Digital-Evolutions

Laser Cutter Warm-up with Adobe Illustrator.

Final Check list prior to cutting.

The outer key ring hole should be 0.5in in diameter.
The inner key ring hole should be 0.18in in diameter
Make sure the red line is 0.005 pts for laser cutting
Make sure the line color is absolute red
- RGB red 255 ,0, 0
Make sure the text color is absolute black
- RGB black 0 ,0, 0
Make sure the height and width is about 2 in.
Save the file with your name in the title into your periods folder.

Make a new document. File > New This menu will pop-up. Choose Profile > Print

Change the following:

Size: Letter

Width: 11 in

Height: 8.5 in

Units: Inches

Orientation: Portrait or Landscape

Color Mode: RGB

Select both initials and then right-click and Expand Appearance. Object > Expand Appearance

A new menu will open and just hit 'OK'

There are sections that overlap, erase some sections.

Select the object you want parts erased and choose the select the Eraser Tool.

I looks like the X is being erased, but it is not selected. Only the selected object is being erased.

I moved it to the side to clean up the top part of the 'C'.

Now you can Smooth the top of the 'C' with the Smooth Tool. It may be under the Shaper Tool.

Paint the edge that you want smoothed with the Eraser Tool. When you are release the tool it will show the smoothed area.

Here is my result.

Letter 'C' moved back in place.

Select both letters.

With both letters selected, Unite both objects.

Offset Path: With the shape still selected, Offset Path Object >Offset Path

Adjust the Offset to a desired width. I used 0.4 inches. Hit OK.

With the Offset still selected, change the fill color to [None] and Stoke color to Red.

Select everything and change the height to ~2 inches. Make sure the link to constrain proportions is active.

Create a 0.5 inch circle with a 0.12 inch hole, then move the circles somewhere for hanging the keychain. It needs to be overlapped.

Unite both the 0.5 inch circle AND the letter outline and then Unite.

It should look like this . . .

Final Check list prior to cutting.

The outer key ring hole should be 0.5in in diameter.
The inner key ring hole should be 0.18in in diameter
Make sure the red line is 0.005 pts for laser cutting
Make sure the line color is absolute red
- RGB red 255 ,0, 0
Make sure the text color is absolute black
- RGB black 0 ,0, 0
Make sure the height and width is about 2 in.
Save the file with your name in the title into your periods folder.

Keychain Planning

First come up with at least 8 different letter combinations that look good together.

Types of fonts to avoid or just be aware that they are more complicated.

Thin complicated fonts are more challenging

Hollow fonts are more challenging.

Complicated fonts are more challenging.

Noisy fonts are more challenging. Avoid!

Choose one that you like and one that can be easily cut out. The more complicated the font, the more challenging the next step.

Create 2 separate letters and arrange for a desired layout. Use your initials or someone else's.

To Engrave: Assign the Fill color to absolute Black. When the laser cutter sees absolute Black, it engraves that area. To change the color hold {SHIFT} + click on the swatch for the fill color.

Select all of your text elements and Expand them. Object > Expand. This will turn the text in to objects.

Select all the expanded elements (both Letters) and Unite them, so that now they are all one object.

Open the Pathfinder, select elements, and choose Unite. *If it worked, when you select one character, it will select all of your text.

With the object selected Object > Path > Offset Path I set the Path Offset to 0.1 in, yours will be different. Check the Preview Box to see the thickness.

With the text still selected change fill color so you see the change, then offset the path. *I choose blue just so I can see the change.

Setting up the perimeter for cutting. Select the offset path and assign the color to absolute Red (255, 0, 0) and give it a thickness of 0.005 pt and the Fill Color to 'No Fill'.

{SHIFT} click on the red swatch and the Swatch Options will appear.

*HOT TIP

Draw or scribble a rough path with the pencil (or Paintbrush). Now, with your path still selected, select the Smooth tool, click and drag across your selected path to smooth it out.

Repeat until you reach and accept able result:

Ok that looks pretty smooth, done. Notice that the smooth tool also reduces the amount of anchor points in your path.

Final Check list prior to cutting.

The outer key ring hole should be 0.5in in diameter.
The inner key ring hole should be 0.18in in diameter
Make sure the red line is 0.005 pts for laser cutting
Make sure the line color is absolute red
- RGB red 255 ,0, 0
Make sure the text color is absolute black
- RGB black 0 ,0, 0
Make sure the height and width is about 2 in.
Save the file with your name in the title into your periods folder.

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