Custom Medal

Project Overview

Everyone wants to feel appreciated, and awards are a great way to recognize each individual's talent! Laser cutting opens the door to customize your own 2D creations that each student can take home with them to remember their achievements. The final project is a personalized award on a ribbon.

Learning Objective

• how to manipulate lines, shapes, and text using 2D Design Software
• various laser cutting processes such as complete cut through, line engrave, and filled in engrave

Estimated Length

1 - 2 hours of class time + cutting time

Materials

• laser cutting material (roughly 2.75" x 2.75" per student)
• ribbons (up to 3/4" width, roughly 36" in length per student)
• laptop with computer mouse
• 2D Drawing Software (Vectr, Inkscape, Google Draw)

Overview of Steps

1. Students create their own drawings in 2D software
2. Students assign the type of laser cutting process to their design
3. Laser cut designs
4. Add onto ribbon loop to complete medal

Setup and Planning

1. If possible, laser cut an example award to show to the class when introducing the project.
2. A fun class activity is to ask each student to create a medal for somebody else. Either as a class or in small groups, brainstorm fun award titles such as "Mad Scientist" or "Super Snacker" or "Loudest Laugher". You can let each student use the award title of their choosing, but make sure to help students understand that the title can't be too long or it won't fit on the medal. To make sure everyone gets an award, you can create a list of who is creating an award for who, or ask the students to buddy up to make awards for each other.