Side Project: CNCBadges


Want something different for your latest PC? I’m starting to offer custom CNC cut case badges made on my mill. I’m starting off with 1″ x 1″ badges made from .125″ thick 6061 aluminum alloy. The test cuts above should give you a decent idea of what I’m talking about. (The edges are a bit rough because I need to order some proper engraving bits.) I’ve just about gotten the kinks out, so I’m going to start accepting orders now. Engraved badges are $6 and shipping’s just $1 in the US. Everything is very, very beta – let me know if you have any questions.

Eliot said that I could pimp my little venture if I give away some Hack-A-Day badges. So drop a comment – I’ll pick five or so at random (unless you’re a tool) to receive a free badge with the Hack-A-Day logo. I *might* consider offering Hack-A-Day badges to raise money for the EFF, but it’s still up in the air.

114 thoughts on “Side Project: CNCBadges

  1. They look pretty good, but 1 question – how thick are those badges?

    It could just be zoomed in really close… but those look like some chunky badges.

  2. hey hardwire here from Australia these badges look great and i would like some hackaday swag please lol :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D keep up the good work guys

  3. HAHA look at all the post from the newbs wanting a new badge. anyway looks awesome would look really well in black brushed aluminum too.try them on different materials and see how they come out.otherwise they look great.

  4. Wow thats so cool. Ive always wanted to build my own CNC machine but never had the motivation. I am an engineering student and a programmer so it wouldnt be too hard for me lol.

  5. Yet another incentive to build a CNC machine. Looks good. The question is: where would it look better, on a high-end rig or the old Apple Mac Plus (for nostalgic purposes).

  6. Sweet. I’ve been thinking about hacking myself up a CNC machine for a while, but mainly don’t have the time. Glad to see you’re having fun with yours. :)

  7. Very nice, I have an old Unimat mill that I very much want to turn into a cnc, and every time I see a project involving diy cnc, it just makes me more enthusiastic about the whole diy lifestyle!

    -Naiden

  8. WANT. WANT. WANT. Also would LOVE Hack A Day Stickers.. and T shirts… and everything wonderful under the Moon’s night sky. :]

  9. those are pretty cool, and it looks like your mill has pretty decent resolution. nicely done…i like the idea of using these to help support the effort. keep up the good work!

  10. Hey I ordered a bunch already, one for each pc that I am building, but how about one for the hood of my car?

    I am the guy who got the hackaday tattoo after all…

    Either way nice work.

  11. If you were hacking a case, you could just cnc the stuff right into the case. I am customizing a rackmount case right now, but I have no cnc equip. If I had one, I would have to take on a second job to feed it material for all my projects :)

  12. Those are quite simply the dogs gonads! No doubt about it. One would look amazing when it covers up the nasty Dell logo on my PC at work.

    Add me to the draw for some Hack A Day swag too!

  13. Everyone else “Don’t need no stinking badges!”, but I do. That’s a cool idea. Are you just making them with Hack-A-Day logo’s or can we get other things engraved for an added fee?

  14. Add me to the chance to win, cause it might end up on a thinclient I am modding for my site (Not up yet.)

    And any chance you can try a cutout instead of an engraving? How does it look like on .092″ aluminum flashing? Can you pick up a small sheet (6″x10″ for .35 cents at home depot) and try it out with the hackaday logo outline? I use the flashing as prototyping for metal designs, but its all diagonal cutters, tin snips, and ball point hammer for what I do. I don’t have a fancy smancy cnc mill.

  15. Engraved bits would “pop-out” even more if some paint was wiped in to the grooves and then wiped away from the surface. That being said, you could offer a black, red, blue, green etc.. option.

    Throw in some DIY anodizing and you’ll have tons of options. But a green anodized Hackaday badge with black accents would be just right. ;)

    http://astro.neutral.org/anodise.shtml

  16. Very cool idea. A few questions. Will you do different shapes and sizes? What kind of detail can you do? Hopw deep is the engraving and can you get them anodized in different colors?

  17. Oh man I’d love to be picked to BUY at least three for my various machines-wait- make that four!

    Coolest logo ever!

  18. Kickass idea, I’ve already got a laser engraved top to my case. Would be awesome to have my own custom fan grill. Maybe i’ll buy one for ya.

  19. if i hadn’t already ordered a badge for my case i would’ve gotten one of these, they’re WAYYY cooler. and a Hack-A-Day badge would look sweet proudly displayed on my case!!!

    :)

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