Learn how to create a custom 3D printed keychain using CorelDraw and SketchUp in this step-by-step tutorial. We’ll start in CorelDraw, designing the name or text you want, adjusting spacing and fonts to create a connected design. The ‘Smart Fill’ tool will be your best friend here, allowing you to easily create solid shapes from intersecting letters.

Then, we’ll export the design as a DXF file and import it into SketchUp. Using a helpful extension, we’ll convert the lines into faces and use the Push/Pull tool to extrude the design into a 3D object. Finally, we’ll export the model as an STL file, ready for 3D printing. This tutorial is perfect for beginners who want to explore the possibilities of combining 2D design with 3D printing.

Video Summary & Key Timestamps

  • Introduction to using CorelDraw for 3D printing (0:01).
  • The inspiration behind the tutorial: 3D printed keychains (0:09).
  • Observing the height differences in the keychain letters (0:31).
  • Typing the desired name in CorelDraw (0:56).
  • Selecting a suitable font (1:04).
  • Adjusting letter spacing to create intersections using the shape tool (1:10).
  • Adding a gray fill and black outline for better visibility (1:46).
  • Addressing the need for a connecting shape for the letter ‘I’ (2:03).
  • Creating a circle for the keychain ring (2:23).
  • Breaking the text apart into separate objects (2:44).
  • Arranging letters to be in front or behind each other using the order function (3:08).
  • Using the Smart Fill tool to fill the shapes (3:52).
  • Selecting the smart filled areas while holding down Shift (4:16).
  • Moving the selected shapes (4:41).
  • Adding a connecting piece to the letter ‘I’ and using Smart Fill (4:54).
  • Deleting unnecessary shapes in wireframe view (5:09).
  • Exporting the design as a DXF file (5:30).
  • Opening SketchUp and creating a new 3D printing document in millimeters (6:12).
  • Importing the DXF file (6:29).
  • Using the “sUF” extension to create faces (6:45).
  • Deleting internal shapes (7:21).
  • Using the Push/Pull tool to extrude the letters, holding control to create new faces (7:32).
  • Double-clicking faces to match the extrusion height (8:01).
  • Adjusting the height of specific letters (8:30).
  • Exporting the model as an STL file for 3D printing (9:21).

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