How this box generator works
- Measure the inside. Give the length, width and height of the space you need. The generator adds wall thickness in every direction — you never subtract it yourself.
- Pick your material. Thickness drives the finger size and the panel offsets. Kerf is compensation for the material your laser burns away.
- Cut or print. Laser/CNC mode lays out five flat panels with interlocking finger joints. 3D print mode builds a watertight hollow box plus an optional lid.
Finger joints, dimensions and kerf
A finger joint (also called a comb or box joint) alternates tabs and notches along a shared edge. One panel's tab fills the other panel's notch, so the joint resists pulling apart without glue or fasteners. On a laser-cut box the pattern is cut straight through the material, which means the panel thickness is the joint depth.
| Material | Typical kerf | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 3 mm plywood | 0.10 – 0.20 mm | Most common for small boxes. Run a test cut; plywood varies by batch. |
| 3 mm acrylic | 0.05 – 0.12 mm | Cleaner edges than plywood, but more brittle at narrow fingers. |
| 5 mm acrylic | 0.08 – 0.15 mm | Fingers get chunky; keep boxes above roughly 40 mm per side. |
| 6 mm MDF | 0.15 – 0.25 mm | Dusty and slightly compressible. A tighter fit usually still works. |
The generator uses an odd number of fingers per edge so the pattern is symmetric. Tabs are cut slightly under nominal depth and notches slightly over, which is where the kerf value is applied.
Frequently asked questions
Are the dimensions inner or outer?
Inner. The value you type is the usable space inside the finished box. The outer size is the inner size plus two material thicknesses on each horizontal axis, and one thickness on the height because the bottom panel sits under the walls.
Can I edit the panels in my laser software?
Yes. Both SVG and DXF contain one closed polyline per panel, at real-world scale in millimetres. Import, arrange them on your sheet, and cut.
Does the lid fit?
An inset lid is cut to the internal footprint, so it drops into the top opening. A flat lid is cut to the outer footprint and rests on the rim. Neither is hinged.
Is anything uploaded?
No. All geometry is generated in your browser. The page makes no network requests after it loads.
Can I use the STL for a box with finger joints?
No — the STL mode is a solid hollow box intended for FDM printing, not a flat-pack joint. Use laser/CNC mode for finger joints.
Other box generators
- Laser cut box generator — kerf measurement, material notes and how to import the cut file.
- 3D printed box generator — wall thickness, print orientation and lid fit for FDM.
- Box generator with dimensions — inner versus outer dimensions, with worked examples.