I’m going to have a special guest in my workshop for a while: an Epilog Mini 24 45 watt laser cutter. This is entirely thanks to Epilog Laser down in Golden Colorado. Here’s today’s hackit: If you had access to your own 45 watt laser cutter – with a 12″ x 24″ work surface, what would you make with it?
Oh, and there’s a prize on this one. Whoever comes up with the best idea will get a free laptop engraving session. (You can always just ship me the display cover.) You can have your own art put on, or we can always tattoo your machine with the Hack-A-Day logo.
(Pictured is Ladyada’s laser cutter. Mine’s coming tomorrow!)
I would go along the lines of tools building tools.
Using the laser cutter to cut out the pieces to build a CNC router.
like this one
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-a-Three-Axis-CNC-Machine-Cheaply-and-/
it has the plans as a dxf file.
I’ve wanted to get my thinkpad engraved for a long time, but still haven’t come up with exactly what I want yet. I did quite a bit of illustrator work a few years back, maybe that’d be something worth while.
I do have a few ideas though:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/GPN-2000-001978.jpg
Or maybe another iconic scientific drawing, maybe the golden ratio – maybe something like a cuttlefish would be nice. Or perhaps Pi to some ridiculous number of digits. In a similar vein a copy of the constitution would be nice as well.
Or engrave the text of one of my favorite books. DeCss code would be another good option, or something else equally “hackaday” worthy.
I think the best thing to do would be to get an M.C. Esher drawing or find an optical illusion.
So many ideas
I would dissemble it of course. Then i would code a Nethack clone that uses the laser cutter as live graphical output instead of the monitor.
And later you could rescale the x/y onto a wall in your room and etch your very own XXL wallpaper!
Hmmm that’s sounds like a new project…
Since I am working in Antarcitca, I would have to put a giant USAP (united states antarctic program) logo on my Mac Pro.
I would sand my guitar body, laser etch an awesome design on it like this gibson: http://www.productappeal.com/photos/uncategorized/gibson_custom_shop_les_paul_engraved_ele.jpg
Then clear varnish it so it lasted for ever!
It would look amazing!
We use a 10w laser at my work and im allways trying to figure out new things to do with it.
one of the fun things to do was to take a block of chocolate(the back of a Hershey’s bar works well) and etch a photo into it with the laser.
Glass comes out well, and so does acrillic. so far ive been able to cut 1 inch thick acrylic with one pass with the laser, but it has to be on the slowest setting. It cuts vinyl better than out vinyl cutter, just make sure the air pump doesnt suck the vinyl out. ive lasered patterns in my phone, psp, pda, and even some food!
oh yeah stamps are fun too!! hackaday stamps would be cool.
I am not sure of the power requirement, but using a laser engraver to laser-etch PBC boards would be sweet. Advantages are:
– No transfer of toner to copper-clad PCB
– No Chemicals !!!!
– 1200 DPI would make this SO precise you could really have tight traces.
– No damage to a favorite shirt because you didn’t take it off while you were etching even though your wife told you you should… I’m just sayin’.
Paul H
If I had a chance with this laser cutter, I would craft replica aircraft panels, such as overhead and also MIP, pedestal panels, This in fact has a demanding market for this type of work. Also the panels would have to be back lit too, which I’m sure would be no problem. If this can be done on a mass scale along with proper marketing and getting to know the sim world, you would shape a nice future for your self, if you can mass produce. And no I dont want a laptop engraved thing.
so many great ideas here i love it
cut and etch me some real stylish business cards!!!
The company I worked for basically fired me for actually using my mind in my daily job. I was trying to implement too many things to imnprove production and the bottom line! I have been researching laser cutters and if I had one I would start my own company and take the little business they have left (laser cutting mylar).
seriously, this blog is awesome . I think im gonna stick around and read about 5 of your posts. Truly yours
Nice! looking forward to more entries from you..
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can someone help me please
i have work with this machine and want to engrave image on balsa wood…..
then, it turned out that the fire ignite from the wood while engraving….can sombody tell me wat the suitable setting for this type of wood…?
the setting i use before is power 100% and speed 70%…
tqvm
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Thats a lovely post! I’m so pleased you decided to publish it.
I would dissemble it of course. Then i would code a Nethack clone that uses the laser cutter as live graphical output instead of the monitor.And later you could rescale the x/y onto a wall in your room and etch your very own XXL wallpaper!Hmmm that’s sounds like a new project…
I was reading the ingredients needed for pad see ew….what is “sen yai”?