Laser Etching a Laptop 271
ptorrone writes "I didn't really plan using a $20,000 laser cutter on my 17" PowerBook to etch a 19th-century engraving of a tarsier, a nocturnal mammal related to the lemur (also the vi book cover), but it seemed like it had to done. The results are stunning..."
Re:Copyright (Score:2, Informative)
Few to no reasons to be concerned about the laser (Score:4, Informative)
I know $20k seems like a lot of money for a machine to slashdotters, a $20k laser system won't be cutting, IIRC, laser cutters go around $200k and up. $20k is mid-to low end for laser etchers though. I considered financing a $10k etcher, but I didn't know how I could make it pay for itself, unlike the techies and investors in the '90s bubble, I wanted a good business model to justify spending money.
hehehe (Score:3, Informative)
nothing new (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Copyright (Score:4, Informative)
I have a feeling they are okay with it, plus the burned image is derived from the original, not from O'Reilly. I'm not sure that you read the article at all.
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Evan
Re:Etching provides security. (Score:5, Informative)
Owner: "I'd like to report my laptop stolen."
Cop: "I see. Does it have any unique markings to help us identify it?"
Owner: "Yes, it has a large image of tarsier permanently etched into the cover."
Cop: "Excellent!"
Re:security etching? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:O'Reilly art Creative Commons licensed? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Warranty... (Score:3, Informative)
Re:security etching? (Score:5, Informative)
Each color of ink is applied separately with a separate plate- cyan, magenta, yellow, black, and then usually a glossy coating. Sometimes special metallic colors are applied in subsequent press units. So, you would never put the whole lemur like they did on one plate unless it was a black-and-white printing. This was a very SMALL plate laser etcher as magazines are pretty small and do not run on standard presses, which are about 40-48" wide and print things such as cereal boxes, beer cases, and the like.
Re:Where and how much? (Score:5, Informative)
http://www.etchamac.com/ [etchamac.com]
UNIX as well (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Cool idea, ugly execution (Score:1, Informative)
Re:I'd be worried (Score:1, Informative)
Different kind of CNC (Score:2, Informative)
I'd be worried about putting my laptop in there. For one thing, CNC machines are made to handle solid chunks of metal, not delicate electronics, so they tend to jerk things around a lot. I would be affraid of my HD crashing. Also, CNC machines tend to be filled with, and generate, lots of metal dust, which does not make electronics happy.
Not all CNC machines cut metal, or make chips and dust. Yes, CNC mills do, but this is actually a CNC Laser Engraver. They make no dust, and the laptop sits still. The Laser is mounted on a moving rail above the platform. If you've seen a flatbed pen plotter, this works in the same fashion. As the head moves across the rail, the laser zaps small dots (burn marks) onto the surface. After it has completed each pass, the rail moves down to the next row and the process is repeated.
It is cool and you'll likely find one in a local trophy shop. Bring your art along in a common format (usually TIF, EPS, DXF, AI... NOT JPG) and they'll import it and burn. I'm sure they will look at you funny and give you the old "we ain't never done no computer before" line.