So my better half just loaned me her little iPod shuffle. Interesting
little item: 2 days worth of music, and 8-10 hours worth of batteries
in the space of a thick postage stamp. Definitely giving me one of
those ‘welcome to the 21st century’ moments.
The thing I noticed however, is that it has an anodized aluminum
body. As I was sitting there listening to it while engraving, it
suddenly started looking very temptingly engrave-able. Anybody ever
try engraving on one? How thick is the shell really? (there’s no
obvious way to pull the thing apart without destroying it.) I
suspect, given that the shell appears to be an aluminum extrusion,
that the shell’s pretty thick, but I thought it best to ask first.
The aluminum ones would be easy, but easily dented and smudged. I
also note that the new touch has a stainless shell… Hummmm…
So my better half just loaned me her little iPod shuffle. As I was
sitting there listening to it while engraving, it suddenly started
looking very temptingly engrave-able. Anybody ever try engraving on
one?
I don’t do engraving, but I’ve seen engraved iPods. In fact, Apple
offers a laser engraving service for the iPods they sell on their
website.
My husband and I have bought iPods for our children and when we
placed the orders, there was an option on Apple’s website order form
to have your iPod engraved with whatever words you want. We had them
all engraved with the kids’ nicknames before they were shipped, so it
is possible.
I have not tried it, but my husband Bernard works for Apple and does
their graphics and 3d modeling. I could find out how thick. We even
have a fake shell of one laying around here somewhere.
I have engraved on all the different types of IPod (Video, Mini,
Nano and Shuffle.) It was always very easy but I was careful and
pressed lightly so I never monitored the thickness of the skin.
Corrie Silvia
Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America
I haven’t seen an engraved one but here is a link to a photo etched
one http://steampunkworkshop.com/ipod.shtml there are several very
interesting modifications of consumer electronics on this site.
James Binnion @James_Binnion
James Binnion Metal Arts
I don’t know about the iPod, but I have gone through one Palm
"Titanium" PDA where the ‘metal’ surface was so thin it wore off in
2 years in my purse, leaving the plastic cast body showing. I think
the technique is called ‘sputtering’ where a thin coating of
can be applied by micro deposition onto a
base product. (Back in my Silicon Valley days I used to audit a
company that did this for the space program.)
I wouldn’t bet on engraving this…, but maybe the iPod is
different…
Those iPod Shuffles are tough little buggers! My cousin dropped his
from the third story balcony of his apartment once, and it was still
playing when he went down to retrieve it. As far as I know, he still
uses it every day. I say go for it - just try not to carve too deep!
The best way to engrave an IPod is with a laser engraver.
There are several types of IPod cases. The anodized ones can be
engraved as is and it simply lasers off the anodized surface. The SS
cased ones (the backs) require a marking compound such as Cermark
that results in a permanent black marking.
Most laser shops should offer the service.
Chris
Ketchikan, AK
(Universal M360 60watt laser owner)