) 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 1.75 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 | 560 | 400-800 mm |
| Depth | 400 | 340-480 mm |
| Height | 600 | 450-686 mm |
| Thickness | 18 | 17.5-19 mm |
| Slot clearance | 0.1 | 0.0-0.2 mm |
| Shelf height | 100 | 90-150 mm (robot-vacuum clearance under the shelf) |
Safety notes
- Not a tall piece: no wall anchor is required, but if the cleat version is used, both wall-half screws must land in studs.
- Drawer has no stop or soft-close: the box can pull out fully. Fit a drawer stop if used with children.
- Wall-hung load: keep contents under 10 kg. Seller-claimed cleat rating is not verified.
- Not a children's product (no CPSIA testing).
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.
- Wall-hung strength is untested (cleat rating is the seller's claim).
- Price band is my assumption (nightstand was not part of that price survey).
- Robot-vacuum clearance: 90 mm min is a typical-robot guess, check your unit.
- Parts are tuned to 18 mm ply; depth range 340-480 was build-checked only at 360/400/440 mm.
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.