Create a festive wooden nativity scene with Red Fox and OKU Desk CNC machines

Christmas is synonymous with tradition and celebration, as well as creativity and decoration. This year, NomadTech wants to inspire you with a very special project: a handcrafted wooden nativity scene, created using our Red Fox milling machine and OKU Desk  laser cutter and engraver. It’s perfect for surprising someone with a unique gift or adding personalisation to your Christmas decoration.

Before diving into the process details, let's talk about the origins of the nativity scene. It’s believed to date back to 1223 in the village of Greccio, Italy, where St. Francis of Assisi created the first symbolic representation of the birth of Jesus Christ. Since then, the nativity scene has become one of the most iconic images of Christmas.

 

Step-by-step: making the Christmas nativity scene

Our nativity scene features the traditional figures of this scene with 17 wooden pieces. Each one has been made with our CNC milling machine, ensuring impeccable precision and professional finish.

Materials used

• 18 mm thick pine wood slats for the main figures.
• 3,17 mm diameter positive 1-flute end mill for the Red Fox milling machine.
• 0,5 mm thick wood veneer for decorative details.
• Fine sandpaper for finishing the pieces.
• Quick-setting adhesive  for the additional details.

Design process and machining software

We created the design using vector tools such as Inkscape and Illustrator, taking special care to ensure that concave curves matched the radius of the end mill, preventing any issues during machining.

The CNC milling setup was programmed with Aspire, a software that allows for quick configuration, simulation and a preview of the final design.

CNC machining process

the wooden slat was secured with four screws to the CNC milling machine’s spoil board. The machining process was then initiated using the Nomad Panel software.

To optimise the workflow, all pieces were grouped together; each took about three minutes to cut, so the entire nativity scene was completed in under an hour.

Finishing touches

additional laser-cut details, in darker wood sheets, were made using the OKU Desk desktop machine. The G-code for the design was generated using Inkscape‘s plugin.

For the final touches, we sanded all pieces to smooth edges and surfaces. Adhesive was then used to attach the decorative details. Done! Now, let’s set up all the figures of our nativity scene.

 

The magic of personalisation with CNC

Modern CNC machines like those from NomadTech are designed to simplify the manufacturing process, enabling you to achieve professional results in just a few steps. Enjoy high-quality finishes in your projects and work with a variety of materials –from wood to plastics and even metals–.