Laser cut props: What would you want made?

[Risu]

The simple ones look exactly like laser etching to me. I feel like there could be a seam in the center and the designs could be sandwiched, but I can't tell without seeing it rotated. I can do it either way, just the sandwiched one would possibly have little bubbles or be a little hazy from glue.

 

[Bluebox303]

Well then etching is probably the best way to go!

 

[greatwazoo42]

8th Doc big finish sonic?

 

[TimeyWhimyStuff]

Clear acrylic case for an Osterhagen Key? Provided Doc makes the internals in his next run of 3D printed goodies.

 

[Risu]

Having seen the 8th sonic up close, I don't think a laser cutter would be able to pull it off.

The Osterhagen key case might be possible. Were dimensions ever figured out?

 

[TimeyWhimyStuff]

Having seen the 8th sonic up close, I don't think a laser cutter would be able to pull it off.

The Osterhagen key case might be possible. Were dimensions ever figured out?

Not exactly, guesstimated 2.5" square, 0.5" deep in this thread.

http://www.therpf.com/f9/my-doctor-who-osterhagen-key-replica-58915/

 

[Beer_Money_Props]

What Makerspace are you working with? The local one here in LB seems to mostly be for kids...

Does the one you're using have 3D printers available? It would be kinda cool to get my hands on some 3D printing processes/lessons before I buy one of my own.

 

[Risu]

It's a place called Factory eNova in Fountain Valley. They have 3 laser cutters and the lowest end 3D printer imaginable. The printing isn't really valuable for anything, really low resolution and it can't print anything without filling all of the space below it with support "struts" (just as densely packed as the actual object, impossible to break off)

I would agree with those measurements. Actually the rest of the prop could be done with a laser cutter as well.

 

[Lunaman]

What about stencils? Like a stencil that would allow people to apply the raised "chainmail" pattern from the Man of Steel suits to their choice of fabric? Or a laser-cut stencil for an Amazing Spider-Man 2 back spider, that would allow people to cast a thin appliance in urethane, latex, or silicone?

 

[Risu]

Any stencil with pieces connecting everything together (like the center of a letter O or P) can be made with the laser cutter.

 

[Lunaman]

Any stencil with pieces connecting everything together (like the center of a letter O or P) can be made with the laser cutter.

Yea, in order for any pattern or shape to be applied with a stencil, it has to be made of free-floating shapes that are non-self-intersecting simple polygons or otherwise topologically equivalent to a disk, but it's great to hear the cutter is equipped to make custom stencils. Lots of possibilities there.

 

[Beer_Money_Props]

It's a place called Factory eNova in Fountain Valley. They have 3 laser cutters and the lowest end 3D printer imaginable. The printing isn't really valuable for anything, really low resolution and it can't print anything without filling all of the space below it with support "struts" (just as densely packed as the actual object, impossible to break off)

Bah! Won't waste my time looking there for what I want then. Although it may be cool to check out anything else they may have going on. I'll pop over to their site and see if there's going to be a meetup next month. The only other place that even looks like it'd have what I'm looking for is in West Hollywood (I think) and that's a drive I'd rather not make just to tinker around...
Thanks for the info!

 

[Dynofiend]

Just something to bear in mind, it's not really the laser time or material that you pay for when you have something cut (both are relatively cheap), it's the time it takes to make, and perfect the CAD pattern.

 

[Risu]

Laser cutting materials are relatively cheap, I wouldn't necessarily say the time is cheap. If you own your own laser cutter, yea. But drawing up the art is definitely the most time consuming part.

 

[Bluebox303]

anything on those crystals?

 

[Dynofiend]

Laser cutting materials are relatively cheap, I wouldn't necessarily say the time is cheap. If you own your own laser cutter, yea. But drawing up the art is definitely the most time consuming part.

I think that was what I was trying to say

The place I use charges NZ$2 per minute of cutting. As you know, most things take seconds to cut, so even cutting a bunch of small parts only costs a small amount of money. Added to that, the plastic can be pretty cheap when bought in bulk (as this place does) and cut up into smaller sheets for hobbyist use.

 

[Risu]

That's great for you. I buy all my plastic myself, the place doesn't supply it. And on average, cutting parts out of a full sheet of acrylic takes between 12 and 45 minutes, depending on the parts. Laser cutters aren't instantaneous, it still takes them time to cut the material.

 

[xl97]

i say check out all the local makerspaces in your area... there is NO standard.. and every space has machines/equipment..

for example my local MS has everything I could ever want to use

laser cutters (several, various sizes)
3D printers (tons of them, Replicators, Mendels, Megas... even a Stratasys)
Sewing/craft lab
electronics lab
woodshop
metal shop (CNC routers, mills, lathes, bandsaws,..etc)

if youre member.. you can use anything once you have been trained/signed off on it..

if not a member.. you can usually still use the equipment.. but pay a small fee for consumables (acrylic, laser time..etc)

new tubes for laser are NOT cheap usually, ranging from $3-400.. up to $1000 for a new tube.. and maybe even more depending on your model/watts

notonly are makerspace great for equipment/machiene access.. the community and its members are great to learn from!.

(we regularly have classes and events for people to learn or take part of)

 

[TLaser]

LMAO... Learn your lasers and the things they can do, do a little research....
Lasers come in several flavors.. the ones you see in most places are CO2 lasers and no those will not under normal circumstances cut metals or etch them, you step up to YAG lasers for etching metals etc. Several wattage levels exist which will determine the speed and thickness of your materials to be cut. By no mean is this a complete education of the subject but your facts are so far off base that I just could not stop laughing, research research research you will find the answers you seek. A word to the wise, SEVERAL types of "PLASTICS" should NEVER be cut with a laser or even etched for that matter, the fumes and gasses are morbidly hazardous to your health and will almost instantly ruin your optics and electronics in your laser not to mention the effects on your health and the environment. Use caution when you laser materials that you are not 100 percent sure are safe to work with.

 

[Risu]

So you came in here just to be rude?

First of all, I have access to 3 laser cutters, all the same type. I don't have a say in what type of lasers they buy for their shop, and I am aware of what materials they can and can't cut. I am also well aware of fumes and not to cut certain plastics, as are the people that run the place. I haven't once in this thread said anything about cutting those types of plastics. So before you come in here acting like a complete tool, maybe just read all the posts and understand the situation.

Oh and xl97, as Bayouwolf mentioned up above, the area isn't heavily populated with maker spaces like that. I have my own sewing setup though, and wood working tools and a mill at work, so they weren't high on my list of things I was looking for.