Thread: I bought a new toy - what can I do with it?!

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So, long story short I bought myself a new toy for a business I do on the side, and I'm brainstorming what I can do with it to ramp up my halloween display this year.

I bought myself a laser engraver/cutter. Basically anything 12x16 that fits inside it can be engraved, or cut, via laser with insane accuracy. Its not powerful enough to cut metal, but it can cut acrylic, up to 1/4" thick, and can do 1/2" thick if I tinker with it a bit.

So my first thought is to manufacture parts for animatronics, like lever arms and the like, things that are hard to make out of metal, and cant be made out of wood, but making it out of acrylic would be perfect.

But what else could I do with this thing? Obviously there's things like custom wall art by engraving images on wood, marble, etc. But the cutting part is more exciting to me - I can actually fabricate parts, gears, levers, etc. *wheels turning in my head*

I've plans for my haunt this year and I've already thought of a few parts I could make with it that will make my lunging scarecrow easier to fabricate.

Any other cool brainstorms?

I dont know what it can do with that blue foam insulation yet - the cutter doesnt arrive until Monday... but the first thing that just hit me as I was browsing the forums was 12x16 is a nice size for a tombstone. While the laser may not be able to cut through 1.5" thick foam (it's a beam focus issue, not a power issue...but since foam melts at such a low temperature, only way to know is to try!) to shape the outside, I sure as heck can etch the text into one and maybe carve out cracks and the like.

Man this is gonna be a busy halloween season

ever see those kids wood cut puzzles that make 3-d animals, dinosaurs etc?

Think life size skeletons!

First off, I am jealous!

1. Do the detail (The hard part) of wrought iron fencing and attach them to wooden dowls or go for quality and 1"x1" metal square tubing from the welding supply and do the real deal.

2. Daggers-3 pieces the handle, the guard, and the blade

3. Jewlery-vampire broaches chokers, over sized pirate buckles,

4. Over the top ornate coffin hinges...

Sorry, can't think of any use for it, send it to me @ ...

Yeah last year I made a pretty elaborate coffin thumper (I cant remember if I ever posted the vid... it growled, thumped the lid, smoked, and had eerie green light...) and was trying to find just the right cross for the lid - had to go with some piece of junk from Michaels. This year I can upgrade it to something really great

A life sized jointed skeleton could be cool. And the intricate tops for a wrought iron fence made out of wood then painted is an idea. Acrylic would be too hard to paint unless I found black acrylic somewhere.

The thing doesnt even arrive til monday and I'm already ramping up the list of ideas.

Here's some inspiration for hinges.
http://houseofantiquehardware.com/s....category.38/.f

Not to mention that this sight has all the Victorian era details you could want in a haunt.