I haven’t researched it, but thought somebody here might know offhand, can you lightly engrave CDs?
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If you don’t actually need to use the CD anymore…
However, they have Lighscribe CDs which have a special top layer and can be scribed using specific CD Writers with the technology.
But on a 
probably not a good idea.
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ok, just a thought, I don’t use them that much anymore anyway but I thought it would be good for wedding photographs, etc.
I think they are made from polycarbonate that doesn’t laser cut well but a light engrave might be OK.
That is a good point.
On top of that the label side is super thin and you risk damaging the data layer unless you have a thicker top layer designed for engraving.
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yeah that’s the downside, they probably wouldn’t be useful for data anymore. as an art project, though, go hog wild.
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Would the reflectivity be an issue?
From the archives.
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Only if you go deep enough to get through the plastic, which is opaque at CO2 wavelengths. Then you would get a brief reflection from the aluminium, but it is so thin I expect it would vaporise before the reflection could damage anything.
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Neat! Thanks.
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when i last built my dad a computer several years ago(he just got a new one) I stuck a lightscribe burner in it. He likes to get fancy with his conversion of family photos and label the disks.
haha. i feel like i was the only person who really got into those. i friggin loved doing engraves on the back; people when nuts over how they looked.
The real question is how are you going to find something that plays the CD after you engrave it? 
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