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  • Building CNC Furniture MCM-Inspired Storage Unit

  • Building CNC Furniture MCM-Inspired Storage Unit

  • Building CNC Furniture MCM-Inspired Storage Unit

About the Course

Master Mid-Century Modern Furniture Design & CNC Fabrication | Build Your Own Storage Unit

Design and build your own sleek and functional Mid-Century Modern-inspired furniture using CNC technology. In this hands-on series, you’ll learn the essentials of digital fabrication, from designing in Autodesk Fusion to setting up and cutting precision parts on our ShopBot CNC router. Master efficient modeling techniques, learn how to create toolpaths, explore joinery techniques suited for plywood construction, and gain confidence in assembling and finishing a furniture piece that blends form and function.

You’ll learn by recreating a flexible storage unit designed by your instructor, which you can easily customize to suit your needs and taste. You will complete the course with a custom-built storage unit ready for use in your home or studio.

You’ll get the most out of this class if you have your own laptop (Mac or Windows) to complete the homework between classes.

This series includes:

  • Introduction to CAD
  • Intro to CNC and Advanced CAD
  • Finishing the Base Model
  • Manufacturing Tab and Toolpaths
  • Exporting, Customizing, and Troubleshooting
  • Individual Session: Machining Your Furniture

NextFab’s Maker Series is a two-month program that gives you up to 5 classes, unlimited shop access, and a cohort to learn alongside. Registration for this Maker Series opens May 19th at 9:00 am. To enroll, fill out the membership form here

Q. What is included in the Maker Series package?

A. Registration in a Maker Series grants you:

  • The scheduled classes and training to complete the selected project (over $600 of class instruction)
  • 2 months of active NextFab Membership, starting on the first class date (over $298 value)
  • Special member pricing to continue membership beyond the 2 months: $129/month (over 10% discount from our regular membership)
  • A cohort of peers, new skills and confidence gained, and a sense of community within the Philadelphia creative ecosystem (priceless value!)

Q: Is this Maker Series right for me? I have ZERO experience!

A: Yes! This Maker Series was developed with the true beginner in mind. In six weeks, you could go from zero experience to confidently navigating an active studio and future projects.

Not only is NextFab’s Maker Series designed to teach you how to use the most common equipment within the area of your program, but also how to think about design when creating something from scratch. Knowing how to follow a blueprint or plan is incredibly valuable, but designing your own project plans is what will differentiate you from the hobbyist who is “just winging it.”

Q: If I am a previous member of NextFab, can I join the Maker Series?

A: Absolutely! If you are a previous member and looking to complete the class project or get a major refresh of skills you haven’t used for a while, the Maker Series is a perfect way to get your feet wet again. To receive the discounted pricing for members, please register through our Q-Reserve system available on our Member Portal.

Q: I have a schedule conflict with one of the class dates. Can I make it up?

A: While we understand things can occasionally come up, please do your best to stick to the scheduled dates. Participants in the Maker Series will be charged a rate of $60 per hour for any required make-up sessions. Your instructor will work with you to arrange a make-up session based on their availability. To ensure you remain on track with the program’s objectives, please provide as much advance notice as possible if a make-up session is needed.

Q: Should I join the Maker Series or join as a regular member and take classes?

A: This depends on your goals. If you are feeling inspired and want to learn new skills but don’t have a particular project in mind, the Maker Series is perfectly suited to get your feet wet and help you find your way in the craft.

If you have a particular project in mind and want to learn all the skills needed and complete your specific project, our membership plus a credit package ($249/mo) is your golden ticket. Our regular membership ($149/month) plus our education credit package ($100/month) comes with $200 worth of class credits monthly, so you can get started taking the classes you need on your schedule. You can even book Private Training sessions with those credits if you need hands-on help completing your project.

Request a Class

Let us know your prefered dates and times, and we’ll work with you to put something on the calendar. Please note we need at least 48 hours notice to schedule classes.