I have a project where I need some 1/8 (3.2mm) birch plywood laser cut. I was going to use Ponoko, but when I selected the 1/8 plywood, the only size they had was their P1 size (181mm x 181mm), I need P2 (384 x 384mm). Are there are services like Ponoko that can do this? i did some Google searching and didn't come up with anything.

Welcome to InkscapeForum!

I don't have an answer for you. We've had relatively very few "wood cutters" participating here. I have a background in forestry, which makes me interested in wood products, etc. But I had never heard of Ponoko. I have to say I'm struggling a bit with that concept. But if what you need is a particular size of "blank", and they just don't have the size you need, I'm thinking you surely can find it somewhere!

Is this a unique and custom project? Or does it have instructions? If there are instructions, perhaps the source of the instructions (magazine, author??) would have some tips for finding the right size?

Or.....what about getting the dimensions you need, except in a thicker (> 1/8") plywood? Oh wait, this is plywood? No, that probably wouldn't work. I was thinking of getting a greater thickness to get the dimensions you need, and then just plane it down. But that wouldn't work with plywood. And I guess using some other kind of wood won't work for this project?

You might have some luck at another forum -- Inkscape Cutting Design, which is for using Inkscape for the cutter/plotter community. I have the impression that it's mostly for those home project cutters (like school teachers). But it seems reasonable that there may be some wood cutters there. http://www.inkscapecuttingdesign.com/index.php?

OH! You know, sometime recently someone posted a link to a router forum (CNC, I think?). I realize you're not using a router, but they might have some tips for buying wood. The problem is that I'll never remember which topic that was, or who posted it. Maybe you should expand your internet search parameters?

I'm sorry I don't have an answer, but good luck

I can get the wood myself, I actually have some. The problem is Ponoko doesn't have a big enough size and you can't send them material. They try to be very efficient by only using certain sizes and only from their suppliers, which I understand.

The project is unique, it's a part for a radio control airplane. I designed the part on sketchup, then exported to inkscape.

So Ponoko would be doing the cutting? On wood that they provide? So you need someone else to do it? Oh gosh, yeah, I really have no idea about that. From what I read at the Ponoko site, they are a fairly unique organization in the industry. Actually almost a new kind of industry, I guess.

Well, I hope you can get it worked out. I guess I wouldn't be surprised if a current forum member has an idea -- these folks never cease to amaze me! However, it seems unlikely.... But you never know. Just keep checking back, and maybe someone else will find your message here from an internet search.

Good luck

This might be a little late for the original poster but might be useful to others.

Pololu also offers a laser cutting service and you can ship them your material.

https://www.pololu.com/product/749

Thanks,

-Arduino Enigma
http://arduinoenigma.blogspot.com