Digital fabrication tools like CNC milling and laser cutting impose their own restrictions on production, such as what materials can used and what size objects can be processed. Additionally, in order to produce a 3D form using a 2D technique like laser cutting, some way must be found for translating 3D into 2D and back again.

Possible fabrication strategies

• Contouring and volumetric cross-sections (#1, #2, #3)
• Unfolding (for example using Lamina)
• Interlocking assembly (#1, #2)
• CNC-milled relief (#1, #2)

For a more complete list of strategies, look at this page from Ball State University. The PDF they link to contains a ton of great examples.