Learning by Doing: Tool to Develop Skills in Digital Furniture Design with a 3-axis CNC Milling Machine

Teaching furniture design is an opportunity to train students through the ability to sketch and manufacture a product. This article presents a protocol for practical learning of the procedure for digital fabrication with a machine accessible tool to any educational center or a small-scale industry. It is very applicable as a curricular teaching package with consideration of a microcredential. The 3-axis CNC milling machine has outstanding qualities for adopting solutions that act in the context of Design for Manufacturing (DfM) especially in the field of Design for Environment (DfE). Such qualities are essential in the training of responsible designers in accordance with the 2030 Agenda. The availability of technicians with this type of digital skills in the work market could be an enhancer for industrial growth of small and medium-sized companies at a regional level. The tools and instrument presented are ideal for materializing the ideas of the projects developed by the students. Throughout the learning process, acquaintance and work with digital graphic tools is essential to master automation processes.