In our makerspace, the long‑term dream is to bring in a full CNC machine. But until we have the space for one, we’ve embraced a simple truth: we are the interim CNC. And that’s exactly why 3D printing has become such an essential part of our woodworking workflow.

Most people think of 3D printers as tools for plastic gadgets or engineering prototypes, but 3D printing for woodworkers opens up a whole world of problem‑solving. Jigs, templates, spacers, guides—if you can imagine it, you can print it. And for this project, that flexibility saved us a ton of time and frustration.

The Project: A Honeycomb Resin Tabletop

We wanted to create a honeycomb pattern routed into a wood tabletop and fill it with resin. Our first thought was to build a wooden jig, but the more we talked through the design, the more complicated it became. Alignment issues, durability concerns, and the precision required made it clear that wood wasn’t the ideal material for this job.

Enter the 3D printer.

We designed a simple hexagon template, printed it, and tested it on a scrap board. The results were clean, consistent, and exactly what we hoped for—so we moved on to the real tabletop.

The First Problem (Because There’s Always One)

If you’ve spent any time making things, you know that every project comes with a twist. Ours arrived immediately: the router’s plastic guide bushing melted on the very first hexagon and chewed into our brand‑new template.

Not ideal.

But this is what we do as makers—experiment, adapt, and keep moving. We grabbed a set of metal guide bushings, fired up the print farm again, and got right back to work.

What We Learned (So You Don’t Have To)

If you want to try something similar in your own shop, here are the biggest takeaways from our experience:

🔥 1. Router bits get hot

Hot enough to melt plastic. Plan for metal bushings or other heat‑resistant parts.

🧱 2. Print solid templates

We tried hollowing the hexagon to save filament, but the router tipped into the gap and ruined the cut. Solid is safer.

🩹 3. Use painter’s tape + CA glue to hold the template

Tape on the wood, tape on the template, a tiny drop of CA glue between the tape layers, activator on the template side, press together—rock‑solid hold, zero surface damage.

✏️ 4. Mark where your tape goes

We drew parallel lines on the template so we always knew where the glue would land. This prevents accidentally gluing the template directly to your project.

🧩 5. Print as many templates as you need

We printed a whole batch because we plan to reuse them for future projects (including a desk build—fingers crossed). But even one or two templates will work fine.

🐢 6. Slow and steady wins

Repetition makes it easy to get sloppy. Epoxy highlights every mistake, so take your time.

🧪 7. Always do a test piece

The guide bushing offsets the bit slightly, so your hexagons won’t sit perfectly edge‑to‑edge unless you design for that. Testing helps you plan your layout.

Final Thoughts

This project reminded us why 3D printing and woodworking make such a powerful combination—especially in a makerspace environment. When you can design and print your own tools, you’re never stuck waiting for the “perfect” jig or accessory. You can just make it.

We learned a ton on this build, and we hope our experience helps you tackle your own hybrid woodworking‑and‑3D‑printing projects with confidence.