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--- kit:ponoko_guide [2020/07/29 09:26] – admin
+++ kit:ponoko_guide [2026/05/27 10:51] (current) – steve
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ====== Ponoko Guide ======
+[[https://www.ponoko.com/|ponoko.com]] is a commercial laser-cutting service that many people have used to get the laser cut plastic parts for their CrowBox project. We have also ordered several sets of CrowBox parts from Ponoko and we're happy to suggest them to you as a source for your CrowBox parts.
-One of the easiest ways to make a CrowBox of your own is to order the laser-cut CrowBox housing parts from  Ponoko, a popular online laser-cutting service. To do so you need to make your own account at [[https://ponoko.com|Ponoko]] and upload the {{ :kit:ponoko_crowbox_files.zip |Ponoko crowbox files}}. (Ponoko has size limits on file uploads so this package is split into six files - you need to open the .zip file first and upload the six files packaged within.)
+For convenience, we have set up two different shared shopping carts at Ponoko.com, which you can use to easily order the laser-cut plastic parts for your CrowBox housing. We have set it up so that you can choose one of two color schemes:
-Once the parts arrive, check out our [[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpfDKGsrnBESVeekIrV1mNA?view_as=subscriber|YouTube Channel]] for step-by-step assembly videos.
+  *[[https://www.ponoko.com/share/9a1190d6-7961-4b17-aecd-cf431bd6019f|3rd Generation Crowbox parts with BROWN colored solid parts]]
+  *[[https://www.ponoko.com/share/ad670da0-71b3-4cfd-96cd-c965a4e785a5|3rd Generation Crowbox parts with GREEN colored solid parts]]
-Note that Ponoko shipping charges make up a big chunk of the final cost of a single set of parts - it's much more price-effective if you and a friend order your sets of parts together. Huge thanks to Danita Craft for pulling these together; see [[https://groups.google.com/g/crowboxkit/c/9xb9-OHnaKQ/m/a6WmhurxAQAJ?pli=1|this thread]] for more info.
+We prefer the brown color but green is available in case you'd prefer it!
-**Disclaimer:** //We have bought several sets of CrowBox parts from Ponoko in order to verify their quality and accuracy. We have had good customer service experiences with them, as well. For these reasons, we're happy to recommend Ponoko as a place for you to buy your parts. Ponoko charges fees for materials, manufacturing services, and shipping but we have no financial interest or affiliation with them. We receive **no** money when parts are bought at Ponoko - we're just making a service recommendation.
+(You will need an account at Ponoko in order to use either of these links to order your parts)
+**Important — material thickness:** Cast acrylic sheet has been running variable in recent years. When you order through the shared carts above, Ponoko will see an internal note we've attached requesting close-to-3mm material. As a belt-and-suspenders measure, please **also** email [[mailto:hello@ponoko.com|hello@ponoko.com]] after placing your order with your order number and the message: //"Please use close to 3mm material thickness as possible."// This noticeably improves the fit of the slot-and-tab joints during assembly.
+Once the acrylic parts arrive, check out our [[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpfDKGsrnBESVeekIrV1mNA?view_as=subscriber|YouTube Channel]] for step-by-step assembly videos.
+**Disclaimer:** //We have bought several sets of CrowBox parts from Ponoko in order to verify their quality and accuracy. We have had good customer service experiences with them, as well. For these reasons, we're happy to recommend Ponoko as a place for you to buy your parts. Ponoko charges fees for materials, manufacturing services, and shipping but we have no financial interest or affiliation with them. We receive **no** money when parts are bought at Ponoko - we are simply making a service recommendation.
 //