What is it?
Illustrator is a program where you can create complex designs where you can add text and images to create things like logos. When using Illustrator you can then transfer your work onto a laser cutter that will cut out you desired design. Can also apply it to the vinyl cutter.
Step By Step To Make Key Chain
Create a design for your key chain on Illustrator.
First open up Illustrator and put in the information needed to begin the printing process like the thickness of the extruded acrylic. Then open up Universal Control Panel and chose what you will print off. Once you have done this use the cutter's pointer to make sure your design will fit the surface on which you want to cut out. Do this by going along the four main corners of your design by using the focus tool. Then you are ready to start printing your design, but make sure to turn on the exhaust before hitting print.
This is when my key chain was inside the laser machine and was being cut.
Final Product of Key Chain
This is my finished key chain.
Step By Step To Apply Vinyl Decal
First set up the vinyl cutter by putting in your desired color of vinyl sheet.
Then make a design in Illustrator that you wish to have for your vinyl. I did my name to put onto my notebook for class. When doing this make sure to place your design in a place that uses the least amount of vinyl.
Once you have printed off your design, there is a outer layer of tape around your design so you want to peel that off gently. Then you apply transfer tape over your design and use the applicator to press down really hard into your design. After using the applicator, peel off gently the design and you can than place you decal wherever you choose. When placing it on your final product just use the applicator again to press down your design to make it stick.
Final Product of Vinyl Decal
This is my finished product of when I applied my vinyl decal of my name to my notebook.
Conclusion
I have learned many things throughout the process of working with Illustrator, laser cutter, and the vinyl cutter. Illustrator has taught me how to make clear images of logos, clip art, and other precise things I may want to design. Working with the laser cutter was really fun and taught me how it cut something simple like a key chain and how to set everything up on the computer to print off my design. The vinyl cutter showed me how simple it can be to label things by creating things like name tags using the vinyl.