With Christmas just around the corner, gift ideas are on everyone’s minds. If you’re a machinist or woodworker, CNC projects might be the perfect solution for your holiday gift-giving dilemma. We’ve compiled a curated list of simple yet meaningful CNC Christmas projects that will impress those you care about with your thoughtfulness.
Whether you’re working with a desktop CNC mill, CNC plasma cutter, CNC laser cutter, CNC router, or 3D printer, these DIY projects will make this Christmas one to remember. You too can create unique and personalized gifts with the help of your home CNC machine!
What materials and tools will I need?
Because you could make everything from Christmas tree decorations to a Christmas wreath for the front door, we recommend choosing your projects before compiling a supply list. Part of the fun is not only choosing the design, but also deciding which materials you’ll use – wood, metal, plastics, acrylics, and glass are all possibilities. You will also need cutting tools, such as a 1/8″ down-cut endmill, a 1/4″ down-cut endmill, and a 60-degree V-bit cutter.
Five DIY Wooden Christmas Projects for Your CNC Router
Here are five woodworking Christmas projects designed for a CNC router. Each project has a file (.SVG, JPG, PNG, or DXF) you can download and a list of tools and materials.
The first project is a DIY Christmas Countdown machined from a 12″x18″ piece of 1″ thick wood. The tools and materials are at https://www.loveandrenovations.com/diy-christmas-countdown/. You can download the files at https://easel.inventables.com/projects/5sr-wF7yFQ4ZznQNJToJdA
The next project is a YouTube tutorial that offers detailed instructions on the basics of woodworking and how to use a CNC router. Check out How to make 3D wooden Christmas ornaments on the CNC machine if you’re new to woodworking and would benefit from step-by-step instructions.
The third project is a simple Laser Cut Christmas Tree (5mm) using a DXF file that you can download at https://3axis.co/laser-cut-christmas-trees-5mm-dxf-file/eo4qgvg7/
Next is a CNC Snowman Charcuterie Board. This digital file package includes a Vcarve Pro .crv file along with the following vector files: AI, EPS, PDF, and SVG. Only 2 router bits are required to create this snowman (60-degree v-bit and 1/8″ compression bit). The download is available here.
Finally, check out this Wood Reindeer cut on a CNC router from 1/2″ common-size birch plywood with a .125″ compression endmill and an outside profile cut. The finished size is approximately 14″L x 8.75″W x 23.25″H. The files are available here.
Three Christmas Projects from a Single Piece of Wood
If you want to make easy Christmas CNC router projects to sell or give as gifts, this is the video for you! These CNC Christmas projects are small and make great Christmas gifts. Here are the Etsy file links for these:
Table-Top Christmas Tree: https://www.etsy.com/listing/12120488…
Believe Log: https://www.etsy.com/listing/899613843/believe-log-cnc-cut-file?ref=yr_purchases
Santa Tray Creator Kit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1071157726/dear-santa-tray-svg-creator-kit-diy?ref=yr_purchases
A Unique Snowflake Ornament
Made from white oak using V-Carve Pro software, the free snowflake vector was downloaded from www.vecteezy.com (shown on the video) and the YouTube video is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcAVYloGFvU showing the short machining process.
Try This Merry Christmas Puzzle
This is an interactive Merry Christmas Puzzle that adults and children will love putting together. The excellent instructional video project shows you how to cut the letters to fit in their pockets with enough clearance so they won’t frustrate little hands on Christmas Eve. It’s a relatively simple project that helps children learn letters while creating lifetime memories.
Check out the YouTube video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uURJrGbjbU for complete instructions and information on downloading the files.
Christmas Tree 3D Model
With a 3D printer and some festive STL files, you can design custom decor to make your place the toast of the season. For a classic centerpiece, download this evergreen tree model and print your own custom Christmas tree. Decorate it with ornaments of your choosing for a creation that’s uniquely you.
You can find a classic Christmas tree 3D model and decorate your house by breathing some life into it with the help of an FDM or resin 3D printer. The web is filled with free STL files for all sorts of holiday decor, and 3D printing is an excellent way to add some flair to your home without dropping a fortune.
Download one of the files at https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2687318
Try One of These Santa Claus Sleigh Projects
If your machine tool can handle this full-size sleigh, it will be one Christmas gift your friends and family won’t soon forget! You create it from four or five sheets of 3/4” plywood, and the finished sleigh will be strong enough to hold more than one adult. It’s more challenging than anything else on this list, but the results are stunning!
Instructions at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaBIX9frEB0
Free Vectric Files at https://jayscustomcreations.com/2020/12/full-size-santa-sleigh-free-files/
If your worktable requires smaller CNC Christmas projects, here is a Santa sleigh made from a more manageable workpiece. These Christmas Santa Sleighs for Laser and CNC are designed to fit Glowforge laser cutting machines but can be used with any laser or CNC machine.
These files are ideal for machines using the following files:
- DXF (AutoCAD)
- SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)
- PDF (Adobe Portable Document)
- AI (Adobe Illustrator)
- CDR (Corel DRAW)
- JPG files (for reference only)
All vector files are in curves, and the user can resize the template without losing details of the design.
A Wooden Christmas Tree Challenge!
Etsy.com offers a digital file for a CNC router to make a 6-part plywood Christmas tree. The finished tree is over four feet high and almost 3.5 feet wide. The parts are all made from .25” plywood and require no nails or screws. (assembly instructions are included. Files to download: Adobe PDF and AutoCAD Interchange (.dxf file).
You can find the details at https://www.pinterest.com/pin/560135272415332937/
Personalized Stocking Tags for the Christmas Stockings
This is another easy CNC Christmas project from 1/4” plywood. Turn your CNC machine into an engraving machine, and create these stocking tags with your children’s or grandchildren’s names engraved into them. Or, if you’re looking to make extra money for Christmas, start taking orders because personalized items are always a hit. See how easy this one is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxbdHAQu3Kw&t=590s
Christmas Automata from an Instructable Video
Create a fascinating Christmas automata with these detailed instructions. You get a bill of materials, downloadable DXF templates for each ornament, step-by-step image instructions, and a YouTube video to help you along.
See the Instructable at https://www.instructables.com/Simple-Christmas-Automata-Ornament/ and watch it on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNMBBlMBViI&t=76s
Consider One of Our Desktop CNC Machines for Your Next CNC Christmas Project
All you need to start creating Christmas projects is a computer, time, and a willingness to learn! If you’re looking to upgrade your CNC router or milling machine before the holidays, hobbyists and professionals alike stand by our desktop CNC machines for their versatility, ease of use, and footprint that fits even the smallest home workshop.
At CNC Masters, we offer three of the best Desktop CNC Mills, and they are all available online. These CNC machines provide compact power at an affordable price. CNC Masters offers options in small CNC machines to fit your work and budget. We sell only high-quality, USA-built machine tools with ball screws, a warranty, and excellent service – all at a competitive price!
Please email us directly at sales@cncmasters.com, call us at 626-962-9300, or visit our contact page. We look forward to hearing from you!
