Chess Pieces
wijitworks
This project creates a complete chess set designed for laser scoring and cutting from thin sheet wood. Each piece is a flat silhouette with detailed score lines plus a bottom tab that press fits into a slotted round base.
Materials
I used 1/8 inch wood for both pieces and bases. Cherry and birch work great as a contrasting pair. Birch takes engraving and score lines very crisply. Cherry looks premium and darkens nicely with finish.
Fit Tip
For best results, test your material before cutting the full set. The Slot Size Tester linked below to quickly dial in the perfect press fit for your material and laser settings.
Companion Project
Looking for a board to match this set. Check out my Chessboard project using the link below. It is designed to pair perfectly with these pieces for a complete laser cut chess set.
Showcase
This project uses my custom Attach Finger Tab modifier. It automatically adds a centered press fit tab to the bottom of each piece so it can stand upright in a slotted base. If a shape does not have a flat bottom edge, the modifier can generate a small support base so the tab attaches cleanly and aligns correctly.