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Laser Machine and Our Hobbies , Idea Requested Please ...
Jasonmm:
Hi Everyone
I know this isnt the build your own entertainment center forums ... but I wanted to show you guys ... what a laser machine can do ... and get your suggestions on how you would use a laser machine in a mame machine build ... as this is the most creative group found anywhere on the internet !!!
There are a couple of rules using the laser machine ... The largest single peice is 24x18 inches , with a 12in deepth , it can engrave or carve ( raster ) anything ... but to cut ( vector ) it can do 1/2 inch plastics , but has a tough time with wood that size ( ie... several passes with the laser , however , if our able to turn you peice around , and cut from the other side , you can do 1/2 wood ... but thats the max for cutting )
Here is a trophy I did ... showing more detailed work ... the laser can handle easily ...
and made with this corel draw file ....
So how would you use the laser in your mame build ????
thanks Jason
drventure:
I could easily see something like that used to etch the artwork into a CP, then layering Plex over it.
Same with the marquee or side art, but the cabinet would just about have to be a woody.
Actually, for the marquee, I could see taking some veneer, mounting it to plex on the backside, using the laser to etch a design on the front (or hell, on the back even), such that when lit from behind you see the design because of the differing thickness of wood.
If you etched it on the back, when the inside light was off, the from would just be flat, which could have some interesting possibilities too.
Mysterioii:
What I would do is have regular printed marquee art, then use that art to come up with a design for the laser etcher that just brings out the highlights of the actual printed art. I wouldn't etch the whole design, it might look cluttered, but for example my marquee says "MAME" so I would definitely highlight all around the text. I'd reverse it and etch that into the INSIDE of the plexiglass cover plate so the outward surface is still smooth. (My marquee isn't the vinyl decal type, it's the non-sticky printout sandwiched between two thin layers of plexi type). Then I'd layer the artwork and the plexi sheets and hook up a blue LED to edge light the front plexi so the highlights glow.
Heck you could edge light it with RGB leds and drive it with an LED-Wiz so your marquee highlights change color... ;D
if you like this idea maybe I could get you to etch a plate for my marquee..... :cheers:
Jasonmm:
--- Quote from: Mysterioii on April 02, 2012, 08:38:05 am ---
if you like this idea maybe I could get you to etch a plate for my marquee..... :cheers:
--- End quote ---
I would be interested in doing this for you ...
I like both ideas listed above ...
pm and we can talk ...
Jason
are you talking about something like this ?
Gray_Area:
I think that plaque looks great. But, yeah, laser takes a lot of power to cut stuff, even plastic, and for something with decent tolerance, CNC (or some people's skills) is the way to go.