While reworking my garage in recent weeks, I began looking at the stationary power tools I might add and one of the wonders now available to the average guy, because of falling prices, is the CNC router, primarily intended for use with wood, but also useful on plastics and soft metals, like aluminum. As I did my research and became mesmerized by “Router Bob” who does demo videos for Laguna Tools, I started thinking of all of the things I could build if I had one of those beauties in my garage. Well, of all of the ideas I had, I never thought “go kart.” I mean, we all know how you build one of those and it usually starts with a welder and some metal tubing. How little I knew. FlatWorks, a wooden kit company, is launching with a successful Kickstarter project called PlyFly, a wooden go kart built from plywood where all of the pieces are cut out on a CNC router.
If you aren’t familiar with these tools, the process is straightforward, but amazing all the same. You design your creation using CAD software with all flat pieces made to fit together with tabs and slots and various fasteners. Once the design is right, you put it into the CNC software, feed in plywood sheets and press start. If your design is done correctly, the router cuts the wood components and will make as many as you want with extreme precision. It’s the tool of choice for cabinet makers these days, but now that more guys are getting their hands on them, there’s a lot more creativity and ideas coming into play.
The PlyFly go kart is powered by either a 2.5 hp or 4 hp engine and assembles in one day, probably less if you’re reasonably handy with tools. Since it’s made of wood, you can easily repair it if it breaks with even the most basic home toolbox. I think these guys did a great job of designing their kart. No it’s not the equal of the racing karts used by the serious racers, but for inexpensive fun, it’s hard to beat.
We’re getting into a great time for home workshops because the price of highly capable tools is falling dramatically and if you can’t afford something like one of these CNC routers on your own, you can often find them in some of the better equipped makerspaces like TechShop.
Plywood go karts, … I wonder what these guys at The Flatworks will design next.
Link: The Flatworks and PlyFly Kickstarter
Hey… if that will work for a go-kart, it shouldn’t be that hard to work up a design for a motorcycle, or even a car. Just a more intricate design, more time, and more sheets of plywood.
What an interesting idea!
Plywood cars can also work, but they look a lot better if you laminate them in a curved shape, rather than cutting it out from flat.
Bending laminated wood does create some pretty sweet projects, but this company, called Flatworks, isn’t focusing on that market, they’re making things that come in a box like Ikea furniture. Makes shipping so much easier, too. Their next project may be something totally different. Of course, if they stay with the transportation theme, they could easily build a bicycle or even a low power scooter or motorcycle.
I just think CNC routers are so cool and as more builders get their hands on one, we’re going to see some pretty amazing creations.
Now imagine using treated plywood, and using it to build a lawn tractor… for a low-speed application like that, you could even build the wheels out of wood. Just add your own horizontal-shaft engine.
Yeah Oberon, I was thinking along that line, too. Something with a 10-to-16HP engine and transmission, to cruise around my property and pull a trailer too.