Laser Cut Shamrock Key Chain or Earring

Participants will draw a shamrock from scratch. You can then use the original shamrock as a key chain, or pair of earrings.

Sample Video

Learning Outcomes

• • Introduction to Inkscape, an open-source vector art editor

  • Familiarity with path node tools

  • The process of creating one shape from many shapes

  • Designing for a Full Spectrum Hobby Laser

By learning how to manipulate path nodes, you can learn how to create original, complex shapes. By learning how to design for the laser cutter, you can learn how to prepare your own creations for fabrication during Open Shop.

Download the Template

Download the template 3x3.svg. Save the template to the Desktop for easy access.

We use this template to save time during workshop. The template offers a convenient way of setting the default unit of measurement to inches, and to creating a work area that better represents the size of our final product.

Open in Inkscape

Locate the template file and Right-Click on it. In the menu, select Inkscape, which opens the file in Inkscape.

Introduction to Tools

On the left is the toolbar. The top tool is Select (Arrow). We use Select to activate objects before we move, resize, and transform them. As you change tools, you will notice new options appear in the control area. Today we'll be using:

• • Select Tool

  • Path Tool

  • Polygon/Star Tool

  • Text Tool

Polygon Tool: Draw a Triangle

Select the Polygon/Star Tool. Choose Polygon, and decrease sides to 3 for a triangle. Draw your triangle by:

• • Clicking and hold down the left mouse button

  • Drag

  • and Release to create your triangle

Object to Path

Right now our triangle is a nice base, but because we want to add a path node, we have to turn our triangle into paths.

Select triangle, and select Path>Object to Path.

Path Mode: Add Nodes

Activate the Path Tool and click on the top line of your triangle. You should see the two corner nodes turn blue, meaning the line and nodes are active.

In Tool Controls, select the first control, Insert New Node. This will create a new node in the center of the line segment. (This can be done manually by double-clicking, but using Insert centers the new node.)

Path Mode: Change Node Type

We want to change the two outer nodes to curved lines. Let's deselect or release with the ESCAPE key. Now select the outer left node.

Hold Shift while you click on the outer right node. The two nodes should be blue, and the center node should be gray because we did not select it.

There are six sets of node modification in Tool Controls. The second option in the fourth set, or Make Selected Nodes Smooth, is the option we want.

Triangle to Heart/Leaf

You should have something like a heart now!

You'll see blue lines coming from the curved nodes. These are handles and they can be manually adjusted to increase or decrease a curve. You can also select the center node to drag it higher or lower. When you have the shape you like, use Copy and Paste to add two more heart/leaves and arrange them until you have something like a shamrock. When you have a shape you like, select all and go to Path>Union (if you have any trouble with this, try Object>Ungroup, then repeat). The square tool makes for a quick and easy stem! If you add a stem, don't forget to select all and do Path>Union again.

Change the appearance of your shape by going to Object>Fill and Stroke. Set the Fill to No Fill, the Stroke to Red, and the Stroke-style to 0.003". We are changing these settings for the laser cutter -- by having our cut lines represented by the color red, we can avoid wasting time having cut lines rastered.

Steps for a Key Chain

Resize your key chain to a comfortable size. For example, 2" might be more comfortable than 3".

Add a hole for the keyring by drawing a circle about .18". The keyring hole stroke-style should also be .003" with red stroke color. Place it near, but not too close to, the edge of your design.

Steps for an Earring

Resize your earring to a comfortable size. For example, 1" might be more comfortable than 2".

Add a hole for the jump ring by drawing a circle about .1". The jump ring stroke-style should also be .003" with red stroke color. Place it near, but not too close to, the edge of your design.

Select the shamrock and jump ring hole, select Object>Group, and now use Copy and Paste to create the second earring.

Cutting Time

We'll check over your files and proceed to cut them on the laser cutters!

Survey

Surveys are here: https://sites.google.com/site/cplmakerlab/surveys