THE INVENTABLES WORKSHOP

  Inspired by Balinese carved wood furniture, Jen starts designing her Console Table with pencil & paper, makes it blossom into an elegant design in Easel Pro, and brings it to life with the X-Carve Pro CNC Solution.  This console table project, including the intricate carving done with the X-Carve Pro, took one weekend. That’s it, just a weekend. X-Carve Pro Precision & Speed Take a close look at the design carved into the side and legs of the table. As Jen mentioned on her site, this level of detailed carving was not accessible for her until now.  How? X-Carve Pro is shipped with pre-assembled and tuned axes, shortening the user’s assembly time and increasing accuracy to +-.001 . Combined with the fast, powerful 2hp spindle, the X-Carve Pro is able to quickly carve even the most intricate patterns.  Inventables Customer Support As Jen was setting up her project, she contacted John from our customer success team to ask about the best way to organize her carve. If you are uns

Forget time and size limits. With our latest X-Carve Pro system, you’ll only be limited by your imagination. The X-Carve Pro paired with the power of Easel pro will let you tackle the big jobs and get them off the machine faster. The origami door that Jonny takes on may be one of those projects. It’s a really cool alternative to a regular door and is a fun build. It uses ¾” thick birch plywood & ¼” acrylic, has a lot of carves, and several pieces that have to fit tightly together. It's the perfect project for the X-Carve Pro CNC Solution and Easel Pro software.  Not sure how the CNC software and machine work together? Jonny gives a great explanation. Look for it near the beginning of his video. In short, CNC, or Computer Numerical Control, the software sends instructions known as g-code to the router telling it how far side-to-side, back-and-forth, and up-and-down to go (x, y, and z-axis). There are a few features of the Easel Pro and the X-Carve Pro that really come in handy

Unless you’re knee-deep in the manufacturing industry, chances are you’re not too familiar with CNC machining. Let us introduce you to the awesome world of X-Carve and CNC technology! X-Carve CNC Machine Simply put, the X-Carve is an automated carving machine that can turn a slab of wood, a sheet of metal, or a block of foam or plastic into just about anything you can imagine. “CNC” stands for “computer numerical control” which means the X-Carve takes inputs from a computer and makes precise cuts using a mill, router, lathe, and other tools. For decades, CNC machines have been used in the manufacturing industry. Many of the products that surround us, from the device you’re using to read this to the furniture you’re sitting on, were created using CNC machines. Think of it like a 3-D printer. But instead of adding material to create an object, CNC machines use a ‘subtractive’ process, carving out your piece from a larger starting material. At Inventables, we’ve taken this technology out

Our community at https://discuss.inventables.com/ has a lot of great contributors. We will be featuring some of their work, and sharing their tips & experience using the X-Carve and the Easel software .  Phillip Lunsford of PawPaw's Workshop, a lifelong woodworker, joined our CNC carving community about 4 years ago. He has been a great contributor to the community, sharing thoughts, designs, and advice. Today, we are sharing his video on creating layered signs using the Easel software.  You will hear Philip mention several times, “It looks more complicated than it is.”  One thing we hear from people who are interested in CNC carving but haven’t jumped in yet is that it looks kind of difficult. One of the great aspects of the Easel software and the X-Carve is how well integrated they are. Of course, you can use Easel with other machines too, but the two together make for a great CNC carving experience. Below are some broad steps and takeaways from his video. Watch the video fo

 It’s getting close to the gift-giving holidays, and what better gifts to give than those that come from your own hands. You can create signs, shelves, tables, and even chairs with the CNC router. Instead of spending time looking for that perfect gift that might not be so perfect, make a gift that you know will be appreciated. These plans can be imported into the Easel software . Parametric Circle Cubby The parametric circle cubby shelf gives you a unique way to display small knick-knacks and is a great conversation starter. You don’t need any hardware to assemble the shelf, which makes people look twice at it to try to figure out how you put it together. Carve the entire shelf on the X-Carve Pro using 1/4-inch sheets. The pattern calls for MDF, but you can use acrylic or various types of plywood. The project uses a 1/8-inch bit for the bigger cuts and a 1/16-inch bit for smaller cuts. The project takes a little over an hour from selecting your material through putting it together. Ot

  Whether you are doing a small repair job around the house or building furniture, there are a few essential tools you must have. These tools are ideal for every skill level, and they are designed to make your work easier. Some of these essential tools can handle a wide range of repair jobs and woodworking jobs. And let’s be honest as a DIYer, you can never have too many tools, but there are a few essential tools that every DIYer must know about and have in their workshops. The Essential Tools Every DIYer Must Know About Miter saw A miter saw is the most frequently used power tool in any workshop. This saw can cut through several materials, including ceramic tiles and lumber. A miter saw is a unique tool that features a swing-arm with a blade that can pivot to the right or left and make an angled cut. This saw can make quick cuts for window casing, door frames, picture frames, and crown molding. Woodwork Nation advises that every DIYer must learn how to use a miter saw. After all, ver

 Over the years, we’ve watched so many inspiring businesses begin using X-Carve. Most of these started as part-time projects, a side-hustle to make a little money. But then they grew into something more serious. We’ve spent thousands of hours talking with these owners to understand what they need as they expand, hire employees, and grow. They want to build products faster, carve with more precision and take on larger projects. Today, we’re excited to announce a solution for businesses that are ready to grow, the X-Carve Pro. The X-Carve Pro includes major upgrades to our hardware, software and support. Our software, Easel Pro, now includes a Tiling feature so you can carve full 4’ x 8’ sheets seamlessly. This opens up possibilities for batch manufacturing, furniture, cabinetry, built-ins, molds and massive signs. The X-Carve Pro comes in two models—4x2 and 4x4—so both handle full sheets in a much smaller footprint. We also added a new library with over 3 million pieces of artwork. Sign

It's October, which means that goblins, ghosts, and witches are on everyone's mind. And while it may not be certain what kind of celebrations will be able to take place this All Hallow's Eve, with the CNC machine you can create decorations and more that everyone can safely enjoy. Here's a roundup of a few of our favorite CNC carving projects for getting into the Halloween spirit.  Yard Decorations The front of the home is the perfect place to declare your love for all things spooky. Halloween Tombstones can transform an everyday lawn into a classic horror movie setting. This free pattern is cheap to execute, and comes in various versions, including one for "Paul Tergeist" and another for "Dr. Acula." You can make them out of foam hardboard insulation or use plywood. With a 1/8" bit the project takes about 20 minutes per headstone for ones made from insulation.  Another option for garden decorations is the Ghost Yard Sign . Just menacing enough

Many people find woodworking to be a fulfilling hobby and consider opening a woodworking business; they realize they have a talent and skill others are willing to pay for. For such a person, with the right aptitude and ambition, there is no greater career path than doing something they love on a daily basis. But, as a wise person once said, “If it were easy, everyone would do it.”  Three important aspects of starting a woodworking business are 1) understanding how to run a business, 2) having the knowledge and aptitude to be capable to start that type of business, and 3) understanding the level of dedication it takes to find success.  The fact is, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 20% of small businesses fail in the first year, 40% fail in the first five years, and 65% don't last more than ten years. Those figures aren't meant to discourage anyone from opening a new business but provide realistic expectations as to the dedication required for success. Differences bet

  Between lumber, clamps, bits, and other tools and materials for a CNC machine, woodshops have a habit of getting disorganized—and fast. Wouldn’t it be nice to put those tools to work on some projects that will keep all of your most-used items neatly organized and ready to go? Try out some of the ideas below, or use them as inspiration to create your own CNC designs! A Bit Tray This one is essential in any woodshop featuring a CNC machine. You need a place to keep bits organized—and this project features an extra nice touch, which is a slot for the wrench you’ll use to change bits. Feel free to personalize it with text, or if you want extra storage, you can also make larger compartments to hold loose bits and other odds and ends. Storage for Your Clamp Set Tired of digging through disorganized clamps to find the right size for your next project? Make a custom clamp holder to keep all the pieces in place, organized by size. This is another project that is easily customized, too. If y

Alright, so you have a really cool project to work on with your   CNC machine . You’ve already set up the software and machine to get the cutting done—easy and precise. You are ready to assemble your project and starting to consider the final color. Wood is easy to paint, but a beautiful piece of wood is stunning when stained. Here are seven staining tips for creating an even glow for   your wooden project . Get the Right Equipment Stain can be messy and it’s permanent, so treat it like paint. Wear safety goggles to ensure nothing splatters in your eyes (especially with oil-based stain), gloves to keep it off of your hands and old clothing you don’t care about. You might need a drop cloth to ensure nothing gets on the floor or tracked around on your shoes. Test on Scrap Always have an extra board that you can test colors on. You might find the end color just doesn’t look how you thought it would. You may find that you need to create a thicker or thinner layer to get the color you want.

Stuff just has a habit of piling up around the home. If you're around the house more, it's the perfect time to get organizing. But sometimes finding the right place for everything you need to keep on hand requires building that right place. A CNC machine is perfect for building organizational tools that will keep your house tidy. Wall Organizers The   Entryway Wall Organizer  is perfect for those who like to be able to drop it all when they walk in the door.  Based on a pegboard, this modular system allows you to change the configuration of hooks and shelves based on updating storage needs. It provides a space for hanging jackets, hats, bags, as well as glasses, keys and even electronics. Designed by Kati Farrer to be made with birch plywood, the project is 28 by 36 by 0.73 in. and uses an 1/8 in. bit.  For those who want a smaller catchall that's perfect for both the entryway or the kitchen, the   Sunglasses/keys/mail organizer   is a great choice.  This free design by Nic