Inventables.com group buy - Acrylic and stuff

[funvill]

Hello 

https://www.inventables.com/ is a great source for acrylic (for the laser) and other interesting building/DIY materials. 

I am planning on ordering some colored acrylic to be used on the laser cutter for some Christmas gifts. 

They have flat shipping rate of $40.04 to Canada and decent turn around times. 

I am setting up a Group Buy to save on shipping. 

If you would like anything from Inventables.com please respond to this email with a list of items (Description, SKU#, and Quantity).

You must get your orders in by Thursday 5pm. 

I will be updating this spreadsheet as I go along. 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AhJObmAkq9Q2dDhhemZCSzc3eHpDcVRwN2JLbUloRFE#gid=0

The spreadsheet is editable by anyone so you can add/edit your own items on the list as you like. 

I have already added some examples and the formula that I will use to calculate how much you will be charged for shipping depending on others purchases. 

I will send a conformation and Paypal request for money on Thursday night to everyone on the list and set the spread sheet to read only. 

Since the duties and taxes are unknown I will calculate that after the parts have been delivered and ask for the extra money when I give it to you (COD)

Notes: 

• There is a sample set of all the different acrylics that they offer at the Hackspace (Thanks Richard)  https://www.inventables.com/technologies/acrylic-sample-kit 
• I do not know how much taxes or duties on this purchase, They will be added to your bill as a portion of the amount of items that you purchases. 
• I will be at VHS tonight to collect cash from the people that don't want to use Paypal. 
• [Q] I don't want to pay for shipping, aren't you already buying something, Can't I just piggy back on your order?
  [A] No, I want to pay less as well, we are going to split the shipping costs evenly. 
• [Q] I don't like paypal, is there another option? 
  [A] Yes, Cash but you must bring me cash on Tuesday night (tonight) 

- Steven Smethurst

abluestar.com

[Karl Brown]

Q. Why not buy from a local supplier ?

http://www.ippnet.com/plastics.html

-Karl

[funvill]

Hello 

[Q] Why not buy from a local supplier http://www.ippnet.com/plastics/acrylics/acrylic-sheet.html ? 

[A] I have purchased from them in the past for clear acrylic sheets, but they do not have the colors that I am looking for. They have a very limited supply of colors. 
Also the price difference is considerable $120 for a full size sheet of 40% transparent white from ippnet or $66 from Inventables.

- Steven Smethurst

abluestar.com

[Ninety Nein]

Along the lines of shipping costs, Sparkfun has free international shipping on 'Cyber' Monday.  Some restrictions probably apply.

As Karl points out, if you can get it at Lee's, you probably should.  Those guys are one of the last few electronics shops in the city, and good friends to Maker Faire and VHS.  BUT, if you need something they don't carry...

http://www.sparkfun.com/news/1011

[Karl Brown]

Hi

Just to be clear, I was suggesting that Industrial Plastics be checked out as a supplier, not Lee's.

And yes, I think we should support Lee's Electronics -even if a product might cost a few pennies more at Lees (which it almost never does).  Buy local.

That said, I think that Industrial Plastics often succumbs to the Canadian Way Eh.  Meaning that they might not go the extra mile to reduce their prices.

If you want some honest opinions (and loud ones) about Canadian Pricing, just ask Stephen (canadian Fly Fisher).  He's not shy about it.

-Karl 

[Ninety Nein]

Yes, I was just saying Lee's would be an alternative to SparkFun.

[Stephen Young]

Eh!  I started composing a reply to your original post TWICE and I thought better of it,  LOL!

Old age setting in?

This said, I support both Lee's and Main, dutifully and enthusiastically.

SDY

---

From: Karl Brown <senselessac...@gmail.com>
To: "vhs-g...@lists.hackspace.ca" <vhs-g...@lists.hackspace.ca>
Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2012 4:27:42 PM
Subject: Re: Inventables.com group buy - Acrylic and stuff

[Daniel DeGagne]

Put in my order on the google docs. Any chance you can move the cut off day for ordering till tomorrow? Its black Friday so may have some good deals on Inventables that we may want to add to our order. Also I doubt shipping will go out tomorrow. I know our suppliers are shipping anything till Monday.

Dan DeGagne

[funvill]

Hello.

Sure. end of tomorrow. Friday 5pm 

- Steven Smethurst

abluestar.com

[James Gregson]

I was under the impression that acrylic was a no-no on the laser due to fume complaints, is this not the case?

[Derek Anderson]

Acrylic is fine. Nylons/delrins/kaptons are sketchy (hydrogen cyanide gas), PVC is a no-no.

Note; this is assuming good fume extraction; Acrylic stinks, but shouldn't damage a laser cutter.

[funvill]

@James 

Acrylic is allowed, Lexan is NOT it contains chlorine

If you don't know what it is then it is NOT allowed. 

Because Acrylic and Lexan look the exact same !!!

- Steven Smethurst

abluestar.com

On Fri, Nov 23, 2012 at 1:34 AM, James Gregson <james....@gmail.com> wrote:

acrylic

[Ninety Nein]

If you're referring to the incident a few weeks ago where the acrylic smell was quite bad, we have addressed this by doing smaller batches, and taking breaks after every 20 minutes or so to let the fumes dissipate.  It's no longer an issue as long as these guide lines are followed.

[Karl Brown]

BTW,

Acrylic stinks no matter how you slice it.

I have cut thousands of feet of acrylic, using routers, jigsaws, hand saws, circular saws, scribers, and once, a steak knife (only once).  Every method (even using a stream of water directed on the cut) stinks.

Using our laser cutter is probably the least stinky method I've ever used. Nice.

-Karl

On Fri, Nov 23, 2012 at 9:35 AM, Derek Anderson <de...@armyofevilrobots.com> wrote:

[Adam Barlev]

I wanted to share this way to distinguish Acrylic and Lexan. I've heard several people mention that Acrylic and Lexan look identical, but I new there would be some kind of spectroscopic difference. Lexan is made with Bisphenol A, a compound which absorbs strongly in the UV. Acrylic is transparent in most of the UV unless it has  special additives. A test would go like this: Take a backlight and shine it on a piece of paper that fluoresces. Almost any will do. Then place the plastic in-between the blacklight and the paper. If fluorescence is blocked, its either Lexan or Acrylic with special additives. If the UV light is able to pass through the plastic and hit the paper making it fluoresce, it cant be Lexan.

Reference:

http://www.plasticgenius.com/2011/05/infrared-and-ultraviolet-transmission.html

Adam

[Paul Fisher]

There was also a small leak found in the fan that would allow the acrylic fumes to re-circulate into the room and the building.  The leak has been temporarily taped up, and at some point will be permanently sealed. 

[Karl Brown]

Hi.

Umm, with all respect (ad I mean that), the method using  fluorescence is not trustworthy.

Please don't use it.

Just as a quick example, a blacklight (such as one used for testing paper money -there are little strands embedded in the money which glow under black light) shining through either lexan or acrylic will cause the same effect. 

If you want a fail-proof test for lexan, place a corner of your material (sheet) in a vise, then hit the exposed part with a hammer.  If it shatters or cracks, it is not lexan.  If you have to hit it again and again and again just to make it bend, it is lexan.

-Karl

[funvill]

Hello 

For testing the difference between Acrylic and Lexan you can also score (cut in to)  acrylic and hit it with a hammer. 

If the plastic cracks down the score line its acrylic (acrylic shatters under direct hits) while Lexan will dent and bend under direct hits. 

Also Lexan will produce yellowish smoke if used mistakenly with the laser cutter 

That being said, if you don't know what the material is 100% then don't use it on the laser cutter. 

- Steven Smethurst

abluestar.com

[Kevin]

Agreed, if you don't know what it is don't put it in the laser cutter.

The CNC machine will be just as usable accurate and the particles created by cutting are much larger.  This CNC machine also won't break it down chemically, aside from some melting if you're cutting to quickly.

[Daniel DeGagne]

In case anyone missed the sale at inventables.

https://www.inventables.com/technologies/makerbot-replicator%E2%84%A2-3d-printer?utm_source=MadMimi&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Black+Friday+Deal&utm_campaign=20121123_m114348871_Black+Friday+Day+Deal&utm_term=thereplicator_chessset_small_1_jpg_3F1335203616

Replicator with single or dual extruders.

[Stephen Young]

safety glasses, it goes without saying...

SDY

---

From: Karl Brown <senselessac...@gmail.com>
To: "vhs-g...@lists.hackspace.ca" <vhs-g...@lists.hackspace.ca>

Sent: Friday, November 23, 2012 10:14:45 AM

[funvill]

Hello 

I have disabled edits on the document. 

I will be sending paypal money requests in the next hour and filling up the shopping cart. 

Please send me money before Monday. !!!!

- Steven Smethurst

abluestar.com

On Fri, Nov 23, 2012 at 5:11 PM, Tom Keddie <t...@bronwenandtom.com> wrote:

Hi Jenny,

I just corrected the formula that summed your total, it was missing one item.

Please recheck the spreadsheet to make sure you are still ok with the total amount you're spending.

Thanks,
Tom

-------- Original Message --------

Subject:	Inventables.com group buy - Acrylic and stuff

Date:	Tue, 20 Nov 2012 10:53:06 -0800
From:	funvill <fun...@gmail.com>
Reply-To:	vhs-g...@lists.hackspace.ca, fun...@funvill.com
To:	Vancouver HackSpace (vhs) <vhs-g...@lists.hackspace.ca>

[funvill]

Hello 

Everyone 

Shipping is $106 instead of $40. This is because we ordered so much different items. 

This will bring up the total cost beyond what my initial PayPal money request. 

I have updated the spreadsheet to reflect this change. We can handle the extra cost after the items get delivered. 

Tyson Haverkort, Michael Kessler

This item is only ships to United States (except AK, HI) and I have removed it from the order. 

• Acrylic Adhesive IPS Weld-On 3 (4oz) 25252-01

Tom Keddie

This item was marked in the spreadsheet as $20.13 but was $14.50 on the store.  (cheaper woot!)

• Clear Acrylic 12 in × 24 in 0.220 in

- Steven Smethurst

abluestar.com

[funvill]

Hello 

Still waiting on two people to pay me via paypal. 

I submitted the order anyways as it was less then %20 of the whole order. 

I have included the recite 

6-10 working days is the estimated shipping time. 

- Steven Smethurst

abluestar.com

[Tom Keddie]

Hi Steven,

I emailed you yesterday asking for the correct total, didn't hear back.
Should I adjust the paypal down to match one of the figures in the
spreadsheet?

Thanks,
Tom

--
VanHackspace (VHS) general list: vhs-g...@lists.hackspace.ca
http://vancouver.hackspace.ca/wp/mailing-lists/

[Michael Kessler]

Yikes, I guess I bought a lot.  Thanks for organizing this order.  Looking forward to building some word clocks for family members.

Anyone else making something awesome?

[funvill]

Hello 

I am attempting to make 

• A puzzle for my mother and the box (http://boxmaker.rahulbotics.com/) that it comes in 
• 2x Catan Sets (custom made) 
• A acrylic skull for my father http://www.123dapp.com/3dmk-Make/human-skull/771383  
• Custom made pendents 

- Steven Smethurst

abluestar.com

[Tom Keddie]

Hi,

I'm hoping to make a baseplate to attach to my wood router like http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=47162&cat=1,43000,51208.  Unfortunately inventables only sells the thicker acrylic in big sheets.   I want a teardrop plate so I can use it to cut circles in addition to using the guide bushing.

Once I have a baseplate I'm planning on cutting a few templates and using the guide bushing to cut a few signs.  I'll probably cut the templates from wood as it is cheaper and they'll mostly be single use (anyone else live at 2803?).

Cheers,
Tom

[Ninety Nein]

I imagine my acrylic will become mostly control panels for something or other.  I have my Midi controller working with the arcade buttons and an Adweeny, but I still have to use MIDI Yoke to convert the serial stream to MIDI.  I've seen a couple of articles about hacking apart a MIDI -> USB cable, so I might go that route...

Also this week I picked up some 1/8" and 1/4" birch ply, which I'm going to use to make something along the lines of this.

And Tom, if you only need a 6 1/2" circle for your router plate, I have some 1/4" smoky acrylic you can use (assuming 1/4" and not transparent are ok).  I would recommend designing it, cut it out on paper to confirm the fit, then laser out the final product.  Let me know if you need a hand drafting it.

[Tom Keddie]

Tyson,

Thanks for the kind offer, I think I'm ok - clear is helpful for routing too, sometime you want to trace stuff or ensure the cut isn't clogged with debris.  I bought some 0.220 in the group buy, I was actually looking for more like 3/8" or 1/2" for durability (for both the wood shop and stuff for the kids).

I'm getting better at Sketchup every day, I have it exporting dxf and cutting just fine (although I have seen mm->m scaling issues, that is easy to detect/overcome).  I'm using the exporter from http://www.guitar-list.com/download-software/convert-sketchup-skp-files-dxf-or-stl.  What do you use to draw things with?

I've built a "control panel" for my son's birthday, he's going to love the joystick etc.  I'm going to use one of the stellaris boards as they were cheap and have lots of I/O.  I need to recut the frontpanel with lower corner power, hoping to be in late Tuesday for some more action.

Cheers,
Tom