Here’s a video (m4v) about our new business cards, we’ll have these at Maker Faire this year! They’re laser cut “SPIROGRAPH” (hypotrochoid) cards, pop out the gears and you make your own designs!
To cut your own cards out, grab the files at Thingiverse
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I am officially jealous of those that can make it to Maker Faire and get one of these.
Comment by Paul — May 25, 2009 @ 11:20 pm
Good day,
As you have very generously shared your files so that those of us with Epilog, or other lasers can play with this – Could you also share with us the laser settings you’re working with? (power/speed/wattage your running) – The instructions thus far posted simply say to cut with the laser using 1/4″ stock.. A bit more info on that step would be wonderful.
Thanks!
Mike
Comment by Michael — May 26, 2009 @ 12:53 am
oooooooooo! These are the coolest business cards i’ve ever seen!!!
)
(they’re just a litte “thin” on the contact info
M
Comment by Marcello — May 26, 2009 @ 3:44 am
Although i find the idea to be awesome, i would have included less gears : It’s a business card with a concept you’re “selling” not an actual spirograph…
I think that if you stick with the best combination of gear/design, you will have more space on the card to add some text/url/post address/motive/…
And the design obtained by using your card should be your Logo/Brand sign, or a part of your visual identity.
This way, the people you give the card will appropriate a bit of your identity by designing the logo on their own with their pen… And identity, that’s what it’s all about.
Congrats anyway, i would love to meet you and receive such a card
Comment by Xavier — May 26, 2009 @ 5:43 am
Man, I wish I could attend to get one of these. Hopefully we can purchase them online afterwards.
Comment by Andrew Bachman — May 26, 2009 @ 5:52 am
@Mike Each laser cutter is going to be a little different. If you have an epilog, simply look up the cutting settings in your manual. If you dont, you’ll have to experiment. But since acrylic is the most popular material to cut it shouldnt be too hard
Also, you want 1/16″ acrylic
Comment by ladyada — May 26, 2009 @ 8:35 am
@Xavier If you make your own, its e-z to remove a gear for more space. Personally I like gears, and I dont want every one on youtube calling my phone, eh?
Comment by ladyada — May 26, 2009 @ 8:36 am
Somewhere at home I have a drawing set where you’d line up the inner disk with mark #1, trace some squiggly grooves, line up with #2, trace other lines, etc. to get a picture of Bugs Bunny. Something like that could be used on your card to produce your company logo. (Or a self-portrait, or a secret message….) Or, for simplicity, you could just line up each of the four edges of the whole card in turn with a mark on the paper, so there wouldn’t be any loose pieces to lose.
Another idea: laser-cut inner parts which could be assembled into a business card stand/dispenser – with your name and logo visible on the back where the user would see them all day long.
Comment by Mike Donovan — May 26, 2009 @ 11:42 am
Awesome!
I cant wait to see them this weekend.
Comment by Borgel — May 26, 2009 @ 11:44 am
Is that a wolf on your shirt? Awesome.
Comment by J — May 26, 2009 @ 3:44 pm
Hummm… I would love to get one of that cards too. Is there any chance they could be bought at the store after the faire? Perhaps we could bribe you with a postcard or two?
Comment by Pivalak — May 26, 2009 @ 5:19 pm
That is made of awesome. Unbelievably freaking cool idea.
Comment by Honus — May 26, 2009 @ 10:05 pm
Extremely awesome! I give you 9 of 10 for rating of great idea you had there! It’s really good, really inspiring me to create one such better for just a business card, mine got shape like a chewing gum, it’s already massive anyone whom I gave my card but your card might could make them faint few minutes after I demonstrate how to make it useful. Good idea, really impress me that much. You only lack space for info on the name card, give more space for your contact info or else, then your rating will be 10 of 10. Cool!
Comment by John Gunawan W — May 26, 2009 @ 11:45 pm
Excellent idea – and they are certainly going to make an impact on the people you give them to.
Another idea I wish I’d had myself
Comment by Robert — May 28, 2009 @ 12:30 pm
Very cool. I think even better than the Woz card.
http://www.tuaw.com/2006/10/03/the-wozs-business-card/
Comment by Alan Parekh — May 29, 2009 @ 5:49 am
Wish there was something like Maker Faire near detroit. We really need things to give the area a kickstart.
Comment by Dave H — May 30, 2009 @ 5:22 pm
Awesome business card! Let me get a pen and paper so I can write down your office number and email addy.
Comment by GL — June 2, 2009 @ 3:48 pm
so creative!!
Comment by Hajime Chan — June 3, 2009 @ 12:52 pm
i would buy this if you would put it in your store
Comment by thorkell mani — June 3, 2009 @ 5:29 pm
Who is going to design the gear that draws the ADAFruit flower?
Sorry, Is it a flower or a X-Section of a star fruit?
Comment by Stu Currie — June 9, 2009 @ 1:30 pm
That is so cool!!
Comment by Jamal Ahmad — June 9, 2009 @ 4:50 pm
can you buy a spirograph business card or have them made…they are such a ME thing!
Comment by Laura — June 10, 2009 @ 9:58 am
How much would 1 business card cost?
Comment by Shawna — June 25, 2009 @ 6:48 pm
Awesome Card! Seriously one of the most original cards ever!
Comment by Plastic Tony — July 13, 2009 @ 8:42 am
That is so cool!!
Comment by Business Cards — July 13, 2009 @ 8:52 am
This is just brilliant! We linked to this on our website. What a perfect idea. Love it.
Comment by Business Cards Land — September 14, 2009 @ 1:53 pm
This is awesome. *PLEASE* make them available for sale!!!
Comment by ed — September 18, 2009 @ 1:59 pm
Anazing!!!!
Comment by Bruno — October 30, 2009 @ 10:06 pm
SO AWESOME! I just found your site via Neatorama. No chance one of these is still hanging around is there? I am planning to make a spirograph for the router cup attachment for my dremel. I wish I could laser cut the gears like you do, Im going to have to use MDF and a jig saw.
Comment by Chris — April 1, 2010 @ 9:58 am
Very cool! Discovered due to http://www.neatorama.com/2010/03/31/10-geeky-business-cards/
I’m curious, though. Can the gears be popped back into place so the card can be carried about? Because that would be lovely! If so, have the info printed as normally across the card & just put it back together to read after creating designs.
Comment by Monique Leigh — April 3, 2010 @ 7:05 pm