Awesome Machined

This impressive drinking vessel is like the Mjolnir of mugs. Weighing 22 pounds (or 10 kg for metric folks), it’s machined from stainless steel with thick walls and a welded-on knurled handle that won’t let you down. Despite its heft, it only has a 13.5 oz. capacity. Each is handcrafted, so there’s about a two-month lead time for orders.

The latest creation from the talented artists of AltDynamic puts a new spin on the machinist’s practice object known as a Swiss cube. Their version twists the cube in the middle and will have you wondering how they engineered such a thing. The palm-sized cube is CNC machined from solid aluminum in the USA, and comes in raw metal or anodized colors.

Presenting the tape dispenser to end all tape dispensers. MAN Manufacturing uses a CNC mill to create this hefty 1-pound desk accessory from a solid block of aluminum. Its roller locks in place using a satisfying magnetic locking mechanism. A true centerpiece for any desk.

AltDynamic created this metal model based on data from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. The miniature moonscape replicates the topography of the Linné Crater. Each is CNC-machined from a solid aluminum bar and comes as a 5″ x 5″ or 5″ x 8″ scene, with the larger model available in a blue or red finish.

AltDynamic’s Speedform pays homage to the iconic and curvaceous profile of the classic Porsche 911. Each one is machined from a solid block of aluminum and weighs in at a substantial 1.1 lb. The 6.5″ long sculpture is available in raw aluminum or one of several vibrant anodized colors. We’re partial to the blue, red, and orange.

Tactile Turn’s sleek and substantial pen features a side click mechanism, providing satisfying feedback when deploying or retracting its pen tip. It’s available in titanium, copper, bronze, or zirconium, in 4.6″, 5.3″, and 5.8″ lengths. An optional titanium Damascus clip doubles the pen’s price but looks amazing.

Most soap dishes are made from plastic, ceramic, or wood. But we dig the more substantial look of Lukas Alberts’ soap dishes, which are machined from metal with strategically-placed ridges to keep soap bars from getting soggy. They come in solid aluminum or copper, both of which will oxidize and patina over time.

Standard 6-sided dice are cube-shaped. But it’s also possible to make cylindrical dice – the trick is that they spin instead of roll. Metalsmith W&M Levsha demonstrates their craft by fabricating a pair of smooth-rolling metal dice spinners, each laser-engraved with six numbers. Tiny magnets ensure they stop in the right spots.

This CNC-machined titanium pen comes from Canadian metal goods maker FocusWorks. Its design combines a sleek technical style with an organic-looking “dragonskin” textured grip. Its accompanying clicky cap attaches securely without screw threads or o-rings. It takes a standard Schmidt Easyflo 9000 cartridge.

Machinist Brian Howey of Automog designs and fabricates these smooth metal writing instruments. Available in brass, copper, or aluminum, the pens feature a satisfyingly clicky mechanism. Options include a cleanly-integrated pocket clip, a textured grip, and a custom leather pen case from UpState Handmade.

From the expert machinists at AltDynamic comes their most impressive creation yet, a family of elegant aluminum playthings which look nothing like a sphere, yet can roll like one. Each one splits down the middle and is held together with magnets. They come in three variants, each with its own unique rolling properties.

M.N. Projects shows off a nifty little weapon he machined from aluminum. It has a set of hinged arms which are attached to springs that store up energy when the bow is drawn back. We certainly wouldn’t want to catch one of those metal-tipped arrows in an eyeball.

Machined from a solid hunk of aluminum or brass, the Flipo Flip offers a unique take on the desktop fidget toy. This metal plaything is designed to feel great in the hand, and is perfectly weighted for flipping, spinning, and manipulation with your fingers. Available in hexagonal and square designs.