kaychain fish

Okay, here are instructions on how to create such a keychain using a laser cutter, described in English:

How to Make a Custom Wooden Keychain on a Laser Cutter

This guide will walk you through the process of creating a custom wooden keychain, similar to the one visualized, using a laser cutter.

I. Design Preparation (Software Phase)

Choose Your Design Software: You'll need vector graphics software like Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW, Inkscape (free), or a CAD program.

Import/Create Graphics:

Outer Shape: Design the desired outline for your keychain (e.g., a circle, rectangle, or custom shape). This will be your cutting path.

Engraving Elements:

Text: Type out your desired text ("Szczupak to Król wód..." and "STUDNICA 11-13.07.2025"). Choose appropriate fonts.

Graphics: Import or create the beer bottle/fishing lure icon.

Positioning: Arrange all text and graphic elements within the outer shape of the keychain. Ensure adequate spacing and legibility.

Convert Text to Outlines/Curves: This is crucial. Select all text elements and convert them to outlines (Illustrator: Type > Create Outlines, CorelDRAW: Arrange > Convert to Curves). This prevents font issues when transferring the file to the laser cutter's software.

Define Laser Operations (Colors/Layers):

Cutting Path: Assign a specific color (e.g., pure Red, RGB 255,0,0) with a very thin stroke (e.g., 0.001 mm / hairline) to the outer shape. This color will be interpreted by the laser software as a "cut" operation.

Engraving Paths: Assign a different color (e.g., pure Blue, RGB 0,0,255) to the internal lines of the design (like the details on the bottle, the fish hooks, and the outer red outline from your original image if you want it engraved as a border). This color will also be interpreted as "engrave" or "score."

Solid Engraving (Fill): Assign another distinct color (e.g., pure Black, RGB 0,0,0) to the areas that need to be filled (like the "STUDNICA" text and the date, and the main body of the bottle). This color will be interpreted as a "raster engrave" or "fill."

Hole for Keychain Ring: Create a small circle (e.g., 3-5mm diameter) near the top of your keychain design. Assign it the same "cutting path" color (Red, thin stroke) so the laser cuts it out.

Check for Overlaps and Gaps: Zoom in and ensure all lines are clean, there are no accidental double lines, and all elements are correctly positioned.

Save Your File: Save your design in a compatible vector format (e.g., .SVG, .AI, .CDR, or .DXF, or directly export as a printable PDF that maintains vector information).

II. Laser Cutter Setup (Hardware & Software Phase)

Choose Material: Select a suitable wood type and thickness for your keychain (e.g., 3mm or 4mm plywood, birch, or basswood). Ensure it's laser-safe and free from excessive knots or defects.

Prepare the Laser Cutter:

Placement: Place the wooden sheet firmly on the laser bed. Use magnets or clamps if necessary to keep it flat.

Focus: Manually or automatically focus the laser beam according to the manufacturer's instructions for your material thickness.

Ventilation: Ensure the exhaust system is fully operational.

Load Design into Laser Software:

Open your saved vector file in the laser cutter's proprietary software (e.g., LightBurn, RDWorks, Ruida drivers).

Verify the design appears correctly and is scaled to the desired size for your keychain.

Set Laser Parameters: This is the most critical step and will vary significantly based on your laser's power, type, and the material. You'll need to define settings for each color/layer you assigned:

Cutting (Red - Outer Shape & Hole):

Power: High enough to cut cleanly through the wood (e.g., 60-100% for a 40-80W CO2 laser).

Speed: Slow enough to cut through, but not so slow it causes excessive charring (e.g., 5-20 mm/s).

Passes: Often 1 pass is sufficient for thin wood, but sometimes 2 lighter passes are better to reduce charring.

Engraving/Scoring (Blue - Internal lines/borders):

Power: Lower power to create a line without cutting through (e.g., 20-40%).

Speed: Faster than cutting (e.g., 100-200 mm/s).

Raster Engraving (Black - Filled areas like "STUDNICA"):

Power: Medium power to achieve desired depth/darkness (e.g., 30-70%).

Speed: Typically much faster for raster engraving (e.g., 200-500 mm/s).

DPI/LPI: Dots or Lines Per Inch. Higher DPI (e.g., 300-600) results in finer detail but takes longer.

Test Settings (Optional but Recommended): If you're using a new material or machine, perform small test cuts and engravings on scrap material to dial in your settings before running the final job.

III. Laser Cutting & Finishing (Execution Phase)

Start the Job: Once all settings are correct, send the job to the laser cutter and press "Start."

Supervise: Always monitor the laser cutter during operation, especially for the first few minutes, to ensure everything is running safely and correctly. Have a fire extinguisher or water bottle nearby (for wood).

Remove Cut Pieces: After the laser finishes, carefully remove the cut keychains from the laser bed.

Cleaning:

Smoke Residue: Laser cutting often leaves smoke residue (scorching) on the edges and sometimes on the surface.

Sanding: Lightly sand the edges and surfaces with fine-grit sandpaper (e.g., 220-400 grit) to remove charring and smooth the wood.

Wiping: Use a damp cloth or alcohol wipe to clean any remaining residue.

Assembly:

Keychain Ring: Attach a metal split ring (or jump ring and split ring) to the hole you cut in the wooden charm.

Optional Finishing:

Sealing/Protecting: Apply a clear coat, varnish, or wood oil to protect the wood from moisture and wear, and to enhance its appearance.

Painting/Infilling: For a more vibrant look, you could carefully infill the engraved areas with paint after cutting and before sealing (this requires a steady hand!).

You now have a custom-made wooden keychain!