The first step in creating the key chain was making it in Illustrator. Here are a few picture documenting my process
After completing the design in Illustrator, the final step in creating the key chain was to engrave it with the laser. After saving my design to my flash drive, I took it down to the laser engraver. After plugging in and opening the project, you must go to the print tab. Here you can go under VLS6.60, then setup, and finally preferences. This makes it so the laser is prepared for the material. After entering the thickness of the material, you have to select your material. For the key chain, we used Extruded Acrylic. Then you have to load your file on the UCP software and start up the laser. Using the laser relocation tool, you can move the laser to an area where it has enough space to cut out your key chain. Once this is set up, you can close the lid to the printer and press the green button to print.
Using the laser was a very unique experience for me. I had learned how to use it before, but I did not remember very much of the process, and this project served as a good refresher. My key chain turned out pretty well, but I wish that I could have avoided the honey comb pattern that got engraved into the back from the bed of the laser. From learning more about the laser, I've seen that it can do much more than just "engrave" and there is plenty of unique uses for it.