I made a Word Clock two years ago. I wanted to laser cut the case for it, but without a Glowforge, my only option was to get it made by the likes of Ponoko, etc. However, it would have been too expensive to justify having it cut by them and risk the dimensions being off, or the engraving not being right. In the end, I decided to just 3D print a case for it. It came out OK, but I was never truly happy with it.
I’ve always wanted one of these but the large ones were too expensive. Bravo sir!
I wonder if could keep all the orphans in the letters if you stuck some veneer to a piece of acrylic and hit engrave to make the front. I’m personally completely oblivious when it comes to veneer though.