Celtic key pattern long box of hard maple inlaid with walnut and flocked interior. I think my second foray into laser-cut wood inlay went pretty well. This is probably not an optimal dice vault but, it looks good with these turquoise gemstone dice. I’ll likely do a proper dice vault in the future. the build video is more of a “what I did” than a “how to.” The beauty shots were a great opportunity to play with the new motion control robot.
Something I noticed pretty quickly with my new Oculus Quest VR headset is that it slips forward very easily, especially during the sort of very active games I got it to play. It is pretty front-heavy. So, some ballast on the back strap helps quite a bit.
I taped a battery pack I had on-hand to the back strap with gaffer tape to confirm that it helped with the issue. I decided I really wanted something a little more elegant, though. So, I designed and made this battery ballast pouch.
If you want to make one of these, the files are all linked below, along with instructions and a build video.
There are two pattern files: one for cutting the pouch from the faux leather and, one for the rigidity insert.
The purple square is where you would put any graphic you wanted on the flap. You could actually use all of the horizontal space to the edges of the flap, if you wanted. Anything farther towards the body (down) will bend over the top of the battery, though.
For engraving the JPP Saddle Collection faux leather on the Glowforge, I used 1000 speed, 30 power and 225 LPI. You are on your own for figuring out settings for other equipment.
Everything else in the pattern is cut using 245 speed and 60 power.
I cut the 1/8″ acrylic for the rigidity insert with the usual Proofgrade settings on the Glowforge.
These files are for personal, non-commercial use only. If you want to produce these to sell or for other business use, please contact me to arrange for licensing terms. Also note that, by referencing these, you are agreeing to release any variations you create under identical terms.
Laser-cut cherry hardwood box with maple Celtic spiral inlay.
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Greetings, Arizona Glowforgers!
There is going to be a get-together for Arizona Glowforge users and people interested in the Glowforge to meet each other on Saturday, 18 January 2020 at Angel’s Trumpet Ale House in downtown Phoenix (810 N. 2nd St., Phoenix, AZ 85004) from 3PM to about 5PM. If you are interested in the Glowforge or, even just meeting some other local makers, please stop in and say hello!
Note that this is not an official Glowforge-sponsored event. Some of us just decided it would be fun to meet up.
If you think you are going to attend, it would be nice if you let me know so we can grab a table of the appropriate size.
Glowforge Get-Together
18 January 2020 @3PM
Angel’s Trumpet Ale House
810 N. 2nd St.
Phoenix, AZ 85004
A quick sketch I made a couple weeks ago is now a thing I can make for quick laser demos!
The father of a friend of mine made her a really great flower press as a holiday present. She planted a whole bed of wildflowers in her front yard and, has turned them into some really great cards. I was inspired to make presses for some of my favorite youngsters and, came up with a design that I like a lot.
I produced this from a few sheets of Baltic birch plywood and a handful of hardware using the new laser cutter. The base is two sheets of ply, one 1/8” and one 1/4”, glued together with captive washers and small magnets to hold the bolts in place while turning it over. The hex heads on the bolts are held in place by cutouts to keep them from spinning while tightening the wing-nuts.
If you would like to make a flower press of your own, this post contains all the instructions and cutting files. Note that I am releasing this for personal, non-commercial use. Make one for yourself. Make one for a gift. If you want to make them to sell, you need to check with me first.
Ok! Let’s drop the BOM! (That’s “Bill Of Materials” …)
You will need:
| Qty | Description |
| 4 | 3” x 1/4” hex head bolts |
| 8 | 1 1/4” flat washers with 1/4” holes |
| 4 | 1/4” wing-nuts (that fit the bolts …) |
| 1 | 12” square sheets of 1/8” thick Baltic birch plywood |
| 2 | 12” square sheet of 1/4” thick Baltic birch plywood |
| 4 | 1/8” x 1/8” x 1/16” neodymium magnets |
| A few sheets of corrugated cardboard (e.g., shipping boxes) | |
| A few sheets of plain paper (e.g., copier paper) |
You will also need some CA and/or wood glue.
There are detailed assembly instructions in the video but, basically, you cut one of each piece (washer layer in 1/4″ ply, the other two in 1/8″), glue in the magnets, put the washers in the engraved pockets, glue the two layers of the base together, clamp and let dry. The bolts go through the holes with the heads in the hex pockets. The cardboard gets stacked alternating with the paper. The top piece goes onto the bolts and, the wing-nuts go on the bolts to hold everything snugly.
These files do not include my Snowflake Celtic knotwork mandala or the Evermore Studio logo. You can add your own art by centering it on the top layer (where the knotwork is in mine) and, on the hex layer (where the logo is on mine). You will need to flip the hex layer for engraving any artwork as the magnet pockets and art need to be on opposite sides. Self-jigging works great for that.
Use extra care while cutting the cardboard pieces. There have been several Glowforge-destroying fires reported in the forums and, cardboard is an optimum combustion material. When cutting cardboard, I standby with a spray bottle the whole time.
The paper is just cut into 7 1/2″ squares. It was a lot more efficient to use a simple rotary cutter than to run individual sheets through the laser.
Washer Layer pockets: 600 speed / Full power / 225 LPI / Vary Power
Washer Layer cuts: 125 speed / Full power
Hex Layer magnet pockets: 800 speed / Full power
Hex Layer cuts: 125 speed / Full power
Top Layer cuts: 125 speed / Full power
Engraves (when adding your own): 600 speed / 80 power / 225 LPI / Vary Power
Cardboard: 200 speed / 85 power
These settings are a for a Glowforge Basic. Full power is different on the other models. There can also be variation for a given batch of plywood or cardboard. So, test to make sure your cuts worked before moving anything in the machine.
Important: These files are for personal, non-commercial use only. If you want to produce these to sell or for other business use, please contact me to arrange for licensing terms.
Right-click and “Save Link As”:
Flower Press Washer Layer SVG (cut 1 from 1/4″ ply)
Flower Press Hex Layer SVG (cut 1 from 1/8″ ply)
Flower Press Top Layer SVG (cut 1 from 1/4″ ply)
Flower Press Cardboard Inserts (cut 4-8 from corrugated cardboard)
Need a Glowforge? Using my referral link is an excellent way to help support projects like this and, encourage me to do more. You can read more about my Glowforge in this post. Get one here:
You are almost certainly better off getting your Baltic birch plywood from a local supplier, both for cost and for supporting your local community. The plywood I used in this case, though, did come from an Amazon supplier. Here are the links:
Lil Chizler scraping tool
TransferRite Ultra 592U High Tack White Transfer Tape (which came from a site that is currently down)
Amazon referral links support a local arts organization.
If you have suggestions for how to improve this design, please leave them in the comments or, use the contact form to message me.
