Laser Cut Personalized Elephant Keychain Set
Laser Cut Personalized Elephant Keychain Set
Laser Cut Personalized Elephant Keychain Set
Laser Cut Personalized Elephant Keychain Set
Laser Cut Personalized Elephant Keychain Set

Download Project Files

Laser Cut Personalized Elephant Keychain Set

Materials Needed

3mm Plywood

AlgoOS Laser System  →

Machine Used

AlgoLaser Pixi 10W Laser Engraver

See suggested settings for your Laser Machine    →

Wood Cutting

Fill -Speed

3000mm/min

Line -Speed

250mm/min

Power

100%

Pass

1

  • How to Laser Cut a Personalized Elephant Keychain Set with a Laser Engraver 

As a laser engraving geek, I’m always looking for DIY laser projects that are small, practical, and perfect for personalization. One of my absolute favorites is a personalized elephant keychain set. It’s cute, meaningful, easy to produce in batches, and ideal for custom keychains, gifts, small businesses, or promotional items.

 

In this guide, I’ll show you how to laser cut and engrave a personalized elephant keychain set using a laser engraver, specifically a diode laser engraver, the AlgoLaser Pixi 10W desktop laser engraver, and 3mm plywood. This project is beginner-friendly but also scalable for laser engraving business production.

 

We’ll go through the entire laser engraving workflow in 5 practical steps, from setup to engraving, plus I’ll share real laser cutting parameters and 6 FAQs at the end.

Why Elephant Keychains Are Perfect for Laser Engraving

Elephants symbolize luck, memory, loyalty, and strength, which makes them a great design choice for laser cut gifts. From a laser engraving wood perspective, elephant shapes work extremely well because:

· They have clear silhouettes for vector cutting.

· They allow engraving space for names, dates, or logos.

· They look great in wood, acrylic, leather, and MDF board.

· They are small, so material cost is very low.

· They are ideal for batch laser engraving.

If you run a small laser engraving business, personalized keychains are one of the highest ROI products you can make with a diode laser engraver or wood laser engraver.

Cutting & Engraving Parameters

These parameters work perfectly for laser cutting plywood with the Pixi 10W:

 

Fill (Engraving)

· Speed: 3000 mm/min

· Power: 100%

· Passes: 1

 

Line (Cutting)

· Speed: 250 mm/min

· Power: 100%

· Passes: 1

 

These settings deliver:

· Clean engraving resolution

· Full one-pass cutting

· Minimal burn marks

· Smooth edge quality

They are excellent baseline laser speed settings and laser power settings for diode laser engraving on wood.

Step 1: Open the Protective Lid and Place the Plywood

Start by opening the protective lid of your desktop laser engraver.

 

Place the 3mm plywood flat on the working area. Make sure:

 

· The board is not warped.

· The surface is clean and dry.

· There are no screws or metal parts under it.

A flat surface is critical for laser focal length accuracy and consistent cutting depth when working with laser safe materials.

Step 2: Use the Focusing Column to Adjust the Laser Module

This is one of the most important steps in laser engraving process.

 

Use the focusing column (laser focus gauge) to adjust the laser module:

1. Move the laser head over the plywood.

2. Place the focusing column between the module and the material.

3. Lower or raise the module until it touches the gauge.

4. Lock the module in place.

5. Remove the focusing column.

 

Correct focus ensures:

· Maximum laser energy concentration

· Cleaner engraving

· Faster cutting

· Less charring

This step directly impacts edge quality and engraving resolution.

Step 3: Close the Protective Lid

Once focus is set, close the protective lid of the laser safety enclosure.

 

This improves:

· Eye safety

· Smoke containment

· Engraving visibility

· Dust protection

When laser engraving wood, a closed enclosure also protects the laser optics from smoke residue.

Step 4: Open LightBurn and Set Parameters

Now open LightBurn software, one of the most powerful tools for laser cutting setup.

 

Import Your Design

· Click File → Import

· Load your elephant SVG or DXF file

 

Resize the Design

Scale the elephant keychain to your desired size, for example:

· 60 mm wide

· 45 mm tall

This size is perfect for:

· Laser cut keychains

· Bag charms

· Handmade wooden gifts

 

Set Layers

Fill layer → for engraving names or patterns

Line layer → for outline cutting

 

Apply the tested laser parameters:

 

Fill Layer:

· Speed: 3000 mm/min

· Power: 100%

· Pass: 1

 

Line Layer:

· Speed: 250 mm/min

· Power: 100%

· Pass: 1

 

These settings are ideal for best settings for laser cutting plywood.

Step 5: Frame, Process, and Start Engraving

Before starting, always use laser framing.

 

Check Engraving Position

· Click the Frame button.

· Watch the laser head trace the design area.

· Ensure it stays within the plywood.

 

This avoids:

· Cutting outside material

· Wasting boards

· Misaligned designs

 

Start Engraving

Click “Processing” and start the job.

 

Within a few minutes, your laser cut personalized keychains will be fully engraved and cut.

Post-Processing Tips

After engraving:

· Gently remove the pieces.

· Sand edges with 400–600 grit paper.

· Optional finishing:

· Wood oil

· Clear coat

· Acrylic spray

· Wax finish

 

You can also attach:

· Keychain rings

· Leather straps

· Jump rings

 

Now your engraved wooden keychains are ready for sale or gifting.

Why This Is a Great Laser Engraving Business Product

From a commercial standpoint, elephant keychains are one of the most profitable laser projects:

· Low material cost

· Fast production time

· High perceived value

· Easy personalized laser engraving

 

Perfect for:

· Weddings

· Baby showers

· Corporate gifts

· Souvenirs

· Etsy laser products

 

With a diode laser engraving machine, you can produce 50–100 pieces per hour using batch laser engraving.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can a diode laser engraver really cut 3mm plywood?

Yes. A 10W diode laser cutting machine like the AlgoLaser Pixi Laser Engraver can easily cut 3mm plywood in one pass with proper focus.

 

2. Do I need air assist for this project?

Air assist is recommended. It improves edge quality, reduces burn marks, and protects the laser lens.

 

3. What file format works best in LightBurn?

SVG and DXF are the best vector files for laser cutting.

 

4. Can I engrave names on each keychain automatically?

Yes. LightBurn supports variable text and batch engraving, perfect for custom laser engraving.

 

5. Is plywood safe for laser engraving?

Yes, as long as it’s laser-safe plywood without toxic adhesives.

 

6. How long does one elephant keychain take to make?

Engraving: 20–30 seconds
Cutting: 30–40 seconds
Total: about 1 minute per piece.

Final Thoughts from a Laser Engraving Geek

This personalized elephant keychain set is a perfect example of how powerful a desktop laser engraver can be. With a simple vector design, a small piece of plywood, and the right laser cutting parameters, you can create professional laser engraved products at home.

 

Projects like this prove that a diode laser engraver isn’t just a hobby tool—it’s a real production machine for small business laser ideas and creative entrepreneurs.

Engraving & Cutting Operation Guide Steps

1. Why Elephant Keychains Are Perfect for Laser Engraving

2. Step 1: Open the Protective Lid and Place the Plywood

3. Step 2: Use the Focusing Column to Adjust the Laser Module

4. Step 3: Close the Protective Lid

5. Step 4: Open LightBurn and Set Parameters

6. Step 5: Frame, Process, and Start Engraving

7. Post-Processing Tips

8. Why This Is a Great Laser Engraving Business Product

9. Frequently Asked Questions

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