If you are going to do the optional sublimation step, I recommend doing it first. It’s MUCH easier and efficient to print an entire sheet of a pattern/print and press it. If you wanted to, you could use heat transfer tape and individually tape each shape and then press front and back, but that will take you wayyyy longer. Trust me, I’ve been there. If you want to sublimate, follow the instructions on your paper of choice, and press the basswood sheet front and back. 

Once your wood is ready to go how you like it, open the design file, and add the personalization of your choice to the bow. There are already holes for rings included. IF YOU EDIT THE SIZE…you’ll need to change the size of the circle on the top left of the bow. It is currently 1.55 mm. I have found anything smaller than 1.53 mm will not be big enough and you’ll likely split the wood trying to make it fit. Trust me, been there, done that. I included the letters “A”, “B”, and a blank bow. 

The settings I use for the 3mm or 1/8 basswood are: 

Cut

Power (%): 85 Speed (mm/s): 5 Pass: 1 

Engrave

Power (%): 60 Speed (mm/s): 235 Pass: 1 Lines per cm: 240 Mode: Bi-directional

Score

Power (%): 50 Speed (mm/s): 40 Pass: 1

I mean yeah…I pretty much did most of the work there for ya…really all you need to do is click the text box and type what you’d like on the bow, size it to fit, and make sure you select “engrave” as the method for the text. Group it all together and your shapes should be ready to be made into beautiful key chains. Charms can be found anywhere, Temu, Amazon, Joann’s, Michael’s, I could go on…

The settings I listed are what we’ve found works best for us, our machine, and our process. I say we, because my husband may or may not have a degree in Mechanical Engineering and may or may not have helped me really hone in on the settings that work best. These work for us and we don’t have burn marks on our cuts after. If something else works better for you, lovely!