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    Laser Etched WD 1TB External

    Discussion in 'Notebook Cosmetic Modifications and Custom Builds' started by wirelesspirate, May 13, 2009.

  1. wirelesspirate

    wirelesspirate Notebook Consultant

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    While I'm in the mood for uploading here are a few pictures of my laser etched external drive. All my etches are done in my basement with a c02 laser. Its an Epilog mini 24.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    The dragon is on both sides.
     
    wirelesspirate, May 13, 2009
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  2. brncao

    brncao Notebook Evangelist

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    Sick! :eek: I was born the year of the dragon :cool: Nice work!
     
    brncao, May 13, 2009
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  3. idq000

    idq000 Notebook Deity

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    Man, I concur. That's really sweet.
     
    idq000, May 13, 2009
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  4. BlackRussian

    BlackRussian Notebook Deity

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    Wicked very nice effect
     
    BlackRussian, May 13, 2009
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  5. wirelesspirate

    wirelesspirate Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks guys. :)
     
    wirelesspirate, May 13, 2009
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  6. Manic Penguins

    Manic Penguins [+[ ]=]

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    I'm sold, I'm going to borrow my schools laser etcher soon and laser my laptop.

    Something like the dragon in my avatar. :cool:
     
    Manic Penguins, May 14, 2009
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  7. Xcon

    Xcon Notebook Enthusiast

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    Man, all the cool kids are etching there laptops.
    I want to try.
     
    Xcon, May 14, 2009
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  8. wirelesspirate

    wirelesspirate Notebook Consultant

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    Send something to rexburg, ID I'll etch it for ya! :)
     
    wirelesspirate, May 14, 2009
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  9. K-TRON

    K-TRON Hi, I'm Jimmy Diesel ^_^

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    We have laser cutters at school. Even on etch mode when the laser is set to a very low power it yields different results. Is the CO2 laser you have, the reason why the dragon came out black, or is that just the color of the plastic below?

    Looking cool

    You can easily make a job out of simply custom etching external drives/computer side windows etc. I am sure you know, but you can import an image into programs like autoCAD and Rhinocerous, and you can easily trace over them to make a cut file for the laser cutter

    K-TRON
     
    K-TRON, May 20, 2009
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  10. wirelesspirate

    wirelesspirate Notebook Consultant

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    Oh yes, I operate a 3K WAT industrial CNC laser most of the day (when I'm not running I.T). The C02 epilog is much easier to program for. :)

    Yep the dragon came out black because the housing is black plastic. The coolest laser etches are anodized aluminium. They look sweet. I could upload some more of my work if anyone would like.

    Where do you attend school that they have lasers K-TRON?
     
    wirelesspirate, May 22, 2009
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  11. K-TRON

    K-TRON Hi, I'm Jimmy Diesel ^_^

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    I go to Rensselaer (RPI) we have laser cutters in the architecture building and the student machine shop. I first learned how to use them last summer when I worked at KPF in NYC. I did quite a lot of lasering for model making

    K-TRON
     
    K-TRON, May 29, 2009
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  12. __-_-_-__

    __-_-_-__ God

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    THAT! IS COOL! amazing things can be made with a laser etching machine... I wish I had one :(
     
    __-_-_-__, May 29, 2009
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  13. icecubez189

    icecubez189 Notebook Deity

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    nice, that would totally spice up my two externals!
     
    icecubez189, May 30, 2009
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  14. wirelesspirate

    wirelesspirate Notebook Consultant

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    Send me something plastic - anything as an example and I'll etch it for ya!

    PM me if you want. :)
     
    wirelesspirate, May 31, 2009
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  15. __-_-_-__

    __-_-_-__ God

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    you etching gurus, please tell me, it's only possible to etch wood or plastic?
    How hard can it be to etch copper or something like that?
     
    __-_-_-__, Jun 2, 2009
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  16. Azone

    Azone Notebook Evangelist

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    Wow, that looks great. It's stuff like that which makes me want to head over to the laser cutter and etch out designs on my hardware accessories. :D

    Again, really cool.
     
    Azone, Jun 2, 2009
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  17. beige

    beige Notebook Deity

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    i really liked ur dragon etching , i just want to know if u did it using free hand or by a programmable laser etcher ?
     
    beige, Jun 2, 2009
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  18. xBEEMANx

    xBEEMANx Notebook Guru

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    Wood and metal are both doable, as far as plastics, the hard ones might be ok, but soft plastic will probably just melt.
     
    xBEEMANx, Jun 2, 2009
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  19. wirelesspirate

    wirelesspirate Notebook Consultant

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    A problem you run into with reflective material such as copper and aluminium is the "shinyness" actualy reflect the laser and makes cutting and etching very difficult. Most anything can be etched with a C02 laser however cuting is a different story. A high voltage oxygen laser can also cut most anything, minus glass of course. It would just heat the glass to the point of fracture. By dialing down your duty on any laser you can cut soft plastics. I can cut polycarbonate at about 320 inches a minute. Pretty dang fast. And actualy on my 25 wat epilog plastic etches great depending on what its made of. I can etch glass, wood, concrete plastic with the lasers. and burn an image onto 'shiny' material such as copper and aluminium.
     
    wirelesspirate, Jun 3, 2009
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  20. Red_Dragon

    Red_Dragon Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    ...............A DRAGON?! Why isnt it RED?!
     
    Red_Dragon, Jun 4, 2009
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