Introduction: IPad Etching
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About: Matthew was previously a STEAM integrator with a private K-8 school. He loves taking things apart to see how they work, and will sometimes put those things back together. Much of his time is spent working with…
jeff-o won the grand prize in the Gorilla Glue Make it Stick Contest! His awesome Desk Lamp won him a laser cut iPad. After chatting back and forth with him for a while, he sent me some images and showed me how he wanted it laid out. All I had to do was etch.
I did an initial run on some trashed clear acrylic sitting around the office, to make sure everything matched up, and a second pass on tape, to make sure everything would be fine.
I encountered one major problem. The curve of the iPad, is enough to offset the focal point of the laser cutter, rendering certain parts unetched. I had to do two passes.
The etching actually came out perfectly!
In case you want to see a short clip of the etching taking place...click here!
I did an initial run on some trashed clear acrylic sitting around the office, to make sure everything matched up, and a second pass on tape, to make sure everything would be fine.
I encountered one major problem. The curve of the iPad, is enough to offset the focal point of the laser cutter, rendering certain parts unetched. I had to do two passes.
- The first pass was at 100% speed and 50% power, with the focus on the highest part of the iPad back.
- The second pass was at 100% speed, 25% power, with the focus on the lowest part of the back.
The etching actually came out perfectly!
In case you want to see a short clip of the etching taking place...click here!
5 Comments
12 years ago on Introduction
It's the best iPad EVER!!!
Also, I'm still angry at Fox for canceling the best show ever made.
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
and we all thought it would be on forever
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
you lucky dog you! I want an ipad so bad I spent all of my money on my project that I entered and didn't win but I guess it's okay.
12 years ago on Introduction
the results look good.
have you considered a second image for when the iPad is in landscape?
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
That seems like it would be difficult to do. Well, in having two images with different orientations working together. I suppose we could have tried the space ship shooting vertically away from a landscape along one side, but I think that would have been difficult to pull off well.