A custom foam insert can give each tool its own snug spot – but making one used to be a real pain. The traditional method was to measure each tool and model it in CAD (or even do photogrammetry/3D scanning) – all slow and technical. Even simpler methods like hand-cutting foam can’t match a CNC router. CNC router can cut foam “much more cleanly” than by hand.
Imagine opening a drawer to find every socket or wrench fitted perfectly in foam cutouts. That’s exactly what a CNC-routed insert delivers: a tidy, custom home for each tool. Creating that perfect insert used to mean painstaking layout and tracing. Now it can be as simple as snapping a photo.
Enter Tool Trace (a free web app at tooltrace.ai). It promises “custom shadowbox foam in one click,” and really delivers. You upload or snap a picture of your tools, and Tool Trace automatically “generates clean outlines” ready for cutting. In other words, it replaces tedious CAD work with AI-assisted tracing.
- Snap a Photo: Lay out your tools and take a clear picture of them
- Auto-Generate: The app traces each tool in the photo and creates precise outlines
- Cut or Order: Export the outline file for CNC/laser cutting, or send to us and we will do the rest.
No special software skills are needed – Tool Trace says “Take a picture of your tools and instantly get custom ... foam inserts”. This beats the old way by a mile: instead of measuring each tool by hand, you let your phone do the heavy lifting.
Any! There are plenty of options when it comes to foam.
One of our favourites is layered foam, where each layer has a different colour – making it easy to see tools at a glance and adding a great visual effect. You don’t have to look far either; foam like this can often be sourced from local stores such as Supercheap Auto.
The same process works perfectly for high-impact protective cases used for transport. Whether you’re protecting cameras, drones, tools, or sensitive equipment, a custom foam insert keeps everything secure and prevents damage on the move. By creating a precise cutout for each item, your gear stays locked in place. Even if the case gets a few knocks along the way.
Once you have the design, CNC VOX can handle the rest. Our shop specialises in foam CNC routing, so we can turn your outline file into a real insert.
We cut all types of foam – EPS, polyurethane, high-density, EVA, XPS, and more. With smooth edges and pro-level accuracy. Just send us the file (or even the photo), and we’ll make the insert for you.
