Laser Cut Two-Sided Checkers

When I was brainstorming with amandaghassaei on things that could be laser cut or 3D printed, I thought it would be fun to do checkers. I mean, they are just circles, so how hard can it be? Then I remembered checkers are double sided. I thought I would have to give up on this idea until I found out how accurate the laser cutters are. And so my adventures with checkers began :)

After making these I realized I didn't have a checker board! So I made on. Check it out here!

I made this at Techshop in SF!

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Step 1: Design and Prepare for Cutting

Screen Shot 2012-06-04 at 9.29.44 AM.png

It is time to design your checkers.

Decide on your size (I found most checkers are 1 1/4 inch in diameter so that is what I went with)
Decide on two designs (front and back) that can be alternated (one will be mostly bold engraving while the other will be just engraved lines to differentiate).
If you want all the checkers the same make sure you have different stains for each team.
Once you have your design, make one document with all of the regular side of the checkers. Line them up as shown in Photo 2.
Make a new document and line up your kings as shown in Photo 3.
Now you are ready to laser cut your checkers!

Checkers Instructables.eps106 KB

Checkers King Instructables.eps328 KB

canucksgirl says: Jun 4, 2012. 1:05 PM

Those are fantastic! I love them. Where do I place my order.....

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Penolopy Bulnick (author) in reply to canucksgirlJun 5, 2012. 1:56 PM

But it is so easy to make them yourself ;)

canucksgirl in reply to Penolopy BulnickJun 5, 2012. 1:59 PM

lol... not when the closest TechShop is a 2 day drive from me... ;-(

londobali in reply to canucksgirlAug 9, 2012. 8:02 AM

i hear you!
the nearest TechShop is on the other side of the world from me.. ;-(

They do have laser cutters here, but usually in advertising companies that makes stickers, neon boxes, and billboards... and they charge per item, i've done some stuff with them for leather tags..
I'd "guesstimate" they'll charge about 1$ for each checker here.. :(

Oh TechShop... I wish you were here..
I'd volunteer to run the place if you want to open a branch here!!!
I'd have lots of fun and make so many instructables..
:p

canucksgirl in reply to londobaliAug 9, 2012. 9:55 AM

*ahem*... Where's the Instructable for laser cut leather tags? :P

If they open a TechShop here, I figure I'll get a night job as a "security guard" (hey, someone has to "watch" the equipment). :-)

londobali in reply to canucksgirlAug 9, 2012. 7:39 PM

i couldn't make the instructable because i didn't do it.. i only gave the logo from a client and pieces of leather to this company and they did the rest..
no fun at all, i tell you!! :)

oh.. security guard is a better idea.. i might go with that one too.. :)
Is there an instructable for "How to get a security guard job at TechStore" ?
:-)

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Penolopy Bulnick (author) in reply to canucksgirlJun 5, 2012. 2:09 PM

Well, something can probably be worked out :)

schildpad says: Jun 8, 2012. 1:41 PM

Which kind of tape did you use?
Something like paper tape? http://www.theaerodyne.com/images/tesa_4651_38mm_telato.jpg

thankx in advance,

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Penolopy Bulnick (author) in reply to schildpadJun 8, 2012. 1:51 PM

I was told it was like blue painters tape, but in a larger form, it came on a huge roll :)