DAE here have ideas on how to make Braille-style engravings using a laser cutter like Glowforge/xTools?
Originally posted in @r/blind
I was really impressed when a friend of mine gave me a mini-Braille plaque as a present and when I saw the description on [link removed] Braille Bookstore I saw that they only had generic messages on them, even though it was the thought that counted, for they sent me a postcard to go along with it.
Since then I've thought of sending them something similar, but I want mine to have a personalised message, like their name and something unique about them, and possibly something a little larger, like a picture frame or mini-tablet. I could potentially use acrylic or wood. Then I might want to create some cutouts or shapes, such as a heart or other things, though these would obviously be cut all the way through the material.
I recently discovered my library close to my flat features a fully immersive makerspace and I've been having lots of fun exploring my crafty side that I spent hours experimenting with the InkScape and xTools programme, as well as Paint, but I haven't been able to produce something viable that would look close to what I'm trying to replicate. Even the staff at the makerspace was at a loss of what we could try, apart from downloading some Braille fonts. The only thing we could do was make an engraving where it would make round imprints or cutouts, but then you'd have to press in a bead into those exact spots to resemble Braille.
So, I'm wondering if someone here might have some experience with making something like this. Our library uses the xTools programme for context.