Can glowforge engrave on phone?

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Question to glowforge:

I remember when i order the glowforge, there are photos showing that this machine can engrave on phone and laptop. but i dont see it anymore. I wonder what happened to this feature?

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You can absolutely mark/engraved anodized aluminium. Once.
:wink:

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how come i dont see any demo or video on it any more?

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I’ve posed multiple examples of engraving anodized aluminium since April, the most recent being yesterday. No iOS devices per se, as I don’t have extras laying around. AA is wonderful to work with.

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Hi @atnjason, Welcome to the forums!

It’s still in the promo video on https://glowforge.com/. Also its still listed as #4 of its 12 revolutionary features.

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Recognizing phones and tablets has not yet been implemented in the software though. However, you can see that this did not stop @karaelena in the slightest.

Feel free to ask more questions, we are a friendly bunch here! Also, if you want the staff to see this, you should tag @GlowforgeStaff.

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I am glad someone else did it to one of their computer devices first. Thanks for taking the heroic step :slight_smile:

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As have I and It works super easily. I just made a whole slew of custom engraved luggage tags for my daughter for her overseas internship, and the cat toy I made the other day. I can’t engrave my phone since I’m on the “always latest thing” plan so I have to give it back…

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I do it for work’s iPhones & iPads. Figured no big deal - they’re metal and 40W CO2 lasers can’t cut metal. Couldn’t hurt anything.

Still haven’t done my Surface because it’s magnesium and I can’t find anything authoritative on its laserability.

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When I had my Note 4 I would have done it since I could replace the back easily. But I’m not putting my brand new S8 Plus into my laser. Well, at least I won’t be the 1st to do it. If somebody else does it successfully, I’M THERE!

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I will likely attempt. It is gorilla glass on the back, so as long as I don’t find any info about gorilla glass reacting badly to laser etching, it’s going in there!

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I did some Android phones for the office - HTC maybe? - that were glass. Worked okay but needed more power than I initially anticipated based on standard plate glass work I’ve done. Used the damp paper towel masking technique although I’m not sure that was necessary.

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So your saying test on the wife’s phone first :wink:?

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Hmm, lithium batteries inside a magnesium case, what could possibye go wrong.

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Just don’t move it after your first pass. That way you can re-do it a second time if needed. Or do a piece of the design that doesn’t have to be perfect and then do the rest with different power/speed as appropriate.

I’d do one of the kids’ phones - I don’t think you want to mess with your wife’s until you’re sure :wink:

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Good call, on both counts!

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Never knew I was poor. Must be. Could not imagine throwing a $600 phone into a laser thinking it will probably be OK.

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Sounds like a viral video to me!?

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i’m new i get my kachine this week. how did you do it?

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magnesium is flammable