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Laser Etching a Laptop
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..."
When i first read the title, i assumed they were talking about security etching.
Neat picture, but the one thing I'm left wondering is why the magazine company had the laser in the first place?
The CEO was using it to clean under his fingernails of course.
Someone save me from this sanity.
Why not choose the tiger from this O'reailly book??t ml
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/mactigerpg/index.h
Would have made more sense to me anyway.
if your pants fit well, it's not only because of the pants
It's a good thing that those Tarsiers are mainly insectivorous and do not eat Apples! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarsier
Firehed - Unfortunately, thanks to medical breakthroughs, common sense is not as common as it once was.
How much effort would it take to convert an epilog laser printer into a high-powered moonraker? :P
Viable Slashdot alternatives: https://pipedot.org/ and http://soylentnews.org/
Why didn't he use a sheep?
I say we all chip in and send a laptop up to the boys at OCC and see what Paul Jr. can do! Never mind, he would probably put it on the water jet.
Nice choice of an animal, too. Those Mac people have style. You wouldn't catch them engraving a woodcut of some cud-chewing African antelope or anything like that.
...Is it just me or is O'Reilly trying to show us what geeks are going to evolve into?
You see, that's nothing. In my days, we used the bottom of tea mugs to etch random abstract art! Usually, the result was a series of displaced rings.
The creatures outside looked from Alt-Right to Antifa; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
the best way to etch any apple is of course to throw some dirt at it
k e l l a r
I hope they got permission from O'Reilly to do this?!
If only one of his coworkers would of switched the image with "hello.jpg"
Why didn't you etch his Noodliness, the Flying Spaghetti Monster?
Fitzhon
A laptop with large identifying markings is less likely to be stolen.
...voided?
security
Godfather always wins
The grass is always greener on the other side of the light cone.
Just think: you won't have to invite girls back to your place to view your etchings.
Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
If one of his coworkers would have switched the image with the goatse.cx guy...
Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
Just imagine it, etching a goatse, with the apple in the middle.
it was done on this notebook because it just looks so much cooler on the off-white powerbook.
Didn't see any mention of cost. What are the chances of Squid Labs offering it as a commerical service for Apple/laptop owners in general? If I had a powerbook, I sure would be interested in getting this done.
Never looked so cool.
Cake or Death? Cake Please!
A tiny Tux? Or even better, some weird flying windows? Or an "Intel Inside" logo. You'd get some funny looks for that.
She: Hey, are you a traitor? Me: No, I'm atheist.
I like it, and since apple only has one case for the powerbooks, one like that is sure to turn heads.
There goes the resale value.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liger
-everphilski-
liger. It's pretty much my favorite animal.
... and of course, PC users (each and every one of them as heterosexual as can be) would never do anything like this.... or would they?
For one, a laser capable of cutting metal generaly won't be used for etching, and a laser designed for etching won't be able to cut easily.
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.
Love this line from TFA: The laser cutter uses Corel Draw, which is kinda cute.
Be a real patriot: Question authority. Think for yourself. Formulate your own conclusions.
I'm somehow reminded of Napoleon Dynamite.
Dear Sirs,
I'm most interested in having my laptop etched. Where do I order from, how much is it, and what are the terms/conditions for getting my machine to you and back again.
Most Sincerely,
James D. Geek aka eyepeepackets aka Marspoet
Seriously though, I will buy this service for my Sager laptop in a fraction of a mouse's heartbeat, so bring it on!
Everything in the Universe sucks: It's the law!
...would that void the warranty? Or, if it did infact break, would they just give it to him with some 'mad props?
Tattooed PowerBooks might become the new thing. I'd put a camel on mine, or probably any number of things. It's definately a cool idea.
Informatus Technologicus
If you're going to all that trouble you might as well make it worthwhile!
The revolution will NOT be televised.
its been done before http://www.etchamac.com/powerbook.php/ i saw these guys at the mac expo in boston in the summer, the finished product is amazing
for one that last IS used for cutting, just because you do not understand how that product works does not mean you are correct. It is designed for cutting thin sheets for templates and other uses, if you would have takeen 3 seconds to google it you would have seen what it was capable of.
and yes you are correct, a $20,000US cutting laser system is dirt cheap, but you are wrong thinking you cant touch a cutting laser for less than $200K it will be cutting, it is designed for cutting and they do that cutting job quite well.
you made a NEWBIE MISTAKE.... and with a uid that low that is a punishable crime here on slashdot.
Obviously, the animal to engrave using a laser would be a friggin shark.
rendered unsellable. I hope the owner wants it for life.
ignorance is bliss. googlefiberatx.com
1) Guy wants picture from vi book on notebook
2) goes to some lab where they have a machine to do it
3) copyrights free image is imported into Coreldraw
4) Laptop is etched
5) picture is on laptop
PS: what is wrong with slashdot? I have to sign in constantly...
PS2:
6) ???
7) profit!!!!
This space is intentionally staring blankly at you
is it just me or does it look like the tarsier is looking away in the last (different lighting) photo of TFA?!
My sig has been answered.
I think it's actually a pretty cool idea. Even if a person had a $20k machine, if they charged someone $100 just to tatoo their laptop with their favorite image, they would have it paid for only after 200 customers, which I'm sure there are at least 200 geeks out there willing to shell out a hundred bucks to have their favorite image etched on their little portable. Kudos for that idea.
If he's done, can we now mount it on a dolphin, please?
Slashdot = Digg + 2 days + People over 14
Slashdot != Digg and Digg != Slashdot.
If Digg is so much better for you, then go there and stop acting like a child here.
Or rather, what is the license for repurposing the art on those book covers? The article doesn't mention it... does anyone on /. happen to have a copy of O'Reilly's Learning the VI Editor????
On a sidenote... shouldn't he have chosen EMacs instead?
Also if the art is not CC or Copy Left or some other open license, is this a good example of fair use rights, as long as it's for your own personal use?
A fool throws a stone into a well and a thousand sages can not remove it.
Well the versalaser stuff is now going for < USD8K
a ser_systems.html
s p
http://www.versalaser.com/english/laser_systems/l
Old review:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1360231,00.a
I'm sure people have already been making money with it for years since it first came out. There's plenty you can do with such systems.
Normal laser printers used to be really expensive and they were still economically viable.
HAWT
Stunningly dumb
Powerbook tattoo!
who is amused by the fact that he has to use an old PC based laptop to actually operate the laser (I'm assuming they operating software was not available for OS X. I guess it would have been hard to etch the laptop while you were using it anyway.
I have to give them props on the concept, but couldn't they have chosen a more appropriate design? The problem with the powerbook lid is that the Apple logo in the middle is the most prominent thing and is right in the middle, so you need a design that will compliment it, and will maintain some sort of symetry. The lemur, or whatever it is, makes the thing look "right heavy" and is a complete non-sequitor to the apple.
It is on the http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/unixnut4/index.html book cover as well.
Ryan - http://www.thecosmotron.com/
Other than me disagreeing with the artwork, must have been a real 'blast' (ha!) using that machine. Excellent work! (otherwise) (just being honest about the artwork, that's all) - don't think I should be modded down, just because of the honesty.
You could probably start a business with that machine inscribing people's names or graphics, and such on their metallic warez.
MOD PARENT DOWN
It is beautiful though....
there is a great big difference between leds and fans and fans with leds and UV-reactive everything that lights up to the beat of whatever music you're playing and a somewhat discrete (in comparison) engraving of an animal on the top plate. It doesn't interfere with anything, it makes the computer a tad more personal. And the actual engraving is beautiful (at least in my opinion --but I'm a vi person...)
Sorry, you're totally wrong. I hate slashdot: people post what sounds like authoritative information and it's modded to 5 regardless of its accuracy.
My company has a laser cutter that I use frequently. I have used it for both cutting and etching. You can adjust its power output over about a 2-order-of-magnitude range. Depending on the material, some power levels etch and others cut.
There's no such thing as a "cutting" vs "etching" laser. The laser's effect depends on the material. The same power setting that etches acrylic will cut cardboard. The same setting that etches metal will cut acrylic.
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.
That's what she said!
Laser etcher/engravers like the one used are commonly employed for such mundane tasks as etching tools and parts for tracking. Most Air Force and many industrial tool cribs have them. They work well on wood (nice for plaques), metal, plastic, and would probably do leather but I haven't tried that. Someone with the capital to lease-purchase a laser engraver could subcontract to trophy shops and do case mods/computer mods (etched case windows) easily.
Word:
Do a TEST piece to validate your setup before you etch expensive stuffs!
Too bad I'm a lazy AC and most of you won't see this post.
Well, that is your opinion. Whether it's beautiful though is in the eyes of the beholder. I think it looks like a tatoo or a bumper sticker. That is, by itself, it's not a bad image/design, however, it adds nothing, but rather detracts from the original design of the host item. Apple gets it right with the subtle apple "tattoo" on the back. This guy's got the equivalent of the full body mural that's half done. I think it looks gay. Which was my point, great if you like it, but control your gushing, it's hardly quality industrial design. There are ladies in the mall who sell sweatshirts like that if you like that kind of thing.
That is, however, my opinion. My point was, of course, that it's perfectly on topic to render an opinion about how something looks when the entire article is about how something looks.
Wanted: Clever sig, top $ paid, all offers considered.
Let's see: 24 month ROI target, need $5k profit a year = $96 per week. Figure about 30% overhead, we want $150 per week in revinue. Given that it can be used for a lot more than laptop etching, it sounds reasonable as an added feature to a copy center or a trophy store.
The disappointing thing about the article was that it didn't give any technical details on how they did it -- what settings they used on the laser cutter, power levels, etc. It's too bad, because these cutters aren't exactly hard to find (and relatively cheap if they're actually only $20k; that's less than a good vertical mill), if they had given the right info you could go to any machine shop that does a lot of prototyping and have them do it. Assuming it's not some sort of special feature of that particular model laser cutter that they're using.
But since they didn't give the settings for the cutter, I think you'd be taking a big risk at most shops since those machines are mostly used (in my experience) not for etching or engraving but for cutting, and you might end up with your Powerbook having a cool new form factor when you were done.
"Ladies and gentlemen, my killbot features Lotus Notes and a machine gun. It is the finest available."
Highly detailed image, well rendered, not at all garish, animal has geek significance... sublime.
;-) I smell a home business opportunity...
Perfect case mode for an Apple - it adds to it without really changing the essense of the Apple design or detracting from it.
Anybody know where to get one of those lasers used?
"I object to doing things that computers can do." -- Olin Shivers, lispers.org
You can do it... see http://www.engravingsys.com/versalaser.htm
Any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so.
Ask 150 USD for a laser etch like in this article. Sounds like a sound business model to me (depending on where you live of course).
So what were you planning when you placed your 17" Powerbook in the $20,000 laser cutter?
With Eve handing Adam an Apple, and the snake slithering around the perimeter. Way cool!
Be heard || Be herd
I have an Apple sticker on my SUV. I voted for Bush twice and would do so again. I had clunky late-80's style horn rim glasses until my wife made me get metrosexual titanium wire rims a couple of years ago. Most of what resides on my iPod is 70's/80's rock and bluegrass. I read alternative news, it's true, but on instapundit.com and freerepublic.com. I don't think that is what you had in mind.
Some clique, eh?
Too much Law; not enough Order.
I think it looks gay.
How do you figure out that this particular tarsier is gay? I couldn't even tell if it was a boy or a girl, personally.
"Slashdot - News and Chat Sites Deviant". (Click "homepage" link above for details).
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.
Place nail here >+
He should definitely do something about it - with $20k machine one should be able to see teeth pattern ...
what about a 'liger'?
half lion, half tiger.....
We're like rats, in some experiment! -- George Costanza
"have on of our artists collobarate"
Yes, here, I'm comfortable having you use a friggin' laser beam on my precious.
Yes, your clique is definitely cooler than the clique he was talking about. happy now?
I have an Apple sticker on my SUV.
It's the combination of VW Beetle and Apple sticker. GP is correct.
"...always new atoms but always doing the same dance, remembering what the dance was yesterday." -Richard Feynman
The machine he used to do this is actually really cool. Basically an old-fashioned plotter with a medium power laser attached to it. Actually the first laser engravers were modified Roland plotters that someone decided to bolt a laser onto. Cool hack if there ever was one.
:) I'm thinking maybe engraving an image of a Commodore 64 or maybe a VAX logo into it would be good..... or possibly just "DON'T TOUCH!" in 4 inch high letters. :)
I've been a programmer for ten years, but recently invested in one of these machines as a bit of a sideline. I couldn't resist having my own laser.. now if only I could get shark-mounted ones then I would be really happy!!
I haven't been brave enough to put my laptop into the machine, but maybe now I'll try.
Another thing that looks great to run through a laser engraver are regular computer cases. The laser basically vaporizes the powder coat on the case, leaving bare metal for a really high-contrast effect. Our company, INSIGNO http://www.insigno.ca/ (shameless plug) has done a couple of these for casemodders and they looked really great when they were done.
VI VI VI - The Number of the Beast!
"vi, the editor with two modes, insert and beep!" - Julie Lavoie
ttyl
Farrell
CAN-CON 2019 - Ottawa's only book oriented Science Fiction Convention! October 18-20, Sheraton Hotel, Ottawa, Canada h
Is this news, or just sucking up the brainwashed legions of Apple devotees, who still believe the G3 outperforms the Pentium IV?
exponentiation ezine
My neighbour has this laser rig, and he uses it to engrave *and* cut wood and metal. See www.mosquitobiteplanes.com for results.
Why is this newsworthy? My high school had a laser cutter/engraver (similar to the one in the article, but much larger and more powerful).
We used it to cut/engrave all kinds of crap. Wood works well, as does acrylic (but not polycarbonate). Anodized aluminum works well, too.
"I voted for Bush twice and would do so again."
I think you proved his point!
Apple should toss the etched image of Steve Jobs on the cover for an additional $50, maybe a few others of interest. I predict at least 100,000 additional sales of Etched custom orders from the Apple store in the first three months.
"Love is like pi - natural, irrational, and very important." (Lisa Hoffman)
languages evolve, moran!
SUV + Bush = opposite end of several spectrums, political and otherwise, from the GP's post.
But then again, given the SUV + Bush thing, that's probably not the only thing you haven't noticed in the world.
Big deal. In the 80s you could achieve a similar effect by leaving your green mono monitor on, pulling up the graphic of choice, and leaving it on for a few hours. Granted, it was on the wrong side...
Not very creative. I would have done an image of Eve holding the apple (logo).
This is not flamebait. It's a subtle joke about the gnu animal. Read AND understand, before modding.
Your wife makes you do things? Yep, definitely a red-stater.
I have an Apple sticker on my foreign sports car. I think Bush is way too left-wing liberal for my liking, so I have never voted for him. I own three Macs at present, only because I recently sold two. My iPod is filled with bluegrass, celtic, polkas, and big band music (WW2 era). I like alternative news also. WorldNewsDaily is a favorite. My Apple sticker used to be next to a Buchanan for President (2000) sticker, then next to a Peroutka for President (http://www.godfamilyrepublic.com/)(2004) sticker. I am religious. I am pro-life. I have a large family. We have five iPods in my large family. My kids love their Mac mini. I am sure I defy any stereotype!
You need to be beaten with your own shows and have that computer taken away from you. The idea of etching is cool but did you have to etch a picture of Bill Gates on the back of your 'book? LOL http://www.kennethstillmanvideo.com/
...thus proving dead, horribly wrong Intarweb phoenome never die out. ever.