Character Keychains

Step 1 - Make a copy of your original file

Open your original file in Inkscape

Then Save As

You should include your name and the project type so it is easy to find on the usb, and amongst your files. You should also include your preferred colour that you would like your keyring cut out of.

i.e yourname_character_lasercutter_keyring_preferredcolour.svg

Step 2 - Set Up your Inkscape Workspace

Open Fill and Stroke.... Object Menu --> Fill and Stroke
Open Layers.... Layer Menu --> Layers
You will see them next to each other on the right of your screen and as we are using these to menus lots you want to have them both open.

To do this drag the Layers panel by clicking the Layers tab and dragging below

You already have one layer, now create 2 more by clicking the + at the bottom of layers. Rename all of them to:

Laser - etch fill
Laser - etch line
Laser - cut

Step 3 - Change your design to a stroke

The easiest way to get started is to change all of your design to a stroke.

Select everything in your vector (Ctrl + A)
In the Fill & Stoke panel
1. - Turn off Fill
  - Turn on Stroke. To begin with make the colour black if not already.

You may need to clean up your design at this point

no duplicate lines (the line tends to look darker compared to others, you can always select, delete and undo to check)
shapes should be whole. i.e. not multiple lines grouped to make a shape.
If you want to use the etch fill shapes have to be whole i.e. the line is connected the whole way with no gaps.

Step 4 - Your Design

You need to decide what your design is going to look like. You can cut, etch lines or etch a fill. Also what size it is going to be.

You will use the following system and assign the different parts of your design to the right colour:

Black for cut
Blue for etch fill
Red for etch line

By doing this in Inkscape it will already be ready for the laser cutter software Lightburn.

You also need to make sure they are on the correct layers so it is easy for you to manage. Select the part you need to move, right click and select Move, you can then select the layer you want. (See image below left). You can then lock and hide to check your design.

Note you may need to duplicate some shapes if they need to be filled and cut like the 3rd image

How to Move Layers

Different examples of the Key Ring design

Design 1 - Shape of Key Ring is cut (black) and the design is line etched (red).

Design 2 - Shape of Key Ring is cut (black) and the design is fill etched (blue).

Design 3 - Shape of Key Ring is the design, one line for cut (black), most of the design is fill etched (blue) and the mouth is line etched (red)

Design 4 - Shape of Key Ring is the general shape of the design to cut (black), the design outline is fill etched (blue) and the eyes & mouth is line etched (red)

Step 5 - Laser Cutter

If you have already set up the colours in Inkscape they will come through and the settings should already be correct.

The laser cutter works down the list so we want any etching to be first and the cutting to be last. To move the layers there are up and down arrow keys to the right.

Step 6 - Test in Cardboard

We always do a test run in scrap cardboard first to check the design and size first. This is because cardboard is a lot cheaper than acrylic.

Step 7 - Final Laser Cut

If your cardboard one is correct then you can go ahead and cut on the material you want.

The main ones we use are:

3mm plywood
3mm acrylic - lots of colours
5mm acrylic

Another technique that might be useful is painting within the etches. For example with black acrylic you can slap some white paint in the grooves made by the laser cutter and once the paint is dried scrape off the excess with your fingernail. This will leave the paints on the lines cut by the lasercutter but leave the smooth surface clean.

Put a picture of your keychain in your slideshow.

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