THE INVENTABLES WORKSHOP

When trying to brainstorm your next X-Carve project, sometimes one of the best places to look for inspiration is right in front of you. Little office or kitchen accessories can make great projects but today, we’re going to look at four bathroom accessories that you can make with the help of Easel and X-Carve. Hardwood and Corian Shave Kit This first project comes to us thanks to Fred from Ohio. This shave kit is a modular set which is perfect for keeping things organized in a small space.  To get started, you’ll need ¾” thick hardwood board (this project file uses cherry), ¼” thick Corian sheet , and super glue. A ⅛” milling bit should do the trick as well. However, if you’re planning on cutting the holes for the scissors, a 1/16” bit is recommended. This particular kit is designed for QShave products however, adjustments for different sized products are easy to make with Easel. Now you’re ready to carve out your materials, glue your wood and Corian together, sand the whole thing down

Inventables’ Easel Live series is run by one of our resident CNC experts and community manager Brandon Cullum. The Easel Live Events provide CNC users an opportunity to learn about CNC software, designing as well as tips and tricks to be more efficient with CNC projects. When you tune into the live events, you can ask questions and participate with other CNC enthusiasts and entrepreneurs. We have great participation from our community members who offer advice in addition to the information Brandon shares.   In this recording of an Easel Live event, Brandon takes us through the basics of the Easel CNC software, touching on some differences between Easel and Easel Pro such as V-carving, machine parking, and the enhanced graphics library to name a few.  In the first 30 minutes of the Easel 101 session, Brandon discusses some basics of CNC carving & software as well as how to set up and use Easel. What you will take away from the video: How to more efficiently use Ease/Easel Pro How to

  One of the great things about the X-Carve is that it allows makers to put their own unique spin on everyday things. Jewelry is a great example of that. Instead of buying typical metal and stone jewelry we’re so accustomed to, you can carve an original design using Easel and cut your very own piece out of wood, acrylic, Corian, or just about anything you can imagine. Here are some great DIY jewelry projects you can make with your X-Carve and Easel. Inlay Necklaces This first piece is thanks to Alex from Chicago. She put together a beautifully unique wooden and aluminum inlay necklace which will be the first of our projects today. Her materials: Cherry wood : 6" × 12" × 1/8"  Wenge : 6" × 12" × 1/8"  Laserable Sparkle Aluminum - Gold on Silver: 12” × 12” x 0.02” Laserable Sparkle Aluminum - Silver on Silver: 12” × 12” x 0.02” First, mill the settings where the aluminum will sit. Because the aluminum is about 0.02”, you’ll want the pockets to be a bit deep

  Like most X-Carve and small business owners, Tim Kuncis’ journey began with his passion. Since childhood, Tim was a baseball fanatic and as an adult, he combined his passion with his individual knowledge and skillset to create something original.  While working as a contractor, he was able to design and sell his very first woodworking piece: an American flag with a unique rustic design. The piece was such a big hit that he quickly sold a few more and not long after, a friend recommended taking the rustic flag design and shaping it into a home plate. And thus, the signature design of Tim’s Barnwood Sports Design was born. Barnwood Sports Designs’ Signature Piece What sets Tim’s business apart is his signature piece, the rustic home plate design, for two reasons. First, the design is one-of-a-kind. It’s the kind of piece that grabs attention and guarantees your friends and guests will ask about it when they see it hanging in your home or workplace. The rustic, weathered look adds so m

You might have heard the term “maker movement” or “maker culture” pop up more and more over the past few years. Whether it’s attached to Pinterest projects, YouTube tutorials, or associated with a particular company’s brand, the maker movement has produced something of a renaissance in DIY creativity. So what exactly is the maker movement? What is the Maker Movement? The maker movement is a growing cultural trend of DIY-style creativity focused on crafting and artisan pursuits including wood and metalworking, manufacturing, programming, cooking and homebrewing, cosmetics and fashion, auto working, and more. In short, the movement is a fusion of arts and crafts and engineering that incorporates technology, open-source learning, and community collaboration. Maker culture exists largely because of developing technologies such as 3D printers, computer numerical controlled machines, and of course, the internet. Although many of these tools have existed for decades, they’re only now becoming

  Hands down, the most popular CNC router project group is sign making. While we use CNC routing in a wide range of applications such as home decor(which may include signs), furniture, utility & storage systems, etc. , signs remain popular among both novice and experienced CNC carvers. What makes carving signs so popular among CNC router users? Variety & creativity. We can make signs as simple or as complex as our imaginations can envision.  Some signs are simple square boards with a basic phrase carved in it. Others use layered carves to add depth and texture.(to see how layering with the Easel CNC software is done visit layered designs ). From hobbyists to commercial woodshops, signs are an attractive project for CNC Routing. The Hobbyist & CNC Routers Making gifts is one of the great joys for people who are into woodworking. Creating one-of-a-kind signs for friends and family is an opportunity for making it personal and being creative in gift-giving. Woodworkers create s

  4 Quick ‘n Easy CNC Machine Ideas Looking for a quick project you can make with your X-Carve CNC Machine? Well pull up a stool and have a gander at some of these quick and easy Easel projects you can make with the X-Carve in an afternoon or less. A Box for your Tissue Box Our first project comes to us thanks to Danny from Indiana. It’s a box for your tissue box. The best part about this nifty project is it’s customizability; it can be designed however you like to best match the room it’ll sit in.  All you need is ¼ inch wood (it’s best to stain or paint the wood before you start carving). Our Carbide V-Bits will work best, you can find them here . But in case you don’t have one, upcut bits will work as well. Once you’re done carving, use a table saw to cut 45 degree edges so the pieces will fit seamlessly together. Glue them up, put on some finishing touches if needed, and you’ve got yourself a cute accent for your bathroom or a great gift. There are a number of cute designs in this