Wooden keychains (or keyrings, as we call them in the UK) are really popular, very cheap, and a great first project on the xTool F2. Add a name and you've got a personalized gift, or something to sell.
Below is my full process: holding the blank, setting up a vector design with a name, my settings, and a quick bonus step at the end that makes the design really pop.
Jump to: The blanks · Placement · Focus · The design · Adding a name · Settings · Frame and engrave · Bonus: make it pop
1. The blanks
You can get these in three shapes: round, oval and rectangular. They're on AliExpress, Temu and Amazon. I used the oval one here, but the settings apply to all of them.
2. Placement
There are two ways to do it.
- The right angle bracket. Use it in whichever orientation suits your blank, push the keychain up against it, and line it up by eye. It works, you just have to get it straight yourself.
- A jig. Take the base plate out and drop in a 3D printed jig. The blank sits firmly in place, so its position is guaranteed every time, which makes it easier and quicker to engrave.
I used my Oval Keychain Jig, which holds up to three at a time. If you're doing round blanks, there's a Round Keychain Jig too. Both fit the xTool F1, F2 and F1 Lite.
3. Focus
Whenever you put a blank in, it's good practice to focus manually. Turn the knob on the side of the laser head until the two dots join. Clockwise moves the head up, counterclockwise moves it down.
In xTool Studio, click New project in the top right. It should connect automatically, and you'll see a green Ready in the top right. If not, connect your machine manually.
You can also use the auto measure button (the little ruler with an A) on the right. The lights go dark while it takes a reading, then the picture updates with the head focused on your blank.
Two handy extras: if you move the blank, click the camera icon to update the picture. And if you'd rather have a clean screen, right-click and choose Hide background.
4. The design
I got my fish design from Creative Fabrica. It's a vector image, so you can make it as big or small as you like and it stays crisp. Vectors use power and speed settings, which makes them an easy one to start on.
- Click Import and bring in your design.
- Drag it into position with the left mouse button.
My design was as wide as it could go, but the blank was much taller, so I did something I don't normally do and stretched it.
- Click the Lock aspect ratio button at the top to turn it off (it's on by default).
- Drag the top edge up. The width stays the same and the height increases.
Some designs look really odd stretched. This one was absolutely fine.
5. Add a name
- Click the Text tool on the left and click anywhere. You'll see the word Hello. Type your name.
- It comes in with lines around the letters because it's in Score mode, which is like drawing around the outside with a pen. Click Engrave on the right to fill it in.
- Change the font. Click the arrow next to the font name and hover over the list to see each one on your text.
- Zoom in to check it (hold Ctrl and roll the mouse wheel, or use the plus and minus at the bottom). Size it so it fills the space nicely.
- Drag a box around the design and the name, then use the align tool to center them on each other.
6. Settings
Click the material box in the top right. I saved my own material called Bamboo, and the preset I use for these is Keychain Engraving. Select everything and apply it. These work well on the F2 with these blanks. It's wood, so we use the blue diode.
| Setting | Engrave | Score (bonus step) |
|---|---|---|
| Laser type | Blue light | Blue light |
| Power | 84% | 84% |
| Speed | 500 mm/s | 300 mm/s |
| Lines per cm | 120 | n/a |
| Passes | 1 | 1 |
| Engraving mode | Bi-directional | n/a |
The engrave setting is in my free Laser Settings Library, along with all my other xTool F2 settings.
7. Frame and engrave
The F2's camera is very good, but you should always frame your design to be sure it goes where you expect.
- Select everything and click the small arrow next to the framing button in the bottom right.
- It's on Rect by default, which frames a box around everything. On an unusual shaped blank you want to know the design actually fits, so pick Outline. It traces around the design itself.
- Click frame and check it all sits on the keychain.
- Click the black Process button. You'll see the estimated time, and View path preview shows the exact path it will take.
- Click Start. When you hear the beep, press the button on the side of the machine.
The blue diode is a very bright light, so close the lid. Wood makes smoke, so have your ventilation running.
That came out really nice. But we can do one better.
8. Bonus: a score line to make it pop
This works really well with vector designs on wood. It draws an outline around everything you've just engraved.
- Don't move the keychain or the design. Everything needs to stay in exactly the same place. That's really important.
- Select everything and click Score. You'll see it turn into an outline.
- Apply the score settings: same power, slower speed (84%, 300 mm/s). I saved mine as Vector Score.
- No need to frame again, because nothing has moved. Click Process and Start. Mine took 4 seconds.
It really didn't take long, and the outline makes the whole design stand out. Compare the finished keychain at the top of this page with the one above.
Have a go
Once you've done one, you can do any design you like. If you have a question, ask in the comments on the video.
