China sells 40 Watt CO2 laser cutter/engravers, for around $400. USD These will carve up bases of any shape desired, easily, handily, and accurately. They're incredible machines…
However, the $400 USD price tag is hard to justify. It also has a learning curve to learn how to use it -- safely!
I prefer to buy laser-cut MDF bases from Amazon, or Etsy sellers. I reached out to one Etsy seller, asking them to cut me some equilateral triangles of a very specific size, and they delivered exactly what I asked for, accurate to the millimeter. I used these triangles to make a d20 Globe of my fantasy world for my AD&D games.
When you order laser-cut MDF bases off of Amazon/Etsy, you get great products at affordable prices, and they are cut perfectly to size and shape. They make money, and I get what I need at a great price.
I worked with a professional carpenter who bought a 50W CO2 Laser, and I assisted him in setting it up, and learning how to use it. I know what they can do, but I can't justify the investment, myself. There are plenty of shops on the market, offering their laser cutter services, for affordable prices. Most of them are open to custom orders.
Cutting acrylic materials with a laser, however, generates extremely dangerous poisonous gases, and most services will not offer acrylic cuts. Doing so requires proper ventilation of the fumes, and most Chinese laser cutters are not properly ventilated for such deadly poisonous gases to be safely vented outside (they are not tightly sealed, so cutting gases escape into the nearby area surrounding the lasers…). Litko has the necessary venting setup, so they can safely cut acrylic materials without harm to their staff (fumes are generated during cutting, then vented away, so there is no risk to the consumer). Cheers!
experiments with using recessed bases for figures with cast-on bases.
