A CNC laser engraver, however, isn't exactly the cheapest thing around, and you'll be looking at spending at least $150. But ...

Laser diodes are a staple of many gadgets around us, including CD and DVD players and computer drives, laser pointers and the lasers that are used for transmitting telecommunications signals.

Both the Blu-ray and HD-DVD formats rely on blue-laser technology. The main advantage: greater storage capacity. While using the same surface area as a conventional CD or DVD, the new blue-laser ...