AI-Assisted Woodworking: Designing and Building a Flip-Hinge Toolbox with Claude Opus 5.5
AI-supported woodworking: Building an up-and-over tool chest with a clever hinge
The author successfully replicated and built a custom flip-hinge toolbox using Claude Opus 5.5, with total materials costing around €220. The model calculated hinge trajectories via Python simulation scripts, generated DXF files for laser-cut steel components, produced cut lists for lumber, and recommended purchases, consuming roughly 28 million tokens across the project. The post open-sources the complete assembly guide, kinematic simulation code, and 3D CAD drawings.
The author provides a complete walkthrough of using an LLM for mechanical hinge reverse-engineering and simulation, CAD drawing generation, and parts procurement, serving as an adaptable reference for physical fabrication workflows.
Source:Hacker News · AI · portalworkers.com