No laser? Get your laptop etched for free!

posted Mar 17th 2008 9:50pm by Will O'Brien
filed under: contests

Want to get your laptop custom etched… for free? During the next couple of months, I’ll be giving away some free etching sessions. How do you get one? Just submit a fresh new hack via the tips line. If it makes the cut and gets published, you’ve got a chance to get your laptop or gadget etched in this 45 watt epilog laser cutter. Here are a few guidelines to help you win:

Make sure it’s fresh. Use google for 10 seconds to make sure it hasn’t been published on a major blog already.
Make sure it’s got a picture – everybody likes a good visual aid.
You’ll be more likely to win if you’re submitting your own work.

Good luck!

Comments [28]

Reader Comments

what would you get etched into it? and yay 1st comment

Posted at 10:59 pm on Mar 17th, 2008 by drew

Can you etch plastic? I want to get my eeepc done.

Posted at 11:33 pm on Mar 17th, 2008 by McCheese

Can we see results of your etchings as you produce them?

Posted at 12:04 am on Mar 18th, 2008 by dualdflipflop

I’ll be putting up examples as I have them to show off. Right now I’m waiting for someone to pick the image for that powerbook…

Posted at 12:11 am on Mar 18th, 2008 by Will O\'Brien

Remember Kids.
Etchings are for life!

Posted at 1:19 am on Mar 18th, 2008 by DarkAxi0m

or at least for the life of the laptop, which usually is only a few years anyways.

Posted at 2:06 am on Mar 18th, 2008 by Sean

Yeah, etching a laptop is more like a piercing… You are stuck with it for a while, and if it is unusual/different, get used to people doing a doubletake.

But if it is what you want, it is all worth it, right?

Posted at 7:15 am on Mar 18th, 2008 by joey y

#5 and #6 – For AL and Ti PowerBooks, replacement (used) shells are a dime a dozen, and the outer surface is paint. Can anybody say “niche business model?”

Posted at 11:35 am on Mar 18th, 2008 by Marty

so let me get this straight, if i submit a hack and it makes front page. i get my laptop etched for free? or is this a raffle type thing where a front page hack is a ticket…

Posted at 11:41 am on Mar 18th, 2008 by elliott

“If it makes the cut and gets published, you’ve got a chance to get your laptop or gadget etched in this 45 watt epilog laser cutter.”

If it gets put up, you’ve got a shot. We’ll pick a recipient every week or two. – every 7 to 14 days. If it gets put up, you’ve got at least a 1 in 14 chance.

Posted at 11:47 am on Mar 18th, 2008 by Will O\\\\\\\'Brien

ah, thank you.

Posted at 12:11 pm on Mar 18th, 2008 by elliott

Damn, I would love my laptop to get etched.

Posted at 1:27 pm on Mar 18th, 2008 by EvilD

Is it possible to purchase some time on the table, and what are the maximum dimensions of the piece

Posted at 1:44 pm on Mar 18th, 2008 by noaccount

Hmm, i got a couple hacks ive been meaning to post. I dont know how the Navy would take it, if i got my laptop etched lol.

Would definitly be badass lol *submitting later tonight*

Posted at 1:48 pm on Mar 18th, 2008 by AnthonyG

yo i made a nifty pic that would look sweet on the back of that mac lappy if you only engraved the black lines and scaled it to center up with the logo already on the case… link below! (link is to a coppermine gallery in the backend of my website.)

http://ohiopctech.com/cpg/displayimage.php?album=6&pos=0

–chr0n1c

Posted at 6:07 pm on Mar 18th, 2008 by chr0n1c

being as though its a MAC in the machine couldn’t you set it to cut

Posted at 6:13 pm on Mar 18th, 2008 by Chaoss

Oh man, I’m am sooooo getting etched. I just need a few more days to put together the video…

Posted at 6:20 pm on Mar 18th, 2008 by a random John

hey everyone….
i got a use for a laser
that is both what i need etched
AND my submission to the contest to etch
heres a photoshop of my idea…
http://img296.imageshack.us/my.php?image=moonfaceob9.jpg

Posted at 10:06 pm on Mar 18th, 2008 by Frogz

What would it cost to etch. I don’t have any hacks at the moment but would like to get my MBP done to distinguish it from all the other ones at school.

Posted at 6:35 pm on Mar 19th, 2008 by DJax

While we are on the topic, where is a good place to get measurements or a template for preparing an image to be sent to an Epilog? I know a guy locally who has one and has done some tests on old Acer lids.

And for those asking… most place I have found are charging $30-40 to do it.

Posted at 1:36 am on Mar 20th, 2008 by tek

Tek: $30-$40 to do what exactly? Everyone I’ve seen doing laptop work is charging on the order of $100-$150. For normal, prepped jobs I can see it being cheaper. Small gadget work is usually $30-$40 that I’ve seen.

Posted at 11:20 am on Mar 20th, 2008 by Will O\'Brien

I used to be pretty handy with a pen and paper now I just hobby paint paintings on canvas and work in IT/IS, I do have a few sketches that would be cool etched into a laptop -top

etch this http://dashtray.net/Gallery/sketches2/98_G?full=1

Posted at 5:05 pm on Mar 20th, 2008 by dash

I have a laser cutter in my lab, and a mac book pro, any idea, on the settings, or what do you think is the best way to work on this?

Posted at 9:20 pm on Mar 21st, 2008 by totic

I was curious what type of software your running this machine through.

Posted at 12:53 pm on Mar 27th, 2008 by Ian

go to http://tagmypod.com (it is in France).
He uses the same laser.

Posted at 8:39 am on Apr 1st, 2008 by Orikata

Sorry first post, this one is up my alley.
@23: A high wattage laser cutter is likely going to be too powerful. If your laptop is metal, you will need a YAG, if plastic then other varieties such as CO2 would work as well.

My first stab at an anodized metal part would include the following:
-beam movement speed of 600mm/s
-Power equivalent of 7-7.5 CW Watts
-Repetition frequency of 30kHz (for low-value resonance chamber)

Posted at 4:30 pm on Apr 1st, 2008 by Alex

so nice pic, free Satellite view of my House ( your house) here http://www.satelliteimage-of-my-house.com

Posted at 7:32 pm on Apr 25th, 2008 by reggy

i need laptop

Posted at 6:52 pm on Nov 30th, 2008 by yasir ali khan