Who hasn't had an idea and wanted to implement it straight away? 

This is made possible with a laser engraver from XTool, especially if you can draw your idea beforehand and then directly “print it”. I use the free program “Sketchup Make” to design my projects, which I highly recommend. I start with the rough dimensions and then design my project in 3D, part by part. If I want to trace a specific figure, I can also import an image and trace it. When I'm finished, I have a 3D model that I can convert into a DXF file in the next step.

ADDITIONAL TIP: Draw a frame in Sketchup with the maximum processing area of ​​your laser.

In this step, the 3D design must be converted into a 2D file / DXF file. 

To do this, the frame of each component must be placed on a flat surface that is at most the size of the laser's processing area. Then the extension 'Convert to DXF or STL' is also required in Sketchup. The grouped lines are selected and exported as DXF. This file can then be imported directly into 'XTool Creative Space' in the next step.

ADDITIONAL TIP: The design in Sketchup can also be used for other multilayer scenes! Just copy and edit!

In this step import the DXF file using the 'Insert' button. Then select the DXF file and drag it to the center of your editing space. Then all the lines are selected and the cutting settings are adjusted. I normally cut the 3mm birch plywood panels with 100% power, two passes and at least 4mm/s. I also add text, can set the text type and size here, and then set the engraving power to 90%, speed to 140 mm/s and engrave 140 lines per cm. In the same way, I add a QR code using the 'QR code' button and set the text that I want to display with it. 

ADDITIONAL TIP: Additional text, such as numbers in the moving scenes, can be inserted optionally.

This step is where things get a little tricky. Now the individual layers have to be put together one after the other; the pictures help give a rough idea of ​​where what needs to be placed. The two long rectangles are glued to other parts at the beginning and end, where there is no second scene slider. These sliders are guided to the right (one to the left) and should be able to move freely. After assembling the individual layers on the right side, the bottom, then the left and finally the top side are attached. The LED strip can be attached to the area behind the layers as desired. 

ADDITIONAL TIP 1: For moving parts, have some sandpaper on hand to adjust the thickness of the material a bit. 

ADDITIONAL TIP 2: The LED strip should be a maximum of 1m long. I used the following: Paulmann 78899 LED Strip batteriebetrieben inkl. Bewegungsmelder 1m 2W 156lm/m 3000K Weiß Kunststoff : Amazon.de: Beleuchtung

This step is the most fun! If you have assembled the model correctly, you can now pull the wooden parts on the left and right and depict the different Easter scenes. In the pictures you can see the different positions that are possible. In the dark, the LED light also provides a great background effect. 

ADDITIONAL TIP: With such a multilayer box and different scenes your have the perfect object to tell the Easter story, for example to your son or daughter or maybe in school.

Do you want more color in your model? 

Of course you can paint your parts, e.g. with acrylic paint. The cut-out parts can also be painted very quickly using spray cans. Please use an exhaust system for this. When painting (e.g. for the background) I use the following fume extraction system (shown in the picture): 

Wiltec Absauganlage 9m³/min mit LED-Beleuchtung, Drehregler und Doppellüfter, regulierbar : Amazon.de: Küche, Haushalt & Wohnen