Engraving Pencils (or other items where you need a huge number)
Instruction
I have seen it a couple of times that people place a small object in their laser and try to align the things they want to engrave with the camera and or the framing function.
As soon as you have to do multiple objects with the same design this is rather time consuming. This is my approach for this and it can be used for many different kind of objects.
Measure the object and draw the outer shape of the object. We are going to cut this from an old piece of wood or some cardboard. For my pencils I need a 8mm high rectangle.
Now you can place your design exactly where you want it – in relation to the outline. My pencils have a 3mm flat side that can be engraved. So I can use text in the Lato font in 11.5 point and place it exactly 2.5 mm from the upper edge of the rectangle.
Click on the design or font, set the parameter (here: 60mm at 80% scoring). Then disable it. Click on the outline, set the parameters (here: 4mm/s at 95%) and enable this.
Place your wood or cardboard at a position that makes it easy to move the material to the exact same position later. For example: Place it just at the inner boundaries of the machine. Now process the file and cut the outline.
Remove the shape of your object and place the real object there instead. Make sure that the wood or cardboard is at the exact same position. Disable the outline and enable the design and engrave it.
Note: The pencil in the camera image can appear outside of the rectangle. Don't move the rectangle. Use this as a guideline.
If you need more than one object: Just repeat step 5.