In this STEAM maker project, students design and make a single character seal using LaserMaker and a laser cutting machine. The lesson connects cultural observation, digital drawing, text input, engraving layers, cutting layers, mirror processing, plywood cutting, handle assembly, and hands-on stamp testing.

1. Lesson Overview

1.1 Project Goal

Students will learn about the purpose and development of seals, sketch a seal idea, create the seal face and handle in LaserMaker, set engraving and cutting layers, mirror the design, laser cut the stamp parts, assemble the seal, and test the finished impression.

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 focal length, material selection, engraving layer, cutting layer, and design orientation. When testing the seal, use classroom-approved ink or pigments and keep the work area clean.

3. Cultural Context: What Is a Seal?

Seals have a long history and are closely connected with writing, art, identity, and certification. The source lesson explains that seals first appeared in early Chinese history and were widely used by the Warring States Period. At first, seals were used as certificates in commercial exchange. Later, they became important symbols of authority, identity, and proof.

Students can also observe seals in everyday examples. A small seal may appear on currency, paintings, calligraphy works, teaching stamps, company documents, and personal items. Modern seals may be made from different materials and by different methods, including machine carving and laser processing.

4. Pre-Class Thinking Questions

Teachers can begin the lesson with short discussion questions. These prompts help students connect the hands-on project with history, design, and modern production.

5. Preparation Before Class

Before opening the software, students should sketch the seal shape and size on paper. They should also decide what character, name, or short word they want to engrave on the seal.

6. Lesson Procedure

6.1 Design the Seal Shape

Open LaserMaker. Use a drawing tool such as Draw Rectangle to create the seal face. In the source workflow, the seal starts as a 25 mm by 25 mm square. Students can also choose a rectangle, circle, oval, or another simple shape if it matches the project goal.

6.2 Input the Seal Text

Use the Text Input tool on the left menu bar. Double-click the LaserMaker workspace, type the character or text to be engraved, and adjust the font and text height. The text should fit clearly inside the seal shape.

Copy and paste the first rectangle, then set the copied shape and the text to the engraving layer. In the source workflow, the filled graphic is used for engraving, while the unfilled outline is used for cutting.

6.3 Design the Seal Handle

Copy and paste another 25 mm by 25 mm square. Draw a matching rectangle in the center of the square to create the handle-related part. Then copy and paste the middle square and set the height to match the width. The source example uses a 14.85 mm by 14.85 mm square.

After arranging all seal graphics neatly, use Rotation > Horizontal Flip to mirror the design. This step is important because a stamp must print correctly after it is pressed onto paper.

6.4 Set Laser Processing Parameters

Double-click the black layer in the layer parameter area to set the cutting parameters, and double-click the red layer to set the engraving parameters. The source workflow uses 5 mm plywood, so the cutting parameter should match the 5 mm material setup.

7. Laser Processing and Assembly

7.1 Machine Processing

Send the completed design to the laser cutting machine and process it according to the machine operation workflow learned in previous lessons. Before starting, adjust the focal length carefully to avoid incomplete cutting.

7.2 Splice and Assemble the Seal

After cutting, remove the stamp parts from the machine bed. Glue the stamp face and handle together with white latex glue, then allow the glue to set before using the seal.

7.3 Test the Seal Impression

Use the finished seal to make a stamp impression. Students can use regular seal ink, or classroom-approved alternatives such as watercolor or gouache pigments. After testing, students should observe whether the character is readable and whether the engraving depth is suitable.

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 creativity, structural firmness, appearance, and learning attitude.

10. Finished Project and Sharing

At the end of the lesson, students can display their seals, demonstrate the stamped impression, and explain why they chose their shape, character, font, and layout. Teachers can also guide students to compare name seals, leisure seals, and collection seals as different design directions.

11. Extension Challenge

After finishing the single character seal, students can design a name seal, a short phrase seal, or a decorative stamp for a classroom project. They can also test different shapes, text sizes, font choices, engraving depths, and pigment types to improve the final stamped result.

For a broader design challenge, students can create a small series of seals for notebooks, artwork, classroom labels, handmade packaging, or student portfolios.

12. Equipment Note for Teachers

This project is suitable for classroom laser cutters that support engraving and cutting of plywood for small maker projects. For schools and beginner STEAM labs, projects like single character seals, name stamps, classroom labels, 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.