THE INVENTABLES WORKSHOP

Running any business is a challenge. You look for tools and partners that give you an advantage, and when you find them, you double down.  In 2015, Debbie Lee, owner of 8th Line Creations , purchased her first X-Carve. Since then, she has purchased larger X-Carve units to meet the growing demand for her woodworking and CNC business. It wasn’t just the X-Carve CNC machine though, it was the complete CNC solution, including the Easel Pro CNC Software .  Added value through customization and unique projects are common applications of the X-Carve & Easel Pro combination. Since Inventables designed the software and the hardware for ultimate compatibility, the speed from concept to product is very quick. This allows businesses to improve margin with added value pricing and save costs through faster production.  To get the most out of customization, combining a stock product with customizable features that can be applied within the production flow is a great way to add value in minimal t

Mother’s Day is nearly upon us. There are only a few weeks left to put together an amazing gift that will both show your love and appreciation as well as provide her with something useful or beautiful (or both!). There’s no better way to craft a handmade gift than with the X-Carve !  So whether you’re gifting a one-of-a-kind item to your own loved one or looking for ideas to expand your shop’s inventory, we’ve put together a list of fantastic project files to inspire your next amazing Mother’s Day project. (click on the images to see the project file) Signs, Frames, and Wall Art Signs are a staple of CNC projects. A flat surface provides makers with a blank canvas onto which they can carve whatever their imagination can come up with. This sign, created by David, is a great template for a mother’s day project. As far as signs go, the possibilities are endless. Any personalized design or inside joke can go a long way and the only limit is your imagination. But a flat sign isn’t all there

  As creatives, we’re always looking for new techniques to incorporate into our work, giving us more tools to turn our vision into reality. Today, we’ll be using a project by one of our makers as a case study to share a bit about one of the most fundamental woodworking techniques: joinery.  The DIRESTA Wood Stool is a great piece that uses three different types of joints to hold it all together. No screws or nails or anything but a slab of plywood, a bit of glue, and precision carving. Mortise and Tenon Joint Jimmy DiResta’s DIRESTA stool makes great use of a number of different joint types. The first of which we’ll be talking about is the mortise and tenon joint which is used to join the seat of the stool with the legs. The mortise and tenon is one of the oldest and most dependable joints in woodworking. You’ll see it all the time, especially in furniture making. The tenon is a tapered part of one piece and the mortise is a cavity cut into the adjoining member into which the tenon fi

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