Dallas Makerspace Show and Tell - September 2017

I made a layered topo map a year or so back. Here’s a couple of tricks I figured out.

Print some Guidelines
One trick I figured out was to put all the layers in one file, and color code them. Then, when printing, I would select the lower color N for cutting and the color N+1, above, to be etched into the lower piece. When it came time to assemble the layers, I used the etched lines to get the layer above properly aligned - much easier than eyeballing it.

Save Wood When Cutting
Note you are limited to 7 main colors (plus white for the background) that the laser will recognize. I cycled through those colors and reused them in order. Then, I cut layer N and N+7 from the same piece of plywood. This saved a lot of wood, as the higher contours are relatively sparse. Thus, I was able to cut 12 layers out of 8 pieces of wood (7 colors + the base layer).

Use a Spreadsheet to Save Mistakes
I put together a spreadsheet which told me which color to etch and which to cut for each layer. It’s easy to lose track without memory backup.

Save the Frame for Last
I waited until all the pieces were assembled and finished before I cut a frame to fit. That way, any slight shifting of the layers won’t keep the piece from fitting into the frame.

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Hank, wanted to let you know I’ve saved your tips forever via a Pinterest pin. I also have them saved in a pdf which I am sending to the Laser Committee for inclusion on https://dallasmakerspace.org/wiki/Laser_Committee#Tips_and_Tricks. Your hard-won tips can live on to help others.

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Worked more on my turners cube. I needed to get it as close to a cube as possible. I’d say I got pretty damn close. It is 1.372 x 1.373 x 1.373. I probably should have used a mic instead of dial caliper to take the readings. This was done all on the Colchester.


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Been on bit of a ‘turning’ phase this last month, here are a few of the pens I made.

Mesquite with laser rastered name

Ironwood (might be my favorite now, can’t see the full shimmering beauty in the photo)

and turquoise acrylic

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So apparently, after about 8 years of being used in a hot garage workshop, the original glue used to construct the handles of the $100 Ryobi will expand and cause the handles to fail and fall off. (it was quite impressive)

Thankfully someone donated a branch of walnut so, lathe to the rescue!

Fancy walnut handles makes a cheap Ryobi drill press all the more fancy :smiley:

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Last, but not least, project for this month was a quick upgrade to our gaming table/dining table.

Two sheets of 24x48x1/2" MDF, some craft-felt (cause i’m cheap) from jo-anns, a little time on the laser and boom. A flippable/foldable covering for the table.

Felt side for board and card games, hard side for D&D.

Boy approved.




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Squares!? You’re supposed to use hexes man! :slight_smile: Glorious nonetheless.

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I’ve been working on building a DC-15S Blaster for a friend. All parts were 3D printed at the space. I’ve got it to the point of just needing to prime and paint it.

Video of the Light here: https://imgur.com/fxWUwVK

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WOW! WOW! WOW! WOW! Amazing!

I took a pottery class with @cmcooper0 and @Shirley this month or should I say 4 classes over 1 month. This isn’t the first pottery class I take at the space but this is by far the best! We learned how to throw, carve and glaze. Christy and Shirley had a course plan and were thorough in their explanation and willing to share tips… and super patient! I have a lot of work ahead of me but pretty proud of my first 2 little pots :smile:
They made me like pottery again! If you want to learn about pottery, I would recommend their classes.

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These are wonderful!

Wow that is beautiful. Any suggestions on how to get started on something like that?

Fall pendants and future gifts.

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Love the Texas ones! Love my adopted state.

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Thank you!! They are challenging for me to paint but these were worth it. I was pretty pleased that I only messed one up badly enough to have to paint it solid blue.

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3D printed adjustable iris! Been a very productive month for me

3D printed leather working embossing stamp

Laser cut leather

Turned and laser engraved a Slimline pen

Leather hip pouch I made for a friend

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Congratulations to @EthanWestern who finished up his domino project on the HAAS. Ethan is also the first one to do the updated version with the DMS logo on the back.

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