This is a proof of concept for another project.

When you use a CNC machine, the bits spin as they remove material which means the bits create voids that are circular (cylinders, cones, hemispheres). The bits can cut straight sides and they can create outside corners, but they cannot create inside corners.

Boxes with finger joints are a problem for CNC machines. Typically relief cuts are made on the inside corners of the finger joints giving them a "dog bone" shape. This is not a very satisfying finished look. One might think that if the inside corners cannot be square that one could simply make the outside corners round to match. The problem with this is that the box sides don't go together flat, they go together at right angles. This makes the shape more complex.

In this prototype, I have created box sides with finger joints that go together with no gaps. Furthermore, the joint fingers have no inside right angles. I call them clam fingers because they have a sinusoidal shape reminiscent of the shell of a Giant Clam.

There are 3 distinct pieces. You print the three pieces twice to get all six sides. Matching pieces go on opposite sides of the box. If you cut this out on a CNC, glue the whole box together and then bandsaw it open where desired.

Category: Containers