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Build idea

CNC phone and tablet stand

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a birch plywood phone stand with two sides, a solid backrest panel, and a front groove cradling a phone concept — not a real build.

A red oak stand that holds a phone or small tablet tipped back, with room for the charging cable underneath. A hobby CNC router cuts two side profiles, a backrest and a front groove from one board; cross-laps join them.

Rough size
About 5 1/2 in deep x 6 in tall x 6 in wide
Wood
Red oak 1x8

CNC: clamp the work, keep hands clear while it runs, and never leave it running; friction can start a fire. See laser and CNC shop safety.

Tools you might use

  • CNC router
  • CNC end mill
  • Miter saw
  • Sanding
  • CNC router with an emergency stop
  • CAM software that imports SVG files
  • 1/4 in flat end mill
  • Miter saw or circular saw
  • Calipers
  • Random orbit sander
  • Shop vacuum with a dust shoe

Right tool for the job: Which CNC router bits should you buy first? · What free software do you need to run a hobby CNC router?

Need a circular saw? See our circular saw picks.

Choosing a sander? Read our sander for cutting boards guide.

Dust collector or shop vac? Read our guide.

Need a miter saw? See our miter saw picks.

Key techniques

Diagram of the finished stand. Side view: a profile about 5 1/2 inches deep and about 5 7/8 inches tall, with a 3/4-inch front slot and lip, and a solid backrest panel reclined 20 degrees from vertical spanning behind the phone so it cannot tip over the back; a phone rests in the slot against that panel. Front view: two side profiles 1 1/2 inches apart, 3 inches across their outside faces, with a solid backrest panel between them, a front lip/groove, and a 6-inch crossbar with a 3/4 by 1/2-inch cable opening centered on its bottom edge.
Diagram of the finished piece. Sizes are approximate, not a tested plan. Reader build photos welcome.

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