Laser Engraved Slate Coaster with My Love You're Grate Design

Preparation

1. Clean the board

Slate is dusty. Wipe the coaster down with a damp cloth or a little isopropyl alcohol to remove loose stone dust. Let it dry completely.

2. (Optional but Recommended) The "Pre-Seal" Trick

For a darker, "wet look" background that makes the white engraving pop, apply a thin coat of clear matte or satin lacquer (spray can) to the slate before engraving. Let it dry for 20 minutes.

• Why? Unsealed slate is gray. Sealed slate is jet black. The laser burns through the sealer, revealing the white stone underneath for maximum contrast.

Software Setup

1. Import Your Design

• Open the XCS file in xTool Studio
• Resize the image to fit your coaster (standard coasters are usually 100mm x 100mm or 4" x 4"). Leave a small margin (e.g., size the design to 90mm).

2. Power & Speed Settings

Settings vary slightly by machine, but these are safe "starting points" for common xTool models. Always do a small test grid on the back of a coaster first.

Note: If you are using "mm/m" (millimeters per minute) in your settings, multiply the speed above by 60.

Framing & Engraving

1. Focusing

• Place the coaster in the machine.
• Use the kickstand lever (D1/S1) or the auto-focus feature to set the correct laser height. Focus is critical for slate; if it's blurry, the engraving won't be bright white.

2. Framing

• Click Framing in XCS.
• Watch the laser boundary box trace the area on your coaster.
• Adjust the coaster physically until the framing box is perfectly centered.

3. Engrave

• Put on your safety goggles.
• Click Process > Start.
• Safety Note: Slate engraving produces a small amount of stone dust and smell. Ensure your exhaust fan is on or a window is open.

Final Protection

• If you didn't pre-seal it, you can apply a light coat of clear lacquer now to protect the stone from wine stains (ironic, considering the design!).
• Add felt or foam feet to the bottom corners to prevent scratching your table.