How to make and use a Jig for engraving 10 wooden Pens
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Design Files
  • PenJig.xcs
    D1Pro
  • PenJigTemplate.svg
    • Contents
    Introduction
    Basic Information
    Instruction
    Design Files
    Who engraves just 1 pen?! Generally, when I want to engrave a pen it is at least 10 of them.  While I have found I don't need the rotary tool to engrave 2 lines at a 14 point size on the side of the pen and they tend to engrave in sub 1 minute each with the D1 Pro 20w, it is still a pain to have place each one on my honeycomb.  Here is a tool that will do 20 at a time and... even better, how to use it.
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    Step 1: Create pen holder slots
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    1. Open a new project in XCS (XTool Creative Space) by clicking on the folder icon on the top menu and clicking on NEW from the dropdown.
    2. Select Insert → Rectangle from the left side menu
    3. Draw a rectangle on the page and set the size of the box to 6.5"w x 0.438"h using the Size(in) boxes on the top menu.  You will probably need to unlock the constrain proportions by clicking on the lock icon between the height and width boxes.
    4. With your newly created triangle selected (by clicking on it), Click the Array → grid array on the top menu and set X columns to 10 and Y rows to 1 and both the X spacing and Y spacing to .25 in and click the OK button.
    5. Drag a box with your mouse or other pointig device around all of your rectangles to select them and click Group on the top menu.
    6. In the Object setting dialog box on the right hand side set the Processing type to Cut with the following settings: 100/7/1 (Power(%)/Speed(mm/s)/Pass)
    7. These will be the slots you put your pens in to line them up. 
    Step 2: Create pen slot frame
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    1. Select Insert → Rectangle from the left side menu
    2. Draw a rectangle on the page and set the size of the box to 7"w x 7.64"h using the Size(in) boxes on the top menu.  You will probably need to unlock the constrain proportions by clicking on the lock icon between the height and width boxes.
    3. Select this rectangle and, in the Object setting dialog box on the right hand side set the Processing type to Cut with the following settings: 100/7/1 (Power(%)/Speed(mm/s)/Pass)
    4. Select your group of pen slots created above in Step 1 and your newly created rectangle and click Align → horizontal align center and then Align → distribute vertically from the top menu. 
    5. Click Text on the left menu. In the Text dialog box on the right side of yor workspace use the following settings: text: . (a period) , Size(pt): 72, Typeface: Lato
    6. Style: Regular, Spacing: 0, Leading: 0, Align: center, Operations: Weld
    7. In the Object setting dialog on the far right of your workspace set the Processing Type to Engrave.
    8. In the Layer dialog box, located on the bottom left of your workspace, click the Selected object Move to link and choose a colour other than the one your previous objects are on. I always use black for engrave, blue for cut and red for score.
    9. With the period still selected hold down your shift key (Cmd key on a Mac) and click on the outer large rectangle to select them both.  Make sure you do NOT select the pen slots.
    10. Click Align → horizontal align center and then Align → distribute vertically from the top menu. This will center the dot on your jig and be used to center your laser when you go to print your pens.
    11. You will notice that the period falls in the center of one of your pen slots (specifically the 6th one from the top).  To fix this, click on you pen slot group and click Group from the top menu to ungroup them.
    12. Select the bottom 5 slots by holding your shift key (Cmd key on a Mac) and clicking on each of them and move them down to a ¼" from the bottom of your large box. Your period should now. be in the middle of your box and the period should stand on its own.
    Step 3: Completing your jig
    1. Place your 7"w x 8"h 3mm basswood plywood piece (or larger) on the Xtool bed and turn on your machine, air assist and fan and click the Process button.
    2. Make sure to frame your image using the left top position and place the cross hairs of your laser along the top left corner of your wood.
    3. Click start on your workspace and then click the start button on you machine.
    4. You will have completed the pen jig so you can start making pens 10 at a time.
    Step 4: How to using your pen jig
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    1. To use your newly created pen jig you will need to download the penjigtemplate.svg included with this tutorial.
    2. Open a new project in XCS (XTool Creative Space) by clicking on the folder icon on the top menu and clicking on NEW from the dropdown.
    3. Click Image from the right side menu and locate the PenJigTemplate.svg file from where you stored it on your computer.
    4. When it appears on your workspace select the entire image and click on the layer in the Layer dialog (bottom left of your workspace) and set it to yellow. 
    5. In the Object setting dialog on the far right of your workspace set the Processing type to Score with the following settings: 1/80/1 (Power(%)/Speed(mm/s)/Pass).
    6. Now design your pens in the slots.  I find that I can get 2 rows of 14pt text or an image that is .375 “h.  Most pens can accommodate an image or writing up to 2.6” wide. 
    7. Once you have your designs completed you are ready to place your jig on your laser bed, place your pens in it making sure the end clip is not in the way and you have enough space for the length of the pen that is facing up to engrave your design.  For bamboo pens I use the following settings: 80/180/1 (Power(%)/Speed(mm/s)/Pass).
    8. In the machine Settings dialog (reached by clicking on the gear icon on the top right of your xTool D1Pro image above the Object setting dialog on the right of the workspace) click the link to Advanced and choose Laser Spot (by default it set to Crosshair).
    9. Turn on air assist and fan and click the Process button.
    10. In the process dialog set focus area to center, click the radio button to turn on the spot focus on and set it to .2mm
    11. Click the Framing button and center the laser dot in the center of the period engraved on your jig.
    12. Click framing complete and click Start button on your workspace and then click your machine's start button.
    Design Files
    PenJig.xcs
    PenJigTemplate.svg
    30creatorschallenge.
    pen
    office
    promotionals
    gift
    howto
    jig
    D1Pro20w
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