Laser-Cutting

3D Printing

Basic Circuits

Each component of your custom keychain will draw on one of these fabrication techniques, and then come together in one awesome product!

Part 1: 3D Printing

You will make a 3D digital model of your name to be 3D printed. You could do this in Rhino, OnShape, or another Cad software. As a group, we will do it on TinkerCad.

MATERIALS

RESULT

STL file to send to the 3D printer

Part 1: 3D Printing

Part 1: 3D Printing

Part 1: 3D Printing

We are going to click the Create button, then select 3D Design

Part 1: 3D Printing

Before we start, get a feel for how you view your workspace/ build plate. You can move around by clicking on this cube, or by holding down control and using the trackpad.

Part 1: 3D Printing

Using the Text tool, you are going to place a text shape on the build plane.

Part 1: 3D Printing

When you click on it, you can change the letters, font, and bevel (which will affect how close the letters are to each other). Make sure the height is set to 10 mm.

Part 1: 3D Printing

When it looks how you want it to be printed, click Export and choose to export the object as an STL file.

Part 1: 3D Printing

Next you will use a slicer to slice the file (cut the 3D object in to layers/ directions for the 3D printer) and send it to print!

Part 2: Laser-Cutting

You will make a 3D digital model of your name to be 3D printed. You could do this in Rhino, OnShape, or another Cad software. As a group, we will do it on TinkerCad.

MATERIALS

RESULT

STL file to send to the Lasercutter

Part 2: Laser-Cutting

Move the name piece off to the side.

Then, choose a shape for your keychain and place the object. (Remember that the object will have the 2D outline cut, so the full shape form doesn't matter.)

Part 2: Laser-Cutting

Resize the object so that it is bigger than the name object.

Part 2: Laser-Cutting

Make the hole for the ring to go through. It should be 5 mm x 5 mm and taller than the keychain base

Part 2: Laser-Cutting

Place the hole at the end of the keychain base. Select both objects and the align tool and line up the centers.

Part 2: Laser-Cutting

Select both objects and use the Group function to merge them.

Part 2: Laser-Cutting

Make a copy of the keychain object and place it next to the first.

Part 2: Laser-Cutting

Next make the hole for the battery. Choose a cylindrical hole from shapes. Make sure it is 22 mm x 22 mm to hold the 20 mm coin cell battery. Also be sure that the cylindrical hole is taller than the keychain shapes.

Part 2: Laser-Cutting

Switch to top view. Drag the hole into one end of the keychain and place it. Then, select both the hole and the keychain base (by Shift-selecting both objects) and click the alignment tool. Line them up on the center line. Then, group them together.

Next make a channel for the LED light. Make sure it is 8 mm wide. Add it to the hole for the battery. Merge that hole with the shape using the Group tool.

Part 2: Laser-Cutting

Make a copy of both of the keychain pieces.

Part 2: Laser-Cutting

Now we'll make the hole that will be small enough to hold the battery in place but allow your finger to press the switch to turn on the light. It should be 16 mm x 16 mm. Place it to be in the center of where the battery hole falls. Group the new hole with the keychain piece.

Part 2: Laser-Cutting

Copy and paste the name piece. Then, turn it into a hole instead of a solid.

Part 2: Laser-Cutting

Place the name on the solid piece with no holes, centered. Group the objects to merge them.

Part 2: Laser-Cutting

Select the four pieces of the keychain. Click Export, then choose "For Lasercutting," which will give you an SVG file.

Part 2: Laser-Cutting

Part 2: Laser-Cutting

Next you will import the SVG file into a software that will laser cut your shapes.

Part 3: Light Circuit

You will make a Simple light circuit to add to your keychain.

MATERIALS

RESULT

An LED that will turn on with a press of your finger.