# Cutting clean basics with the Shape Generator

> polygons, stars, hearts, and 20+ ready shapes with optional hanger holes

Half of laser work is just needing a clean basic shape at an exact size: a hexagon coaster blank, a star ornament, a bone-shaped pet tag, a circle with a hanger hole. Drawing these in design software means fiddling with snapping and math. This tool gives you a parametric shape library where everything is exact by construction.

Beyond the geometric primitives (Polygon with 3-12 sides, Circle, Square, Star with adjustable points), there is a full novelty set: Heart, Arrow, Bell, Bone, Carrot, Cookie, Drop, Egg, Flower, Ghost, House, Balloon, Cloud, Pen, Pin, Ribbon, Tag, Tree (pine or deciduous), and Wrench. Every shape can be stretched, rounded, resized, given a hanger hole, and exported flat or as 3D geometry.

## What you need

- **Laser:** [laser-grade plywood](https://yxecreations.com/collections/laser-grade-plywood) or [acrylic](https://yxecreations.com/pages/acrylic-sheets) scraps; shape blanks are the ultimate scrap-buster
- **3D printing:** any FDM printer and filament for cookie cutters, tags, and ornaments
- Ribbon, cord, or rings if you are using the hanger hole

## Step 1 - Pick and shape



Open the Shape Generator and pick a shape from the selector. For **Polygon**, set the **Number of Sides** (hexagons and octagons make instant coasters); for **Star**, set the **Number of Points**. Use **Corner Radius** to soften sharp vertices, which also makes cut shapes friendlier to handle and 3D prints stronger at the tips.

## Step 2 - Size and detail



- **Shape Size** sets the finished dimension in your units; **Horizontal Stretch** and **Vertical Stretch** turn circles into ovals and squares into rectangles without distorting line quality.
- **Hanger Hole Size** adds a properly placed hole at the top for ornaments, tags, and charms; set it to fit your ribbon or ring.
- **Outline Width** adds a concentric outline, handy for two-tone layered shapes or score-line borders.

## Step 3 - Export



Download **SVG** for the laser, or **STL**/**3MF** with your chosen extrusion depth for 3D printing.

## Laser Cutting

### Cut blanks and ornaments



1. Import the SVG and gang up multiples; basic shapes nest tightly and cut in seconds each.
2. Cut the hanger hole with the same pass as the outline; it is part of the path.
3. For coaster sets, cut hexagons from 3 mm plywood and seal with a couple of coats of spray lacquer.
4. Use the outline feature as a score line to guide hand-painting inside a border.
5. Stack two sizes of the same shape in contrasting materials for instant layered ornaments.

## 3D Printing

### Print tags and ornaments



1. Export the 3MF with a 3-5 mm depth for tags and ornaments; thinner prints faster, thicker feels more substantial.
2. Print flat at 0.2 mm layers, no supports.
3. The bone shape plus a hanger hole is a ready-made pet tag blank; add a name with a paint pen or your slicer's text tool.
4. Shallow extrusions of cookie, star, and flower shapes make great gift toppers and garland pieces strung through the hanger holes.

## Make it yours

- Hexagon coaster set with a family monogram engraved in the center of each.
- Ghost and pumpkin-orange circle garland for Halloween, strung through hanger holes.
- Cloud shapes with raindrop Drops hanging below on thread for a nursery mobile.
- Stretch a star vertically for a tree topper that reads taller from across the room.
- House shapes as a realtor's closing gift tags: engrave the address and date.
- Tag shape plus hanger hole, cut in batches, is the fastest gift tag production line there is.
- Use Bone shapes as engraving blanks for a dog treat jar label or pet memorial charm.

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Open the Shape Generator: https://www.mylasertools.com/shape-generator
Read online: https://www.mylasertools.com/learn/guides/shape-generator