CNC for Traditional Furniture Making
with Ben Strano
Course Content Available On-Demand
This course introduces woodworkers to the practical use
of CNC in the shop.
- Unlimited access to the course content
- Over 3 hours of video instruction
About This Course
If you've thought about adding a CNC to your shop and wondered how it could fit into your workflow, this course is for you. We start with the machine itself — what the major components are, what to look for when you're shopping, and how to get set up correctly every time. We look at the difference between zero and home, zeroing with and without a touch probe, and where CAD and CAM software fit into the workflow. From there we demonstrate how to build real projects in both V-Carve and Carbide Create, starting with a 2.5D sharpening board, then moving into joinery: box joints programmed and cut from start to finish, and then mortise-and-tenons.
The class closes with honest, hands-on assessments of three popular machines — the Carbide 3D Shapeoko Pro 5.1, the Onefinity Woodworker, and the Nextwave Shark — so you can judge what to look for and what fits your shop, your budget, and the kind of work you want to do.
You Will Learn:
- Basic anatomy of a CNC
- Methods to “Zero” the machine
- The difference between C.A.D. and C.A.M.
- An overview of 2 different CAM programs
- Using a CNC to create a 2.5D project
- Using a CNC to create traditional joint for furniture
- An assessment of 3 different CNCs
MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR
BEN STRANO
Ben Strano is a high school Tech. Ed. teacher and the Tools and Materials editor for Fine Woodworking. As a youngster, he became engrossed in music, a passion that led him to Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he earned a degree in music production and engineering. Soon after graduating, he began a career as a recording engineer in Nashville, where he worked with artists like Amy Grant, ZZ Top, and Poco. While expanding his woodworking and home-building skills, Ben also expanded his job skills, taking on video projects for Lost Art Press, among others. In 2016, Ben and his family moved back to his native Connecticut to be closer to family and work at Fine Woodworking. Since then, Ben has combined his woodworking and musical passions through lutherie, building over a dozen ukuleles. When he’s not in the shop, Ben designs and builds world championship-qualifying combat robots with his son.
