it is desired to refer to a shape rather than a tangible object as shown in fig1 and 2 a character 10 representing in this instance a lower case letter u201c b u201d is formed from a body piece 12 and a cap piece 14 which fits precisely on the body piece the character 10 is intended for use in a sign to be attached to a surface 16 the body piece 12 has a front surface 18 a rear surface 20 and two fastening holes 22 which are through holes depending upon how the body piece is to be attached to the surface 16 the fastening holes 22 may be internally threaded or they may be smooth and have a countersunk area 24 at the front surface 18 the body piece 12 and the cap piece 14 can be fabricated from dissimilar or like materials as will be described later the body piece 12 and the cap piece 14 are each machined from a parent material with a computer guided laser tool techniques of computer assisted machining and laser cutting are well known in the art and will not be described it is sufficient to point out that the precise shape of a letter is programmed into the memory of a computer and that the cutter follows a prescribed path in shaping the body piece 12 and the cap piece 14 from their parent materials the fastening holes 22 in body piece 12 are formed by computer assisted drilling at points which are again programmed into the computer memory and are.