There are few other people from community using same technique for their buttons. Here some more pics that might currage others to trie it. I must say that finished button looks much better in real because camera shows yellow the part of button that is brightest. Colour of button`s light is orange.
This is how raw buttons looks like after laser cutting/engraving. It seams perfect from distance but If you are perfectionist like myself and look closer you wont like its unfinish look.
As laser goes trough material and melt acrylic, it leaves small vertical marks. Other result of any kind cutting is sharp edges which needs to be rounded with fine sandpaper so buttons feels smooth and nice to touch.
Buttons engravings is much more visible if filled with paint. I use acrylic paint. As it is same material as button it should stick well enough, and it is easy to sanded away.
Another part I lasercut is LED spacer/holder. This is needed to keep LED on sertain distance from front button part so spotlight can illuminate whole surface of button. Also, same spacer transfer the pressure to button mounted on PCB.
Most boring and dificult part of this illuminated button fabrication was prepearing the diodes. As SMD LEDs are pretty expensive, and perfect for this job, I needed to trim down regular 5mm LEDs to fit into the spacer. First I shorten the diode with cutters and than them sanded the top and skirt to make it as small as I can. Sure, I can use bigger spacer, but that will increase overall button length.
I wanted to have one too from the moment I saw one. I dont think it is very expensive. To me, yes. But I see people spend much more money on car. This particular machine is bought in US for 15,000$ and transport to Serbia costed 1000$. This is very eficient machine. You can do zilion different things on it if you have Idea. This guy even make 3D wooden Icons.
I cut my Extreme Torture puzzles with this machine
I`m envious too, he just needs to climb one floor up if he had something to cut, I have to travel to other part of city. but I am satisfied I get pretty fair price from this guy
Yeah, I also seen that today and I wasn`t inspired to bargain anymore. I tried to publish few times on pretty good internet connection and publishing process was awfully slow! ???
By the way, the guy that cuts all that things for me actually ordered laser cutter from America. It cost him $15000 + $1000 for transport as he needed to pay whole cargo container as he said…
