Laser-Cut Earbud Owl Keeps Your Cords Tangle-Free

I wish I had a laser cutter just laying around

bbobjoe

Definitley gonna laser cut one of these tomorrow out of scrap acryllic.

Yeebles

You know, you're probably right. I'm sure I have a laser cutter lying around somewhere.

I luvz me a good laser story at the end of the day

pettiblay

@ilovexspin: Guilty as charged...

*backs away sheepishly*

@ilovexspin: LOL!

nobodyzhome

DIY? my ass!
People could barely do the business card DIY earbud holder.

ilovexspin

@Ryanraven: (snicker)

Bert Bronaugh

What a hoot!

@ilovexspin: uh... do you think "lasercutting" means holding a laser with your hand?

if you can draw a picture and send an email, you can have your drawing lasercut. it's not as DIY as DIY gets, but it is actually easier than an origami business card.

kibogoyo

When I was in college, we had access to a CO2 laser cutter like the one that was probably used to make this. It's really neat - you just draw an image using the CAD program, and the laser cuts it for you. It works best on soft-ish materials though, like the balsa wood above. If you used a thicker block, it might catch on fire.

i just wrap mine around the iTouch... it's built in and i don't hafta touch sharp objects

Tank

A dremel could easily do that!

cliffordthered

@Tank:

It's iPod Touch.

dharasick

It looks really nice, I can imagine it going to good use on my desk, but I can't imagine going the day with that in my pocket or something.

Only about $12,000 for a small laser cutter system. Probably cheaper to wrap the earbuds up in a small hank. But hey, if ya got a laser cutter you could sell these at craft fairs!

@Tank: THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID

Cool look'n little project, I'd imagine something pretty close could be achieved with one of those plastic "Your name here" sample credit cards that come with generic credit card offers and a plastic cutting tip of a soldering gun. Otherwise anyone *have* a laser cutter and willing to make one for a few bucks plus shipping?

kingjamus

I wish there was something similar I could use for headphones with asymmetrical cords.

Kevin Vesga

@kkcoolj: Thanks for sharing this.

flunkycarter

Whoooooooo is going to actually DIY on this one? A neat craft to sell on eBay though if you do have a laser cutter accessible. The only issue I have with all these little cord-winder thingamabobs is that you have to carry another "thing" with you around.

Personally, I use a very simple HANDy method I've been using for yEARS...Check out this vid tutorial:
[www.essistme.com]

so how much is a laser cutter? and where would you buy one

jslizzle

@dharasick: Thanks for the correction, but it's obvious Tank is talking about some knock-off, Kohl's department store brand mp3 player.

@BrianW62:

Lol xD

Joshiii-Kun

@Kevin Vesga: Like... a deformed owl?

BrianW62

@kkcoolj: This is a standard way sailors store ropes on a boat.

Well, i don't need this - my earphones do not tangle.

[store.apple.com]

@jslizzle: You can get a decent used one for about 20,000 euros. (I'm not joking, these things aren't cheap.

you could always go to ponoko. they do custom laser cutting. probably about 5-10 dollars with shipping for something like this. or a lot of large cities have DIY workshops you can be a member of. Here in Denver we just got club workshop and they have a laser cutter and a lot of other really neat tools.

Jeff Venicx

If you were willing to forgo the artwork, you wouldn't need anything as exotic as a laser cutter.

* You could bang out one of these in 5 minutes on a router table

* Maybe 8 minutes with a drill press, or a hand drill or a dremel tool.

dwhitman

@NigelNardywomps: $7K is cheap? Perhaps in comparison but not affordable if you just wanna play with it. Make it $200 and we'll be talking...

Hah. Glad we have a laser engraver at work. :) I might try making one of these with a less folksy design.

Universal Laser makes small desktop engravers relatively cheap, around $7K. [www.ulsinc.com]

NigelNardywomps

i want one.. :(

@dambo29:

The one we use for industrial use is $25K, so yeah, "relatively" cheap.

NigelNardywomps

I prefer to fold my earbuds over one time to cut the length in half, then tie them in a loose knot. It takes me 5 seconds and is very efficient - no tangles, either!

EliasNekrologist

Thanks for posting this Adam! The cutter I used to make the owl is an Epilog Zing, which goes for around $8000. So a bit out of the home user range, but getting pretty popular with small businesses and hacker/maker groups. Another option is to send files to [www.ponoko.com] I've never used their services, but hear good things. Lastly, the awesome dude who designed this owl sells acrylic ones on Etsy: [www.etsy.com]

johnedgarpark

Uh... laser cutting probably isn't for you if you think a laser cutter is sharp.

EarlHaloo

Nice, but I think I prefer cable turtles: http://shuttertalk.com/articles/cableturtle

HolbrookPolynices

Love DIY, but for this just go here - www.arriva.com

RodrigoMajuju

@cliffordthered:

You could do them with a bandsaw as well.. In fact, take a block of wood about 4" thick and cut the shape out, then slice it every 3/16" or so and you'd have umm.. 1, 2, 3... 21 and 1/3.. Or somethin like that.. Then get out your handy dandy wood burner and pretty them up a bit..

kl0an

@[www.ponoko.com] Laser cut manufactering on demand shipped anywhere.

Mathew Falloon

From the Shameless Plug Department: I'm giving out a laser cut earbud owl to one random follower per week during May. I'm @johnedgarpark

johnpark

O RLY ?

Jhonka

Nice DIY job..

kkcoolj is right - this design makes another thing to carry and lose. I am imagining a smaller version, basically the same shape as the ipod except for the part that holds the earbuds. Make it out of flexible cast-off plastic and cover with leather. When the ipod is not in use, the cord is wrapped around the ipod with the plastic thing holding the earbuds. When ipod is in use, the thing is on the cord, cord goes through earbud holder hole and hangs on the cord so it won't get lost. For ipod shuffle you could even design it so it fits around the alligator clip and integrates into the design. Then the ipod becomes the owl. iowl?

WinstonHizalizouse

Fairly simple. Only question is do I use the force or not.

Pandemic1444

you people are joking right? Make it out of cardboard, get a coping saw and cut it out.

UmitAlcinous

too much hassle...just learn to coil them right...way easier http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcND46YrB1o&feature=player_embedded

AviHypnos