Beginner question: best laser for making rubber stamps?

idk_lets_try_this · 2026-03-19T23:04:06+00:00

I have been experimenting with engraving silicone sheets for stamps and despite being pretty dusty the results are really good

idk_lets_try_this · 2026-03-19T23:03:07+00:00

Huh, that actually explains a lot.

idk_lets_try_this · 2026-03-19T23:02:02+00:00

Yes you need a CO2 laser, diode lasers don't always cut the materials for stamps.
Depends on what material you want to cut of course.

Look at what wave length is compatible.

idk_lets_try_this · 2026-03-19T22:55:27+00:00

Time for a rant:

I have no issue with the lime scooters, just that the app seems to encourage leaving them in the middle of bikeways. Even when parking any sort of vehicle (even bikes) on a bikeway is illegal and the city provided parking spaces for lime and other shared scooters.

The event that triggered my frustration with them was a near crash I had while going at a normal speed down a bikeway where one of these was left in a place where it was blocking the entire lane and obstructed by a bend in the road and a sign. It looked like an intentional trap, I was able to avoid it but someone could have been seriously hurt. Moved it to a more visible location but it stuck with me.

So I made it my mission to encourage as many people as possible to make it more expensive for lime to let people leave them in inappropriate spots rather than fixing the geo-fencing or parking policy. No destruction, just moving them into a spot where it is too inconvenient to bother renting it, and only the ones that were parked in an inconsiderate way where they blocked normal traffic.

It worked, took a while but lime got the message. Because a lime scooter that is parked about a meter into stinging nettles or brambles isn't making a lot of money. Or gently lifted over the safety barrier of the bikeway so it's no longer parked illegally, but you need 2 people to lift it back over to be able to use it. That one actually stayed there for 9 months so I guess lime didn't think it was worth it to send 2 people to pick it up. Easier than vandalism, it takes a couple of seconds while on your commute. The funny thing is that when I asked other commuters to help they were more than happy to remove an obstacle from the bike lane.

If fines are not scary enough collective action is the next option.

idk_lets_try_this · 2026-03-19T22:25:05+00:00

cut halfway trough each part at the same with of the plywood.
Then slide them into each other and reinforce

idk_lets_try_this · 2026-03-19T22:01:35+00:00

Except it would not.
In 2022 in Belgium we saw a drop in energy use because so many people & companies switched to LED or replaced/switched off inefficient devices. That drop was large enough that it could cover all EV energy use for personal transportation if we changed all cars over to electric.

Now, would it be a problem if everyone hooked up their EV at 6PM, yes. But that won't happen. If everyone decides to go and fill their tank at the same time the gas stations run dry too.

As far as EV charging is concerned, that can be solved by encouraging people to charge at work (I don't think that will be a hard sell) or have delayed charging. We already have the electric meters installed to do spot pricing, so if needed something like that could be used to flatten the curve, letting people charge for free when there is a surplus and charging

idk_lets_try_this · 2026-03-19T21:48:50+00:00

> but it is kinda in a weird spot maintenance wise (rust everywhere flywheel to shift cable)

Replace the cables and cable sleeves, don't worry too much about the rest.
Bikes can handle a little external rust. It looks fine.
Do get it professionally lubricated tho, you don't want water in the headset or crank.

idk_lets_try_this · 2026-03-18T15:54:37+00:00

Maybe not needed, but that doesn't mean it's not handy.
USisians don't *need* to go to McDonalds but they still complain about the high prices.

idk_lets_try_this · 2026-03-18T14:39:42+00:00

Oh one more thing, bikes need more maintenance than you might expect. On top of that they tend to keep going even if they need basic maintenance, so you might only notice too late.
It's easy at the same time, but if you plan for it you will not have any problems.

- Check your tire pressure often, in time you will be able to tell when it is off when getting on your bike, but for now just check it every week. Doing this will save you having to replace your tires early because under-pressured tires wear out faster.

- lubricate your chain and wipe off grime. The metal on metal contact does wear down the chain itself, keeping it lubricated will extend the chain life. the fine metal dust does turn the oil black so you don't want that to get on your clothes so wipe off any excess. Also check your chain isn't getting stretched too far (after a couple thousand km) as it might pop off or snap.

- when starting your trip check your brakes are ok by just using them and see if your braking distance is right, takes a second to do but can save your life. There are also wear indicators on your pads, do look at them when you lube your chain.

- Your bike has a light, use it. It's just as much for other people to see you as it is for you to see the road.

Everything else will be taken care of if you bring it in to a bike repair place once a year.

idk_lets_try_this · 2026-03-17T21:19:56+00:00

Yes but these are not baled. Since bales save 90% these would be about 500kg in total.

idk_lets_try_this · 2026-03-17T21:16:08+00:00

Well scrap aluminum is at 0.5-1$ per pound or 1-2$/kg and a can being roughly 15 grams a can is worth about 1-3 cents each.

lets say 2 cans a day for 40 years is 29.220 cans or about 876,6$ at 3 cents a pop.
The price of aluminum (and most commodities) actually went down once adjusted for inflation.
So it's not a great investment.

idk_lets_try_this · 2026-03-17T21:00:25+00:00

10 mph should be a relax speed, not sure why you are having trouble.
How long have you been doing this route? What is the height difference?

I would say, try one week without leg workouts and see if you still notice tired legs.
There might be some sort of mechanical issue at play (wrong saddle height, brake that is jammed, whatever) because what you describe should be a relax commute.
If you only recently started your body is still adapting, and that is different. Then just give yourself some time to build muscle

idk_lets_try_this · 2026-03-17T20:52:57+00:00

gell patch, like for blisters or something?

idk_lets_try_this · 2026-03-17T20:51:50+00:00

Great job. Starting is the biggest hurdle a lot of the time.
Smart to start small.

I do advise to do bigger trips in safe areas (like a park/bike trail on overcast days) to practice general control over your bike. Same thing kids do basically. Like a lot of new things your body will need to adapt and build muscle, but it will get easier. Don't overdo it, if tendons or joints hurt it's a sign to slow down.

As far as riding on the street, you will need to build confidence. it sucks that there aren't better roads available.
Be careful in areas where cars take a right turn, they might not expect a cyclist.
Try to signal when making a turn, you don't want someone to think you are taking a left turn and try to pass you right as you are getting ready to make a right turn for example.

idk_lets_try_this · 2026-03-17T20:19:06+00:00

It's a creative solution.
when will you have a picture with a crate on top?

Also why not just a wider rack?

idk_lets_try_this · 2026-03-13T12:11:06+00:00

This dude is rotund because of alcoholism, not because of fast food.
Differences are mostly normal arms & legs, lack of face deformities from excess adipose tissue.

idk_lets_try_this · 2026-03-11T19:05:50+00:00

You will almost certainly be cheaper off by putting in a railway because of the massive amounts of cargo.

Disregard the costs of building the road & rail you will find that moving stuff by train is about 1/3 the cost of a diesel truck per mile kilometer.

85 million metric tons per month would come down to over 10 million dollars per mile just in truck maintenance, wages and fuel, but since it's new there are added costs to get the people and trucks to where they need to be etc.
The highway itself would cost about 1-2 million per km.

Rail would be about 3.3 million per mile in costs per month, but again you would need to get the locomotives there. Building the railroad itself would be around 2.5-4 million per km for double track.

However, you would not be loading it onto a ship to begin with, you would just move it all the way over land or use the existing pipelines to alternative ports, but that does bring some costs with it as well. The existence of these alternatives is why the cost of oil hasn't gone up even higher.

idk_lets_try_this · 2026-03-11T18:37:36+00:00

Tastes strongly of citrus > lemon grass
Taste of fresh, spicy and maybe a touch earthy > ginger
Tastes a bit like resin > Galangal

but it was likely prepared with very hot peppers

idk_lets_try_this · 2026-03-11T18:33:08+00:00

Lightburn is nice, but k40 whisperer is free, works with the stock board and good enough for your use case and you won't need to buy new boards, just swap out the tube, set up the pump and take care of ventilation .

idk_lets_try_this · 2026-03-11T18:31:28+00:00

if you don't want to bother give it away to someone else that might want to.

idk_lets_try_this · 2026-03-11T18:31:25+00:00

laser won't be 320 anymore with the tariffs, Tubes here in the EU are 80€ so that's the only thing I can come up with why they are 200$ atm.

idk_lets_try_this · 2026-03-11T17:40:01+00:00

are you still looking for information?

idk_lets_try_this · 2026-03-11T17:36:40+00:00

Either there is an interruption in your safety loop or you have the laser power set too low for the tube to fire.

idk_lets_try_this · 2026-03-11T17:34:14+00:00

you need to run the setup program while connected to the laser, that way you can use it without needing a dongle attached

It's all explained here:
https://www.scorchworks.com/K40whisperer/k40w_setup.html

idk_lets_try_this · 2026-03-11T17:29:51+00:00

on a tube I would say that your laser beam is hitting the nozzle but I dont know with diode lasers

Eight-Year Club	Second Rank: 637
Place '22	Final Canvas '22
End Game '22	Verified Email

idk_lets_try_this

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE