Core77

If only there was a way to combine my love of metalworking with my laser proficiency

Here's something we don't see often: A "How it's made" video showing how they make something that makes other things. Specifically, a laser cutting machine.

The coolest thing we didn't know before seeing the video is that a laser beam must be the appropriate shape in order to cut optimally, just like a router bit or a kitchen knife designed for a specific task. But the laser used here is invisible, and you can't shape what you can't see. So check out 2:10 in the video where they use clear blocks of sacrificial plastic that actually reveal the laser's shape.