It has been lovely to see the tabletop role playing and war gaming communities embrace all the nerdy shit that I love to play with.
First was 3D printing, which has gone from being a weird fringe fascination to almost at the point of saying it is approaching becoming mainstream.
At my local game club there is starting to be conversations about playing 3D printed proxies, no longer just terrain pieces and objective markers etc. Zero to almost commonplace in a couple of years.
Certainly "popular", if you judge by Kickstarter and Patreon. For perpetually online folks like me, it often feels commonplace.
But now it is laser cutters and engravers.
Which is exciting!
The problem is, people seem much more careful about handling 3D printer resin than the dangers of laser engravers, not least huffing laser fumes and that ... that could be a problem.
Laser Cutters in Tabletop Gaming
Most of us will have at least seen MDF terrain and other laser-cut accessories in our gaming hobby.
MDF terrain is super popular, especially at organised events where a lot of tables to fill in a short space of time. It looks good, is excellent value for money, and takes paint well.
You will probably have also seen laser-cut tokens, dice holders/trays, and measuring tools. Even some popular (and expensive) gaming brand accessories are made this way, along with CNC routers.
For myself, I use a combination of 3D printing and lasers (plus my CNC machines eventually when my workshop is back fully in working operation).
Here is my advertising billboard for Gaslands interpreted by Piotr for mass-production on his 80W laser:
The Problem with Lasers in Tabletop
Unfortunately, a lot of people who are getting into laser cutters via the hobby are doing so on the basis of YouTubers who are new to it themselves. This wouldn't ordinarily be a problem, the situation is different here because the manufacturers are not being entirely honest.
To laser engrave or laser cut your laser needs to be enclosed. Period.
YouTubers are being mostly sent diode lasers that are wide open. Sometimes they are sent protective eyewear.
This is a problem for two reasons:
- Lasers burn - It is amazing how blase a lot of YouTubers are about setting a laser burning flammable material and then walking away. At the intensity of a laser, a lot of stuff you wouldn't think could set fire can do. Our maker space in Calgary got donated a laser because the previous owner set a cut going that burned down his factory.
- Lasers burn you - Laser light can blind, and light bounces off surfaces. Your eyewear might protect you, but what about pets, family, etc? OK so you rush everyone out of the room and lock the door ... which leads us to ...
- Adequate ventilation - When lasers burn to mark or cut they let fly all the little burned particles and chemicals that are released. This is nasty stuff to inhale. Your body will tell you with coughing and stinging eyes that it is not good. That shit needs to be either heavily filtered or put outside. Even things that don't give off noxious chemicals or carcinogens might be at a tiny particulate scale that is still nasty to get into your lungs. Just avoid.
Safe is Fun
I don't want anyone to be put off. Diode lasers can be amazing, I love my XTool D1 Pro and they are a great value entry into the world of lasering.
Just either buy or make an enclosure and vent those fumes. Protect your eyes and lungs, then you will be around a long time to enjoy your games!
There's amazing technology available to hobbyists these days, but a lot of tools can be dangerous. Where I work they have some serious kit and can 3d print metal. I don't get to play with that. I think they have all the proper ventilation you need.
Have fun.
I am sure they do, companies will at least want to avoid injury/liabilities but I imagine if they are spending that kind of dough they are knowledgable too!
I'm a software guy, but they do have some cool hardware too. I'm just impressed by the kit some people have at home. I'll have to talk to some friends if I need something made.
Someone who used to be on Hive made me these Raspberry Pi cases. I owned both these computers. There's a business in printing to order.
Love it, I have originals of both of those now (I have to Beeb and a master) but I got my buddy a Pi 400 for Christmas so he could relive his BBC/Electron/Amiga days :)
I met up with an old friend the other day. He still has his Amiga 500 and Electron. I sold all my old stuff years ago, but regret that a bit.
OMG yeah so much regret. 90% of my original hardware I collected as a pandemic/mid-life crisis thing ;)
Nothing of my original hardware exists any longer, I would love to have my original vic 20 especially but now I have someone else's ... and now we are back in England, no space for any of them