A factory can produce teak furniture from CAD files when the digital package communicates how the piece must be built, not simply how it should look. Dimensioned drawings
A rendered image supports design intent, but a dimensioned CAD drawing and written specification are the practical basis for production approval.
For teak furniture, CAD files should define the product rather than only its appearance: overall dimensions, part sizes, material thicknesses, joinery, edge treatments, hardware, finish, tolerances, and quantities. A factory uses that information to verify manufacturability, account for wood movement, prepare shop drawings, and price the work accurately.
Send a 2D dimensioned drawing alongside any 3D model so the factory can identify the approved scale and visible faces. State millimetres or inches, revision number, and whether dimensions refer to finished or rough parts. Keep hardware and upholstery schedules separate. Autodesk describes CAD's design-documentation role; a factory still needs explicit construction notes. For solid wood, consult the USDA Wood Handbook when detailing panels and joints, because seasonal movement affects clearances.
A teak furniture factory typically imports or redraws the CAD model, issues production drawings, selects boards, machines components, dry-fits joinery, applies the specified finish, and inspects the result. The workflow is iterative: a prototype or pre-production sample resolves ambiguity before the factory commits material and labor to the full order.
After technical review, the team creates a cutting list and identifies grain direction, visible surfaces, and matching requirements. Machinists then convert approved dimensions into toolpaths or workshop measurements, while joinery is tested during dry assembly. A tolerance such as ±0.2 mm may suit a machined component, but solid-wood assemblies need practical allowances. Moisture targets often fall within an 8–12% range depending on the destination environment. The Architectural Woodwork Institute publishes standards that illustrate why documented workmanship and inspection criteria matter.
CAD accuracy alone does not guarantee a successful teak piece. Solid teak changes dimension with moisture, grain direction influences strength and appearance, and tooling imposes radius and access limits. Factories therefore adjust details such as panel clearances, joinery allowances, and concealed fastener locations while preserving the approved design intent.
Ask the factory to flag narrow rails, deep internal corners, unsupported spans, and hardware access before machining begins. A 3 mm internal tool radius, for example, can change a sharp CAD corner unless it is hand-finished. Wide solid-teak panels should be allowed to move rather than trapped by rigid framing. The USDA Forest Products Laboratory explains how wood properties affect engineering decisions. Record every agreed change in a revised drawing or sample sign-off, then use that approved revision for purchasing and inspection.
Factories commonly accept DWG, DXF, PDF, STEP, IGES, SketchUp, and sometimes Rhino or SolidWorks exports. Acceptance does not mean every file is production-ready. Ask the factory which version, units, layers, scale, and export settings it needs, then provide a dimensioned PDF as the visual reference for approval.
To quote accurately, a factory needs CAD or dimensioned drawings, quantities, teak specification, finish, hardware, upholstery if applicable, packaging expectations, destination, and target delivery date. Photos or renderings help interpret appearance, but they cannot replace dimensions and construction notes. The factory may also request a bill of materials and acceptable tolerances.
Yes, a prototype is advisable when the design contains new joinery, unusual curves, integrated hardware, tight visual matching, or multiple materials. A sample lets both parties confirm dimensions, comfort, finish color, and assembly sequence. For repeat items, a signed sample or approved shop drawing becomes the reference for production inspection.
Yes. Factories often propose revisions when a detail is difficult to machine, likely to move with seasonal humidity, incompatible with available hardware, or inefficient for the requested quantity. The responsible process is to document the change in a revised drawing, explain its effect, and obtain written approval before cutting teak.
This resource is published by M Furniture & Decor. Manufacturing feasibility, tolerances, timber selection, pricing, and lead times depend on the approved design, order quantity, finish, hardware, and destination.
