Just in time for Christmas. These were a labor of love and I'm really happy how they finished up. Even so, I am so-o-o-o glad they are done. 8 cryptex boxes for the grand kids. I have no delusions about how the boxes will compare to the fancy electronic gadgets kids want these days, but maybe one day they'll be appreciated. I  think I posted in progress pictures of these a while back but not sure. I actually started them in the summer but shelved them until closer to Christmas. Last week, I decided I needed another, really had to scratch to remember how I'd done everything, even had to go back and watch Carl Jacobson's excellent video on making them again. The code on each one is  their birth day with "Z"=zero and "A"=1 etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

I remember you did post some in-progress pictures.  Those turned out fantastic.  Amazing how crisp and clear the letters are.  They do look like a lot of tedious work.

what Dan said...

Steve,

Those are way cool! 

Awesome Steve. Those look like a lot of work.

Wow, the hours were well worth it. The recipients will certainly enjoy them. 

Very, very cool Steve.  How old are the grandkids?

 

 

They will be treasured gifts for sure.

Wow Steve.  Very nice.  A testament to your skill and patience. 

Fantastic! Seems like we need an artistry category, above woodworking, for a lot of these projects. They are just stunning, looks like they should be in an adventure movie like Indiana Jones, or the like.

17 hours ago, HandyDan said:

 Amazing how crisp and clear the letters are. 

Thanks to everyone!! 

Dan, I am just really delighted how well that little rotary laser setup works. It's amazing how many incredible resources are available in this day and age.

 

Thanks again to everyone!!

 

Steve

 

 

1 hour ago, Steve Krumanaker said:

Thanks to everyone!! 

Dan, I am just really delighted how well that little rotary laser setup works. It's amazing how many incredible resources are available in this day and age.

 

Thanks again to everyone!!

 

Steve

 

 

Steve, please tell us more about that "rotary lase setup".

43 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

Steve, please tell us more about that "rotary lase setup".

Gene, it's home made. I based the design loosely on the eggbot Easter egg decorator design. The laser module, the stepper motors, and the control board are all similar to the components on the eleksmaker machines sold by Banggood.com and a host of other Chinese vendors. The mechanical parts, like the guide rails and linear bearings are from there as well. The only thing I had to fabricate was the plywood and the face plates. The software to run the laser is T2 laser which I discovered on the benboxlaser.us forum. I also got LOTS of help there setting the laser up and learning to use it.

I do all of my drawings with DeltaCad and Inkscape. If you have more specific questions I'll be glad to answer them as I can. Here is a little video of the laser working but fair warning, it gets boring pretty quickly.

 

Steve

 

 

Fantastic Steve. IMO these will rival any electronic gadget out there plus no batteries or charge time required.

These will surpass the life of those digital gizmos too...love the way you personalized and signed these.

Well done...you're an awesome grandpa!

Many thanks, Steve. I didn't find it boring, at all. Your marvelous engineering kept me captivated. 

Steve you either do not have anything to do or have the patience of Job. What an amazing project to hand down and I think the great grands will love them too.

49 minutes ago, Gerald said:

Steve you either do not have anything to do or have the patience of Job. What an amazing project to hand down and I think the great grands will love them too.

Did you watch that video? Steve's engineering prowess allowed him to set it up and walk away. Pure genius, I tell ya. 

Amazing how that technology is available to us.  Wonderful world we live in.  To bad we can't reprogram humans to work that well with each other as we do machines.

this computer/woodworking tool interface baffles me.

 

as i've noted before, if you gave me a CNC machine (like the ones that Rockler sells), i'd stare at it, kick it, turn it on, and would be stumped in how to make it do what i want it to do.

 

guess i'll stick with hand work.

10 hours ago, DAB said:

this computer/woodworking tool interface baffles me.

 

as i've noted before, if you gave me a CNC machine (like the ones that Rockler sells), i'd stare at it, kick it, turn it on, and would be stumped in how to make it do what i want it to do.

 

guess i'll stick with hand work.

Dab, the important thing is, don't over think it. A cnc machine or this little laser is just a tool like any other. A cnc allows a person to make repetitive cuts just like setting the fence on your table saw allows a person to cut boards to the same width every time. In some cases, like my laser, it allows a person to do something better or neater than they could otherwise do. Just like any other tool, there is also a learning curve and accumulated skill involved when using one. Nothing comes without putting forth the effort to bring it.

 

Steve