Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator is a 2-D design program. Unlike many image editors, it is based on vectors rather than raster images. This means that unlike standard images that are based on pixels, Adobe Illustrator creates images out of lines that can be changed in size indefinitely without distortion. Vector graphics are useful for work where an image must be kept high-quality despite scaling. Additionally, they are useful for dictating to laser cutters that a job is a line, not just a series of points.
Keychain Project
One application of Adobe Illustrator is that it can create files compatible with a laser cutter. For example, this keychain is set up to be cut and engraved by a laser.
Using a CO2 Laser
Laser cutters are useful for cutting and engraving a wide variety of materials. However, there are many steps that should be kept in mind.
First of all, make sure that exhaust is running! Before doing anything else, you must ensure that the laser's area is well-ventilated. Otherwise, the laser's lenses will be damaged! Pictured below, the exhaust switch is enabled, meaning that the laser can cut and engrave safely.
First of all, make sure that exhaust is running! Before doing anything else, you must ensure that the laser's area is well-ventilated. Otherwise, the laser's lenses will be damaged! Pictured below, the exhaust switch is enabled, meaning that the laser can cut and engrave safely.
Then, open the Adobe Illustrator file on the computer connected to the laser. Set it to print, but select the laser as the printer. Go to setup, and edit the laser's preferences to match the material being cut. In my case, this is extruded acrylic with a thickness of 0.220".
Next, open the UCP (Universal Control Panel), and select what you plan on cutting out. Use the cutter's pointer to find where you plan to place the cut, and move the preview so that its corner is placed where the laser is. Verify that the job will fit by moving the pointer to the opposite corner and ensuring it is still on the material.
Next, open the UCP (Universal Control Panel), and select what you plan on cutting out. Use the cutter's pointer to find where you plan to place the cut, and move the preview so that its corner is placed where the laser is. Verify that the job will fit by moving the pointer to the opposite corner and ensuring it is still on the material.
Now, close the access window and start the job. The laser will cut along any red vector with a thickness of 0.0001, vector engrave along any blue vector, and raster engrave anything else. The cut may take some time, but be patient. If a major fire starts in the cutting space, open the access. The laser will stop immediately.
Once the laser has finished, its cutter will return to the corner, and you can open the access window. Here is the finished keychain part:
Vinyl Printing & Cutting
Adobe Illustrator can also be used for designs used for a vinyl cutter to print out designs. For example, I created a vinyl decal of my name. In order to create a vinyl decal, you must first have the vinyl printer cut out the design to use.
Then, you must remove the negative (or positive) space that you don't plan on applying. In this case, as with most instances, I will create a decal from positive space. Be careful, and slowly remove the unused vinyl from a corner at a 45 degree angle.
Be sure to remove small sections enclosed in the positive space, such as those present in "R", "e", or "o".
Once you have the vinyl arranged as you plan on placing it, apply it to some tape. Make sure that the vinyl is applied to the tape without air bubbles by using a squeegee, and slowly pull off the vinyl's backing. This should leave only the vinyl and the tape.
Stick the vinyl to a non-porous surface, and once again, squeegee the vinyl to the surface.
Carefully remove the tape by pulling it at a 45 degree angle, leaving only the decal. Be sure that small details remain. Here is the final decal of my name on matboard.
Conclusion: Adobe Illustrator, Laser Cutting, Vinyl
From doing these projects, I have learned many things. First of all, I've gained experience in using Adobe Illustrator, a useful tool for creating vector images that not only avoid suffering from distortion from repeated resizes, but also work as instructions for laser cutters and vinyl printers. By creating my keychain, I was able to learn how to use a CO2 laser's UCP, but also how to position the cut and how to make sure the material settings are correct. Finally, I learned how to print, prepare, and apply vinyl decals.