Laser machines are very useful pieces of gear. You can send a very precise file to it and it will cut or etch it perfectly and accurately as many times as you like. The entire machine is built with accuracy and repeatability in mind, so what if you want to have some analog fun with it? You would need to do some hacking just like our friend Martin Raynsford from Just Add Sharks has done with his laser cutter. Martin has converted his laser cutter into a huge etch a sketch! He has made it so that the laser is only activated when the unit is moving, high power cuts out shapes and low power etches. A few rotary encoders are read by an Arduino Pro Mini which feeds movement signals into the stepper motor controllers.
Want to see it in person hand has a go at driving it? It will be featured at some of the upcoming UK Maker Faires.