A picture of the carving machine

Carving Machine

Make beautiful, durable, and functional objects from wood, metal, and plastic with our Carvey desktop CNC machine. Many DIYers and crafters use it to engrave, etch, inscribe, and carve designs. We offer 3D carving services and classes to provide opportunities for our members to experiment and learn. The 3D carving CNC machine was donated by the Indian Prairie Public Library Foundation & Friends. This is an IPPL cardholder exclusive.

Get started

  • Create your own design using Easel, free online software or get design ideas from the Inventables Project page.
  • You can carve anything except for offensive materials and weapons. See our policy.

Get inspired with these print jobs

A personalized cutting board.

A unique picture frame.

A personalized bottle holder made from scratch.

File & Printing Specifications 

  • Max Size: Maximum: 12 in. x 8 in. x 1 in. high
  • Material Types: Birch plywood and two-color HDPE plastic (8 x 12 x 1/4 in H). You may supply your own wood as long as it is new.
  • Material Costs: $5 cost is added to your library card and can be paid online.
  • Submissions: One completed request at a time (includes pick-up of the item) 

Design Tips

  • Set your material and material dimensions before designing.
  • Select your bit setting: We have 1/8, 1/16, and 1/32 bits. You should use the biggest bit possible to create your design.
  • Set your cut depth: the bigger the number, the deeper the cut. Simulate your design before submitting it. Orange paths mean the carving bit is too big to carve out that section of the design. Resize the design, or change to a smaller bit.
  • Fonts: We recommend using Track or OCR. They are clear and readable at large and small sizes. Other fonts can be too intricate for small sizes.