For the individual laser project I had to design a notepad cover and back on illustrator and then cut the design out on matboard using the laser. For the cover I needed to cut something out and engrave something. I originally wanted to do the packers logo with packers in text below the logo for the cover, although I realized that I couldn't cut out the packers logo as it would just turn into an oval. The text I was trying to use would have worked, but because I was getting it from google, I had to create outlines and when I did that my text got all distorted. I tried a few more outlines, but they were also distorted so I ended up scrapping that idea. I then decided to have an outline of Wisconsin as the thing to cut out on my cover and I would engrave Wisconsin in text. For the back I wanted to do something related to the University of Wisconsin, and because their W logo wouldn't engrave well I decided to use Bucky for my back cover. I wanted to have Wisconsin in text below Bucky and I decide to use the same text I used for my cover.
Once I had my notepad idea I had to make it on illustrator by drawing in and dimensioning two rectangles and then changing the color to red. I also had to insert my images and image trace them. Finally, I had to write out Wisconsin in text and duplicate it to complete my design on illustrator.
Once my design on illustrator was complete, I had to transfer it to the laser computer through a flashdrive. After I got my design on the UCP I had to change the material to matboard and make sure where I planned to cut out my notepad cover was lined up on the matboard. I then clicked the green play button and watched my notepad covers cut out.
I originally wasn't sure what to do for my water bottle design, but then I realized that I should try to use the Packers design that I had planned to use for my notepad. Although, I saw that there were only three colors of water bottles which were red, black, and purple. This means that none of the water bottle colors would work well with my packers design and so I decided to scrap that idea. Since there was a red I figured I could do a Wisconsin design, although I wasn't sure how well Wisconsin's W logo would work and I had already used Bucky for my notepad so I didn't want to use a Bucky logo. I ended up finding a good Wisconsin logo that worked and so I decided to go ahead with my Wisconsin design. I also added Wisconsin Badgers in text below my motion W logo to complete my design to be engraved on my water bottle.
After I decided on my design I went onto illustrator and found the images I wanted to use and then inserted them into illustrator. I had to image trace the images too before I lined them up and rotated my entire image 270 degrees so that it was ready for the laser.
I had to upload my illustrator file to my flashdrive and then I went down to the laser. The rotary jig was already in the laser, but I had still had to put my water bottle into the jig and push the back in so that my water bottle stayed in place. After I did that I was able to open my illustrator file and print it to get it on the UCP. Once my design was on the UCP I moved it so that it was lined up on my water bottle. I then double checked that I had my design in the right place on the UCP before clicking the green play button and watching my water bottle get engraved. Once my water bottle was done being engraved I opened up the laser and took it out to see my finished product.
In this individual rotation laser rotation I became more familiar with using adobe illustrator, learned about more uses for the laser, and learned how to engrave water bottles with the laser. I had used illustrator before, but through the notepad design I learned how to insert images and trace them. I also learned more about aligning images in illustrator as I had to make sure my images were positioned correctly for both of my projects. From making the water bottle design in illustrator I learned how to rotate designs as I had to rotate my entire design to engrave it. Through engraving my water bottle I was able to see another use for the laser that I didn't know of before. Finally, I learned how to engrave a water bottle with the laser, its similar to engraving a flat object, although you do have to set up the rotary jig for the water bottle to go into which I learned how to do. I also learned that you have to change the fixture type to rotary when engraving a water bottle on the laser.