Sliding Lid Box Designer
Create wooden boxes with a sliding lid mechanism. The lid glides in grooves along the side walls and the back panel. The front panel is lower so the lid can be slid in from the front. A half-moon finger pull makes opening easy.
Box Dimensions
Dimensions including finger joints (total part size)
Outer width of the box
Outer height of the box
Outer depth of the box
Material
Material thickness (e.g. plywood, MDF)
Laser cut compensation (0 = none)
Fingerjoints
Target width per finger (adjusted automatically)
Lid
Half-moon grip cutout radius (0 = no grip)
Clearance for smooth sliding
Milling depth of the groove (affects lid size)
Extend grooves beyond panel edges (router radius compensation)
Layout
Sliding Lid Mechanism
The lid glides in grooves (width = material thickness, depth = half the material thickness) on three sides. The lower front panel lets the lid slide in.
Half-Moon Finger Pull
A semicircular cutout at the front edge of the lid serves as a finger pull for comfortable opening and closing of the box.
Instant Export
Export as SVG, DXF or PDF, ready for your CAM software. All parts, including grooves and finger pull cutout, are included in the flat pattern.
Usage Tips
- Cutting the grooves: The red dashed lines mark the grooves. They must be milled to half the material depth (do not cut through!).
- Lid clearance: 0.3-0.5mm of clearance keeps the lid sliding smoothly. Allow a little more clearance for damp wood.
- Material: 3-6mm plywood works best. The lid should be cut from the same material as the box.