Precision Machining with Purpose: Creating A Reading Cabin for Kids
We think you’ll agree: the world can feel pretty chaotic these days. Here in our family-run Idaho machine shop, we’ve found that the best way to combat feelings of overwhelm is to pour ourselves back into the community that raised us.
When an opportunity to participate in a volunteer project for our local library came our way, we were honored to say YES.
Here’s the story of that project and the people who brought one librarian’s “pipe dream” to life.
The Reading Cabin: A Big Gift for Small Readers
Sharalee Howard is a Coeur d'Alene children’s librarian who dreamed of a library-housed Reading Cabin where kids could not only read books but also play and pretend. But she needed help making her dream a reality.
Funding the project
Enter Knudtsen Chevrolet president Eve Knudtsen, who, upon learning of the library’s idea, immediately wrote a check for $25,000, fully funding the project. Architects West stepped in to design the structure, with architect Ryan Johnson leading the project. But there were still some important roles to fill.
Building the team
Sydney Stinson, Accurate CNC’s Chief Administrative Officer, sits on the board of a local nonprofit, where she met Children’s Village executive director Vanessa Moos. Vanessa knew her friend Ryan was seeking a shop that offered CNC wood router services, so she connected him with Sydney.
In a delightful small-world moment, we discovered that Ryan already knew Taylor Stinson, our shop’s CEO. From the moment Ryan and Taylor huddled over the Reading Cabin’s blueprints, our decision was clear: Accurate CNC Services was officially on board!
Ryan Johnson (Architects West) with Taylor Stinson, Sydney Stinson, and Heike Stinson (Accurate CNC Services)
We were soon joined by Gibbs Lumber, who donated and drop-shipped the wood, and Rodda Paint, who donated the finishing supplies. Ginno Construction and All Wall Contracting lent their skilled craftsmanship to construct and install the Reading Cabin.
Behind the Scenes: Manufacturing a Reading Cabin for Kids
The entire Accurate CNC team jumped in to donate consulting time, CNC wood router services, and laser engraving services. Before precision machining the parts of the Reading Cabin, we collaborated closely with Ryan and his Architects West team to ensure that the design would check these boxes:
Efficiently manufacturable
Optimized for easy indoor assembly
Sturdy and safe for children
Adapting the design for precision machining
In addition to holding countless face-to-face blueprint reviews, Accurate CNC and Architects West maintained an ongoing email thread that grew so long that Outlook refused to spellcheck it!
Inspired by librarian Sharalee’s vision for the Reading Cabin, architect Ryan drafted a beautiful design incorporating the shapes of trees, stones, and forest animals. Our first task was to make that design machinable by breaking it into pieces that would fit on plywood sheets, the chosen material.
Ensuring safety and stability
Sturdy Book Storage
We modified the CAD files to create cleanly fitted joints and gapless alignments that wouldn’t pinch or trap tiny fingers, and we consulted with the Ginno Construction lead to determine the best approach for a strong, durable roof joint.
Additional safety features included low shelves and seats that young children could access without risk. We also machined pieces for planter box-style bins that would securely hold books in each of the Reading Cabin’s windows without becoming overloaded.
Leveraging our CNC wood router services and laser engraving capabilities
Laser engraved logos
The final, dual-layered assembly comprised nearly 300 individual pieces, with 176 stone-shaped pieces dedicated to the Reading Cabin’s chimney alone.
On an exterior wall piece, we laser engraved a phrase Eve Knudtsen selected: “Kids who read succeed.” Additionally, we laser engraved every project contributor’s logo on an exterior stone before sanding the plywood edges for safe handling.
To mitigate the complexity of assembling this puzzle of a structure, we employed our Sharpie part-marking technique, numbering the back of every stone. When we delivered the pieces for assembly, we also provided instructions outlining the placement of each piece.
Installing the Reading Cabin
Because the library doesn’t have a loading dock, we delivered the Reading Cabin’s pieces straight through the front door—a factor we’d thankfully taken into account when finalizing the design dimensions.
The library removed an entire row of bookshelves to make room for the structure, which measures approximately 8’ x 16’ fully assembled, with a roof peak that nearly reaches the library ceiling.
Assembled Reading Cabin with laser engraving
The assembly team filled every nail hole and screw hole and sanded away any remaining sharp corners and rough edges. Finally, a durable clear coat was applied across the entire surface of the Reading Cabin to enhance its smoothness and protect the plywood from scuffs or stains.
The finishing touches included child-sized chairs, whimsical toys, and plenty of children’s books.
Manufacturing with Meaning
At the end of August 2023, Coeur d'Alene Public Library held an official unveiling ceremony for its new Reading Cabin, complete with a ribbon cutting, more than 230 guests, the local press, and a poetry reading from Sharalee Howard, the children’s librarian who inspired it all.
Dozens of families attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony!
Our Idaho machine shop’s role in this community-led project is one of this year’s brightest highlights. Together with generous donors, skilled tradespeople, and creative visionaries, we created a completely custom, kid-centric space that our families, friends, and neighbors will enjoy for years to come.