I have become increasingly annoyed that inventables does not seem to sell anything that allows the max area of the 1000x1000mm machine to shine, or, at least “fits” it’s larger format.
so time and time again I find myself sourcing materials from places like AliBaba and waiting months for shipping and dealing with all the horrible problems (like chemicals in wood) and “language barriers” that come with dealing with the Baba marketplace…
Main Problem:
Take a look at anything in the inventables store and try to get it in a 24x24 or 35x35 size. Lets use MDF as an example. so, I get the 1000mm Xcarve, thinking I also have a source for materials here at inventables to make some 24x24 sized custom signs and wall art. Nope. lol, denied. Sure, there is black MDF, but not in 24x24, and not in 35x35, and not in 1/8, 1/4, 1/2 and 1" thicknesses…
Secondary Problem:
Take a look at anything in the inventables store and try to buy Matching sizes, for example, try to find 1/8th thick coated Acrylic in Gold/Black, Silver/Black, White/Black and Black/White. cant be done… then try to find it in 24x24, or something that takes advantage of the full 1000mm board. shut down again.
As for the MDF I did find this, eventually…
https://www.amazon.com/Valchromat-Collection-Colored-MDF-Fiberboard/dp/B07TDGKCJJ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Valchromat&qid=1581409869&s=hi&sr=1-1
I feel like inventables should have that in stock…
And for Acrylic there is a place called Pittsburgh Plastics that will cut huge Acrylic sheets down to size, so I got lucky there… but, I must buy full giant sheets, pay for cuts, heat gun remove the paper coating, sand, paint, wait, sand, paint again, ect… All of that I am fine with, but annoyed…
Anyway, I am surprised that the task of finding acrylic, MDF, Aluminum and coated acrylic for the 1000mm machine is so much more difficult that it ought to be.
So, this post is 1 part rhetorical - ‘squeaky wheel’ - with the hopes inventables will address the issue and provide materials for 1000mm setups, and, provide consistency between materials (ie: offer everything in 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 1" and at least the 12x12, 12x24, 24x24 and maybe even 35x35 )
And this is also 1 part question to the community: IE: where can I source Valchromat or colored MDF in large sizes like 24x24 and 35x35? without waiting a month for shipping? (note- even on Amazon the wait time is 20 days because its a 3rd party seller)
PS: I understand shipping and logistics is one of the problems here because of UPS, USPS and FedEx box sizes, alas, I feel that as a customer, that is not my problem to solve.
Here is the list of things I think (and honestly expected) to be available:
- Aluminum in 24x24 and 35x35 - Annodized, Black in 1/32, 1/16, 1/8 and 1/4
- Valchromat full color selection in 24x24 and 35x35 - 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and 1"
- Surface Color Coated Acrylics (Gold, Silver, Black, White, ect) in 24x24 and 35x35 - 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4t and 1" (whats in stock in the smaller sizes ought to match, ie: buying “matched material sets”)
- at the very least, match the size and thickness for similar products…