Laser Cut Stuff

Instructables user JackCarter  made this awesome  lasercut tank model from MDF. The functional tracks looks great and the laser is perfect for making a repetitive object like that, although they do also provide the files to make a static track if you don't have enough patience for assembly. There are lots of tank models out there but, because this comes with instructions, it is definitely a challenger for the best.

A lot of wargaming models are cut from 3mm mdf, the folks over at Laser Cut Card  have opted to use 1mm card instead. They say it gives them more options to make better details and it receives paint better, it's also lighter for shipping. The results certainly seem to agree that it's a workable material. My painting skills couldn't cope with making a finished item like this, they're pretty tearable.

akselmusic  on Thingiverse , just released this industrial terrain complex  for wargaming. It 's cut from mdf so it's relatively cheap and it's configurable so you set it up in different ways for different games. They're a little plane and could do with some military detailing detail, but because it's thingiverse you can remix it , just don't forget to say tanks.

There are a couple of giant hand builds around but I like this one from instructables user  musicandsky  because they've gone for a purely Halloween theme scare style. When combined with the skull mask, I imagine they had a lot of fun out and about in the evening. You'd have to pick your party carefully though, they should be good with finger food but undoubtedly clawful with drinks.

Etsy seller, Feel My Craft , has this wonderful  ape skeleton  available in their store. It's self assembly so the kids would get the fun of putting the item together before Halloween. I always found the skeletons of other animals far more creepy that humans. The idea of making a winged monkey skeleton  is suddenly very apealing to me

This laser cut ball mask  from instructables user woz.artur  would make a great costume for any Halloween event. The mask is cut from black acrylic and engraved with the maze detailing. The mask was heated and shaped to match the contours of a face and then the lines were filled with gold paint. The handformed nature to convert this from a flat sheet means you won't be going in to mask production but it would be a spectacular one off

LesMarco kindly shared this file for a sugar skull pen holder  through the thingiverse  website. It's a good example of slicing a shape and decorating it appropriately. Being cut from Poplar plywood the details could be coloured in nicely with some fine tips pens to add a real flourish of colour. A handy pot lot this is a good way to despens stationary as required.

Glowforge user  kittski , posted these  Halloween Trinkets  over on the community pages. They are painted before engraving to give a distressed appearance. The miniature skulls appear to have come out extremely well. They made both positive and negative engravings to see which was best, I guess their heart just wasn't in it.

The Sparkfun  site has this guest write up post about a marvellous, laser cut, Halloween costume . They go through the whole process of simplifying a 3D model and slicing it into something that can be cut on a laser. They even insert nodes into all the joints to help them stay together with friction. Don't just wing it, start now and there is lots of time to get a costume sorted before the end of the month.

These Halloween cards from  Alexis Mattox Design  are brilliant. Using the inner layer to add a touch of colour is inspired, one design can easily look like multiples simply by changing the under sheet. I couldn't find them for sale on the Alexis Mattox shop but you could spin off your own design and get them on the web in time for Halloween.

These tiny Ghoul Charms  made by Timber Green Woods  over on Etsy are bewitching. They come in a range of colours and I imagine they fit neatly into the scrap off cuts of larger projects so it's a good way to reduce your waste. Bookle your seat belts there are a lot more Halloween puns to come.

Daisymoon designs have created these spooky Shelfies  to aid your Halloween decorating. They kids would have great fun decorating them and setting them up to peer over the edge of your shelves. I prefer the use of super natural poplar over mdf because it accepts colour so easily, just don't make too many boo boos while painting them.

MaryEllen  from the glowforge community  made this smashing pumpkin wreath for Halloween. Different design processes fascinate me and I love seeing a sketch like that become a physical design. The wood is tinted using a prismacolor marker and the pumpkin itself is layered to give it a real sense of depth and roundness. Put on a happy face and let's get jacked for Halloween my little punkins.

Dough Roller from Etsy  produces these eerie rolling pins  carved with skulls. When rolled out the pattern appears on whatever your baking.  They have other Halloween designs in their range too, but hopefully this choux stopper will be enough to tickle your fondant fancy for now.

chevalier_jeanpaul  from the glowforge community made this incredible wand box , I particularly like this lightning bolt shaped join at the top between the living hing and the rest of the box. There is also a music box in the top section playing the Harry Potter theme tune. A nice wooden box like this will definitely stop your magic stick from wandering off.

Diego from engravers dungeon  has developed an incredible technique for laser cutting that really makes their designs stand out. The colours are painted on before engraving but the secret sauce lies in the two tone style of engraving, something that they are understandably keen not to share. The whole thing is finished off with a mixture of wax and varnish to make a nice piece that I would be happy to own. I make no bones about it, this is some high class engraving even if I am trying to be humerus.

Full Spectrum Laser  have gone all out producing this model airship. It's a great example of all the little things that laser cutters can do, especially when you have hours of dedication and some modelling skills. It's largely made of wood but they make good use of metallic plastics to highlight little details and features, the canvas balloon and flags are a nice touch too. The photos are a little dinghy but if detailing like this makes you want to buy your own laser you should probably talk to their sails manager.

Rekanize  from the glowforge community  made an wooden box for their deck of tarot cards, the detailed engraving and line artwork produced by the glowforge is pretty impressive and I expect a lot of it is to do with their pre masked, proof grade materials which really reduce staining. You wouldn't want to lose a box of tarot cards like this, it would cost you a fortune.

The American laser company  released this  laser cut Ouija board  a few years back now but it's a timeless classic and with Halloween approaching soon, now would be a good time to cut yourself one. A real wooden ouija board would certainly make a spooktacular show piece for a Halloween party.