In this STEAM maker project, students design and make a simple animal keychain using LaserMaker and a laser cutting machine. The lesson introduces basic drawing tools, circle sizing, keyhole placement, animal graphics from the library panel, proportional scaling, laser layer settings, device connection, and the full workflow from digital design to a finished physical object.

1. Lesson Overview

1.1 Project Goal

Students will create a round animal keychain by drawing a 45 mm outer circle, adding a 3 mm keyhole, placing an animal graphic in the center, setting the correct engraving and cutting layers, uploading the file to the laser cutter, and assembling the finished keychain with a key ring.

1.2 Recommended Classroom Use

2. Learning Objectives

2.1 What Students Will Learn

2.2 STEAM Skills Developed

2.3 Responsible Making

Students should operate the laser cutter only under teacher or lab supervisor guidance. Before processing, check the material, focal length, layer order, USB connection, file name, and cutting setup. After processing, handle small parts carefully and attach the key ring only after the cut part is fully removed from the machine bed.

3. Materials and Parts

The source lesson uses a simple basswood keychain structure. Teachers can prepare extra boards and key rings so students can test different animal graphics or make a second version if time allows.

4. Project Context: Why Make an Animal Keychain?

A keychain is small, practical, and easy to personalize. That makes it a good first project for learning how software design becomes a real object. Students can use a rabbit, another animal, or a classroom theme to express their interests while practicing accurate digital fabrication.

The project also helps students understand that even a simple object needs design decisions. The outer shape must be large enough to hold the graphic, the keyhole must be placed carefully, and the laser layers must be set correctly so the machine outlines and cuts in the right order.

5. Lesson Procedure

5.1 Draw the Keychain Shape

From the left-side Drawing Toolbar, select the Ellipse tool. Move the mouse to the drawing area, hold down the left mouse button, and press the Ctrl key while dragging to draw a perfect circle. Create one 45 mm circle for the outer keychain shape and one 3 mm circle for the keyhole.

Click the Select tool and move the 3 mm circle to the top area of the 45 mm circle. Use the software alignment guides to help place the keyhole neatly and accurately.

5.2 Add the Animal Graphic

Find Animal Graphics in the right-side Library Panel. Drag the Rabbit graphic into the drawing area. Teachers can also let students choose another animal if the classroom activity allows personalization.

Select the rabbit shape and click the Isometric function in the Function Area. Set the width to 32 mm. The height will change automatically based on the original width-to-height ratio. Then place the rabbit in the center of the 45 mm circle.

5.3 Set the Laser Processing Layers

Select the rabbit shape and click the red layer in the lower-left Layer Palette. This sets the rabbit graphic to the red layer for outlining.

In the source workflow, the default layer techniques are black for cutting, red for outlining, yellow for shallow engraving, and blue for deep engraving. For this keychain, set the black layer to basswood board, 3 mm, cutting. Set the red layer to basswood board, 3 mm, outlining.

Drag the black cutting layer to the bottom of the processing stack. This helps keep the workpiece stable because the final outside cut happens after the internal outline is processed.

5.4 Connect the Machine and Upload the File

Click the Switch button in the lower-right Processing Panel to enter the device management interface. Click the Test icon in the row labeled usb. Continue after the Communication Successful message appears.

Click the Start button in the lower-right Processing Panel to upload the file to the machine. Remind students that uploading a file with the same name may overwrite a previously uploaded file on the device.

6. Laser Processing and Work Presentation

After the file is uploaded and the teacher confirms the setup, process the keychain with the laser cutting machine. Once cutting is complete, remove the keychain from the machine bed, check the keyhole and outline quality, and attach the key ring.

7. Test, Debug, and Improve

8. Classroom Practice and Teaching Tips

8.1 Student Workflow

8.2 Teacher Suggestions

9. Reflection and Evaluation

9.1 Reflection Questions

9.2 Student and Peer Evaluation

Students can evaluate their own work and give peer feedback based on design clarity, technical process, finished appearance, and classroom collaboration.

10. Finished Project and Sharing

At the end of the lesson, students can present their animal keychains, explain which animal they chose, describe how they set the layers, and discuss what they would improve next time. This helps students connect software operations with real design decisions.

11. Extension Challenge

After finishing the basic animal keychain, students can create a themed keychain collection with pets, school mascots, wildlife, seasonal icons, or student-designed symbols. They can also add text, initials, dates, or decorative frames if the design remains clear and strong.

For a design challenge, students can compare different outer shapes, animal sizes, keyhole positions, and outlining styles to see which version is the most attractive and practical.

12. Equipment Note for Teachers

This project is suitable for classroom laser cutters that support cutting and outlining of thin basswood board for small maker projects. For schools and beginner STEAM labs, projects like animal keychains, classroom tags, small gifts, and beginner LaserMaker activities can be completed with a classroom laser cutter such as the Thunder Laser Bolt Series.

Teachers can choose the machine and material setup based on classroom space, student supervision needs, material thickness, project size, and ventilation setup. Students should always test settings, check focus, and follow the school’s laser safety rules before final cutting.