Creating Name Tags on the xsTECH Desktop Router: A CNC Project for Students

If you are looking for a quick and practical classroom project that builds confidence on a desktop CNC, Tormach's xsTECH desktop router is a perfect choice for creating name tags. This 3-part video series will teach you how to engrave clean, readable text on small wooden blanks, then finish them for contrast and durability. You can size a typical name tag to about 60 by 30 millimeters, pre cut several blanks, and have students check centers and measurements before engraving on the xsTECH desktop router.

SET UP YOUR PROJECT USING PATHPILOT SOFTWARE

Use PathPilot® conversational engraving for a straightforward workflow. Engraving on the xsTECH desktop router runs along the X axis, so orient blanks with the long edge left to right. Set G54 as your work offset and select a V point engraving tool. Tool 33 is a 90 degree V bit that works well for shallow lettering. A practical starting recipe is 10,000 RPM, 300 millimeters per minute feed, and 15 millimeters Z clearance to stay above clamps. Enter text height as an initial value, then preview the toolpath to verify total width. If a name exceeds the 60 millimeter blank, reduce height. In practice, dropping text height to about 4 millimeters brought a long teacher name under the limit.

Before cutting, run an air pass a few millimeters above the surface to confirm centering and spacing. This also helps students see how alignment choices affect the result.

SET UP FIXTURING AND MAKE YOUR FIRST CUTS on the xsTECH

Use a fence to index along X and low profile clamps to keep hardware out of the toolpath. Because engraving removes very little material, light clamping is sufficient. Begin with a shallow depth such as 0.075 millimeter to test visibility, then adjust to about 0.10 millimeter if you want stronger contrast. Wood can vary slightly in thickness or flatness, which can show up as uneven depth from left to right. If that appears, check clamp pressure and the flatness of the stock before continuing on the xsTECH desktop router.

CONTRAST AND FINISHING OPTIONS

You can stain blanks before engraving for instant contrast, or laminate a thin veneer to produce a two tone reveal. Veneer edges can splinter during machining, so seal the perimeter with thin or medium CA glue, let it cure, and sand lightly. For a premium finish, apply a CA glue topcoat after engraving. Build thin layers, then sand through progressively finer grits and finish with micro mesh pads up to 8000 or 10000 grit. The result is a smooth, durable surface that makes lettering pop. Add magnetic name tag clips to the back for classroom or event use.

ITERATING TEXT AND LAYOUT on the xsTECH Desktop router

PathPilot conversational makes it easy to refine fonts, spacing, and line breaks. Some fonts compress inter word spacing, so add a few spaces where needed. Create a second line for a school name or subject area using a smaller height, then save the file. Students can learn good file habits by using Save As, avoiding special characters that cause errors, and appending descriptive names. You can also insert one conversational file into another to build a combined program that engraves the name on the first line and the subject on the second with the xsTECH desktop router.

TEACHING TIPS AND NEXT STEPS

Have students start with a stained pine or oak blank, run an air pass, engrave a shallow first pass, inspect, then adjust depth for the final cut. Discuss why text height scales toolpath width, why air cutting prevents scrap, and how work offsets and clearances protect the part. This project teaches measurement, fixturing, feeds and speeds, and basic CAM concepts without leaving the conversational environment. With the xsTECH desktop router, students can build skills step by step while producing personalized name tags they can wear or share.