Home Laser printers/cutters

I assume you are talking about a laser cutter like a Glowforge and not a laser printer which is something else entirely. I can think of lots of things I could do with one! Tons of home decor projects, signage, dimensional maps, jewelry parts, clocks, puzzles. Lots of personalized gift type items like cutting boards, family trees My DD learned to use one in school last year and she made a lot of things engraved in acrylic like keychains, decorative desk accessories, that kind of thing. I went to a convention and some people made cute things to trade like engraved wooden spoons, picture frames, refrigerator magnets, etc.

There are a ton of files on Etsy and sites like Creative Fabrica to use with the Glowforge, look on there and you’ll see a lot of ideas.

I just purchased a 3D filament printer, Creality Ender KE version at Microcenter for $229. Great deal to get into a filament-based printer. Check out your library at the Maker Space to see what you are interested in and start there, if you have this resource. My library has tons of stuff and staff is really helpful. If not, I wouldn't buy something without thinking about what you would use it for. Another craft item that dies.

Another couple of things you may want to consider..

The laser is using heat and burning the object- you need to be right next to it or at least in the same room at all times

The laser is smelly and produces smoke that needs to be vented to the outside of captured and purified

The laser uses bright light and can damage your eyes if you don’t have proper eye protection

3D printers CAN run unsupervised but they also can catch fire- I try not to run them when I’m not home but I do run them overnight

3D printers clog and prints don’t always stick to the bed causing a mess

BOTH of these types of machines are super fun but you need to spend time learning them. They are not plug and play for the most part. 3D printers can be temperamental and fussy sometimes. Mine often gets sent to timeout for a week or more before I can deal with the issue at hand.

Bottom line- they’re not something you will be able to use for a few minutes here and there.

seaexplore do you ever sell the things that you make? I'd love to purchase one of the 'rock paper scissors' cat paw tags. Not sure how much postage would be to Australia, but it possibly won't be too bad since it's a small item.

The venting and the price tag are what’s holding me back. I’d want one big enough to handle 12x12 material and those aren’t cheap. There’s not an ideal spot in my studio where it would be easy to vent it to the outside, and I wouldn’t want it in the garage. 

The library just got a new Epson dye sublimation printer. Don't know much about those types. Also, they got a kiln for pottery making. I love our Maker Space.

I do sell stuff! ❤️. No idea on postage to Australia but probably not horribly pricy.