Box Hinge Designer
Create hinges for your boxes entirely on the laser cutter or CNC router: two screw-on mounting plates, straight knuckle leaves that slot into the plates, and a pin made from a round rod or a screw. Every dimension is adjustable, and the preview shows the hinge at any opening angle.
Pin
Hex pocket on the outside of the last A leaf: the nut sits flush and cannot turn.
Round pocket on the outside of the first A leaf, e.g. for a socket-head cap screw.
Nominal depth = nut or head height, at least 1 mm of floor remains; set the actual milling depth in your CAM (each pocket is on its own DXF layer). All pockets are on the top face – the first A leaf is drawn mirrored for this and goes in flipped.
Required: M4 screw, at least 12mm long. Tighten the nut only hand-tight or use a lock nut so the hinge keeps moving.
Knuckle leaves
Always odd: the two outer leaves belong to plate A and hold the pin.
Gap between neighbouring leaves so they do not rub while swinging.
Mounting plates
Width along the pin. Follows leaf count and material automatically until you change it yourself; next to the leaves there must be room for the screw holes.
Length of each plate across the pin, measured from the gap. Grows automatically with thick material until you change it yourself.
Gap between the two plates, e.g. the joint between lid and box.
Diameter of the mounting holes, e.g. 4 mm for 3.5 to 4 mm wood screws.
Material
Thickness of plates and leaves.
Clearance in the rotating pin holes, the tab slots and the pockets.
Width of the laser beam or cutter; outlines are offset accordingly.
Spacing between parts in the cutting layout.
How many hinges go into the cut file, e.g. 2 for a lid.
Opens up to 180°
The knuckle geometry is calculated so the leaves never hit the opposite plate while swinging up to 180°. Try the opening angle right in the 3D preview.
Round rod or screw
Use a press-fit round rod or an M3 to M8 screw as the pin. Nut and screw head sit flush in milled pockets – hex for the nut, round for the cap screw head. Width across flats and head diameter can be customised.
Several hinges, one layout
Set how many hinges you need and get all parts packed into one cut file, together with the matching rod or screw length.
Usage Tips
- Pro tip: You can combine the mounting plate drawing with a box drawing: transfer the tab slots into the side wall of your box and mill the hinge seats directly into the wall – no screw-on plate needed.
- Pockets in CAM: Nut and head pockets are on separate DXF layers with the nominal depth in the name. Set the milling depth in your CAM; all pockets are milled from the top face – the first A leaf is drawn mirrored for this.
- Tightening the screw: Tighten only hand-tight or use a lock nut – a fully tightened screw clamps the leaves together and makes the hinge stiff.