Laser engraving.....?

Question

OK, maybe someone in DYI can answer this.

Laser engraving - you can put a print on pretty much anything? right? plastic, metal, etc...

If I was looking to have some custom coins made up. Instead of paying a lot. I was thinking getting some blank poker chips or some metal slugs. then having a laser engraver just put my graphic on it. Do you think this can be done?

Where can you get coin shaped metal slugs?

thanks

Answer 1

It definitely can be done.  You would probably want to just have the coins cut out of sheet stock after they were engraved rather than trying to engrave a bunch of individual loose, precut coins.  Contact a place like this http://www.customlasercutting.com/ that can quote you the price of both the engraving and cutting out the coins from sheet stock of whatever material you want.  It's hard to say what it might cost without knowing what quantity you are wanting to make, but a rough guess to laser engrave and cutout about a 1 inch diameter "coin" from acrylic would be about $1.50 each plus the cost of the material.  There will be setup charges and minimum quantities and such too.  This cost is based on $1 per square inch for etching and $0.15 per linear inch for cutting.