Simplest Stool

So I had an idea about making flat packed furniture that didn't need any screws and minimal assembly.
Whit that in mind I made a simple prototype of three legged stool that then is lasercut.

Step 1: Design It!

At my local makersspace we have lasercutters and we usually use Adobe Illustrator to make the vector images.

The stool I wanted to make is a simple prototype but there are a few features that I'd like to discuss.
First of all the stool is made in three pieces that when locked together is self carrying. The pieces interlock with slots at an angle to make the base a bit wider than the seat. This way it gets better balance.

My prototype material is 6mm MDF and since I'm making 3 identical "legs" I can just design one and all three of them will fit together. The reason the slots are not made at an angle is because I wanted to be able to use a lasercutter. If you use a CNC-machine it might be able to make the slots at an angle.

To identify the width of the interlocking slots I made three rectangles the same thickness as the material and placed them over each other in the angle I wanted. Since its a three legged stool the angles is 60 degrees. (Image 2)

The width of the slot is then the distance between the two red lines. This will differ with the amount of legs you want to use (since it changes the angles) and of course the with of your material.

Step 2: Lasercutting Time!

When the design was done it was time for some cutting. Use the settings that works for your machine and cut away!

When done it's just simple mounting by sliding the pieces together. Since I only made three legs it was a little tight to get the pieces together but with some jiggling it worked.

I used some scrap materials to show proof of concept so that is why there is drawings on the stool.

Testing it out made me realize that 6mm MDF probably wasn't the best material for a stool to sit on. It holds me (100kg) just fine as long as I don't twist or rock it. Doing that makes the legs bend and most likely snap. So I'll probably just use it as a plantstand

Well congratulations on finishing reading this small Instructable. I hope you have gotten a few Ideas of your own.