Looking for a fun and rewarding CNC woodworking project? This article will show you how to create a custom wooden Tic Tac Toe game board using your CNC router. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned woodworker, this project is perfect for enhancing your CNC skills.
What You’ll Need:
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- STEPCRAFT CNC router
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- VCarve software (or similar CAD/CAM software)
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- Wood materials (7.5″ x 12″ board and a 5″ x 12″ piece for the game pieces)
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- 1/8-inch and 1/16-inch Amana down-cut endmills
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- Stepcraft toggle clamps
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- Double-sided tape
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- Palm sander
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- Flush trim router bit
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- Shellac finish
Designing Your Tic Tac Toe Board:
Start by creating a 7×7 inch square with radius corners in your design software. Next, add 2-inch squares within the board to serve as pockets for your X and O game pieces. Leave about a ¼-inch reveal between squares.
Carving the Board:
Using an 1/8-inch down-cut endmill, pocket out each square to a depth of 1/8 inch. Add tabs during your profile cut to keep the board secure. After carving, use a multi-tool to remove tabs, and a flush trim bit to clean edges.
Making the Game Pieces:
Copy X and O letters onto another piece of material, and use a 1/16-inch down-cut endmill to cut precise letters. Use double-sided tape to hold them in place during cutting, eliminating the need for additional tabs and reducing post-processing.
Finishing Touches:
Lightly sand any rough edges using a palm sander, then apply shellac to protect and enhance the natural beauty of the wood.
Free Project Files:
We’ve made the project files available for free to make your CNC experience smooth and enjoyable. Download them here.
With this simple CNC Tic Tac Toe project, you’ll create a beautiful and fun game that makes a fantastic gift or a popular item for craft sales.
Happy carving!
Tags: CNC woodworking, DIY Tic Tac Toe, VCarve project, CNC beginner project, woodcraft ideas, CNC tutorial