KU and an increasing amount of educational institutions have Laser cutting equipment. Even my highschool had one. This powerful piece of equipment has the ability to create prototypes, art, signage, and products. Laser cutters have varied levels of difficulty to operate; basic ones can be as easy to operate as a printer, while industrial models can involve multiple axis of control and become quit complex.
"Laser cutting is a technology that uses a laser to cut materials, and is typically used for industrial manufacturing applications, but is also starting to be used by schools, small businesses, and hobbyists. Laser cutting works by directing the output of a high-power laser, by computer, at the material to be cut. The material then either melts, burns, vaporizes away, or is blown away by a jet of gas, leaving an edge with a high-quality surface finish. Industrial laser cutters are used to cut flat-sheet material as well as structural and piping materials."

I made a board game with a laser cutter. It is a copy of settlers of catan. Each piece is engraved with game images and icons and then cut to shape by the laser.
Check your local community for laser access. KU has them, many high schools have them, my local library even has one. There is also a community shop in Kansas city called Hammerspace where you can use one!