

I've done some stamps with a 200mW red laser cutter but I did it a bit different. If you use a foam with sticky backing, you can cut more detailed stamps (for example, those with text messages) because you don't have to transfer every little detail onto the backing.



Also, as a (yet untried) idea - what I'm hoping to do one day is to use sticky-backed foam, make the cuts for the shapes and then use the same laser to melt away those parts that supposed to be removed instead of removing them with an x-acto knife. Problem with removing parts of the stamp with a knife is that the sticky back holds too well. Some of the parts just don't want to go and it is really difficult to deal with smaller parts.



For this particular technique I'm waiting for a bunch of broken DVD-RW drives I bought on eBay to come in so I can build one of your pocket engravers (although my implementation will include direct drive from EMC2 software via a ready-made $20 3-motor bipolar stepper controller, I'll describe it better when I complete it). Right now I have the laser mounted on an actual CNC router and it's too heavy a piece of machinery to make it laser off what will basically become a raster image. Your cutter/engraver should be much more agile and, frankly, considering that it's built from discarded parts, I would not worry much if it breaks after a few hours of use, I'll just replace the motors with ones from another disassembled DVD-RW :)



Oh, and another thing, Groover, I see you've entered this one into the MakerBot Challenge, just wanted to mention that I've seen a design on the Net that uses discarded CD/DVD drives for a 3D printer! Well, as we're painfully aware, the size limitations are still 1.5" x 1.5" x 1.5" but it should be enough to get someone familiar with 3D printing techniques. You got me hooked onto these little DVD-based projects, makes my head spin when I think about many possibilities to use them ! :)



I'll be sure to vote for this one, too, hope you win the 3D one as well.



Cheers!

