Laser Engraved Bowl

A great way to dress up a turned bowl that you made on a lathe is to make sure that you have a flat rim about an inch wide so that you can engrave a message.

Step 1: Make a Template, Then Engrave

I was approached by a friend who had turned a bowl and wanted to give it as a gift for service to a board member who was moving to Atlanta.  He wanted me to engrave a message as a collaborative effort.

You only get one shot at this for alignment. 

The first thing that I did was to measure the bottom of the bowl.  Next, I measured the outside diameter of the bowl.  I took a piece of cardboard and cut a hole using the laser so that I would know where I would be able to position the bowl for the final engraving.

Next, I made another donut shape with the engraved message.  That was also cut out of the cardboard.

When I made sure that everything was correct, I put the bowl in the laser, and since the first hole was the registration point, the message on the bowl engraved perfectly!  

I did this a while ago, but I am just now getting around to posting it as in instructable.

I made it at Tech Shop.