There was a lot of chatter here a few years ago about engraving MacBooks, but I can’t find any mention of attempting to engrave the newer variations of that hardware (the redesigned case that debuted in late 2021 with the M1 Pro/Max, the display notch, full-size F-keys, etc).
I’m assuming the material is about the same, so the existing preset should be fine. (At least for the silver and M1/M2 “space gray”, if not M3/M4 “space black”.) And the change in thickness can be accommodated in the same way one handled the thickness of older MacBooks (remove crumb tray, add support so it’s at roughly the right height, check height settings). And probably the change in lid shape/thickness isn’t enough to put the display at risk of damage? Still, it’d be nice to hear if others have tried before risking my own machine.
(Background: I’ve always tried to make sure my work-issued and personal laptops are different colors, but I don’t always get to choose the former. I made it most of a year with the newest before accidentally bringing my personal laptop to the office…)
@geek2nurse is the only person that I know of that damaged her screen, you want to weigh in?
Alignment is a sticky subject with no crumb tray. If it were me, I’d design it to be asymmetrical and in such a way that alignment isn’t critical – doing things like staying well away from any critical parts or odd contours. It will save you some headaches.
Per MacBook Pro (13-inch, M2, 2022) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support both the pre-2021 model and the post-2021 models are “low carbon aluminum”, so yes the settings should be fine. Honestly anodized aluminum is one of the best materials, so either the black or the grey should do just fine.
If you’re making the design yourself, I’d colour it so it doesn’t stay in one area too long - since heat is the enemy of computers. Other than that, yeah, don’t lock yourself into something that has to be perfectly aligned. Use masking and very low power (2) to make sure the laser is hitting where you want it before you actually hit go on your final engrave.
