# Building a pass-through book and cookbook stand

> an angled reading and cookbook stand with a page ledge

A book holder is a satisfying quick build: two triangular sides and three boards that pass straight through matching slots, so there are no fiddly finger joints to fit. The angled rest board holds a book or tablet at a comfortable reading angle, the front ledge stops the pages sliding off, and the bottom stretcher keeps everything square. The Assembled 3D tab shows the stand in place so you can judge the angle and footprint before spending a sheet.

## What you need

- **Laser cutting:** 3 to 6 mm plywood or MDF. Measure the actual sheet thickness with calipers, it is rarely exactly 3 mm.
- **3D printing:** any rigid filament. 4 to 6 mm panels give the slots enough grip.
- **Glue (optional):** a dab of PVA in each slot if you want a permanent stand rather than a flat-pack one.

## Step 1 - Stand size



**Width** is how wide the boards run, so pick something a little wider than your books. **Base depth** sets the footprint and **Back height** sets how tall the sides stand. **Thickness** must match your sheet, because every slot is cut to that width.

## Step 2 - Ledge



- **Ledge height** controls how tall the front lip is, which is what keeps the book from sliding off the rest.
- A taller ledge holds heavier cookbooks; a shorter one gives an easier page turn.

## Step 3 - Check the assembly



Switch to the **Assembled 3D** tab and orbit the stand to check the reading angle and that the boards reach across both sides. The **Export Preview** tab shows the flat sheet with each panel in its own colour.

## Laser cutting

### Before you cut



1. Measure your sheet with calipers and set **Thickness** to what you measured, not what the label says.
2. Cut the slots before the outlines where your software lets you choose, so panels do not shift once they are free.
3. Run a fit test first: cut one side and the rest board, and check the board slides through the slot with light hand pressure.

### Assemble



1. Slide the bottom stretcher through both sides first to set the spacing.
2. Add the angled rest board, then the front ledge near the base.
3. If you want it permanent, add a little glue in each slot before the final push; otherwise leave it as a flat-pack stand.

## 3D Printing

### Slice and print



1. The 3D download is a zip with one part per panel, numbered to match the flat sheet order.
2. Every part is already extruded to the **Thickness** value. Do not scale the parts in the slicer: it changes the slot sizes too.
3. Lay each panel flat on the bed. The slots are already cut, so no supports are needed.
4. Print at 0.2 mm layers with 3 or more perimeters so the slots grip the boards firmly.

## Make it yours

- Engrave a recipe title or a name on the triangular sides before cutting.
- Round the front top corners of the sides for a softer look.
- Widen the boards for large art books, or narrow them for a compact tablet stand.

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Open the Book Holder Generator: https://www.mylasertools.com//book-holder-generator
Read online: https://www.mylasertools.com//learn/guides/book-holder-generator