What is Illustrator
Illustrator is a software used to draw things on the computer. Anything you draw or create can be turned into a file that can be used on the laser or the vinyl cutter. The images below were created through illustrator. I started by creating the shape and then I added my name. To add the picture of the lacrosse sticks I needed make the image was black and white and it wasn't blurry. Our laser reads three colors red, black, and blue. red cuts, black engraves and we didn't use blue.
Keychain Design on Illustrator
1. This is the shape I chose for my keychain. When the laser reads red it cuts, so that is the color of my outline.
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2. The laser doesn't actually cut unless the outline of my shape is thin enough. If the line is too thick the laser will not cut.
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3. The laser engraves any black so I put my name on the bottom.
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4. Since I play lacrosse I decided to put sticks on my keychain as well. The image I used was just a black and white clipart image.
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5. This screen is the print screen off of Illustrator. You come here to adjust all of the printing settings for the laser.
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6. This is the screen before you set any preferences. By clicking on the preference button it will show another screen.
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7. On this screen the type of material and thickness needed to be selected for the laser.
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8. This is the work space for the laser. Once the file is uploaded the laser is lined up with the corners of the key chain.
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9. In this picture the laser had finished engraving the lacrosse sticks, and was about to engrave my name.
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10. The laser is in the process of cutting through the acrylic. Both the name and the stick are already engraved.
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11. This is the key chain after it was punched out of the extra acrylic. The minor burn marks were due to the thicker acrylic.
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Vinyl Cutter
How to apply a vinyl decal
1. This piece was part of a bigger sheet and was cut up to make it easy to apply.
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2. If I peel off just the outline of the letters the letters will stay on the sheet.
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3. Next, I have to get the middle of the letters out.
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4. This piece is ready for the transfer tape. The tape will just go over the top of the decal.
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5. Now that the tape is on a squeegee is used to make sure all the letters will come off with the tape.
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6. Once the tape is pulled off the paper each letter will be sticky side up, the name as a whole will be backwards.
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7. Taking the piece of tape and sticking it onto the notebook will allow the sticky side of the decal to apply to the notebook.
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8. This is what the letters look like once on the on the notebook. TO get the tape off you just have to pull at a 180 degree angle.
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What I learned
Illustrator had many aspects that you had to know. It was interesting to compare using Illustrator for both the laser and the vinyl cutter. It's the same software used for two different things. Illustrator allows you to draw something out on to the computer, then send it to something like the laser to be engraved or cut out. One difference between Illustrator and Inventor is they are 2D and 3D.