How to make nametags

HOW TO MAKE SEATTLE MAKERS NAMETAGS

What you need:

• Acrylic (found in “Staff Use Only” shelf in laser room)
• 3mm White Acrylic
• 3mm Clear Green Acrylic
• Acrylic cement (this stuff)
• Nametag magnets & backings (should be in laser room)
• Green acrylic paint (craft room)
• Black acrylic paint (craft room)

STEP 1: Edit the file

• Find the nametag template in the M drive at M:/Laser Cutter/NAMETAG TEMPLATE.lbrn
• Edit the text on the DARK BLUE layer (layer 01) to the LAST NAMES or LAST INITIALS to etch. This layer is a fill layer.
• Edit the text on the GREEN layer (layer 11) to the FIRST NAMES to etch. This layer is an outline etch layer to help position the green letters.
• Add to the PURPLE layer (layer 15) the FIRST NAMES to cut. This layer is an outline cut layer for cutting the green acrylic.

STEP 2: Etch white acrylic

• Set up white acrylic on laser. Focus for etching (7mm on right laser, 17mm on left laser)
• Enable output on layers 01 and 11 (etch layers). Disable output on other layers.
• Set origin, send file, frame, begin cut.
• DO NOT CHANGE ORIGIN YET. Don’t move the acrylic.

STEP 3: Cut white acrylic

• Disable output on all layers except white cut
• Re-focus laser for cutting
• Send file, frame, begin cut. Don’t change origin from before.
• Make sure acrylic is cut through & collect from laser.

STEP 4: Cut green acrylic

• Set up green acrylic on laser
• Enable output on layer 15
• Focus, send file, frame, cut, etc.
• Use masking tape to collect cut out letters.

STEP 5: Glue

• Remove masking from white nametags and green letters
• Clean front sides of white nametags with isopropyl alcohol
• Don safety gear - at least goggles, nitrile gloves, organic vapor respirator (half-face)
• Funnel a small amount of acrylic cement into the applicator bottle
• Arrange green letters on white acrylic with tweezers
• Apply cement - it will wick under letters & bond. Adjust w/ tweezers
• Let dry

STEP 6: Paint

• Apply green & black acrylic craft paint to etched areas (reference existing nametags)
• Applying paint with a paper towel works well
• Paint will stick to etched acrylic but not unetched acrylic
• Wipe away excess w/ paper towel & water

STEP 7: Magnets

• Clean back of nametags w/ IPA
• Peel backing off metal & adhere to center