Panda Threading

What:The creation features a panda skiing design, with a marble base mechanism, making it a movable device. The addition of knitted yarn brings warmth and softness to the piece.

Why:The goal is to create an interactive device that brings joy and novelty to users as soon as they receive it. By adding a touch of creativity, the panda's body feels soft to the touch, rather than the typical stiffness one might expect. This creation can also serve as a thoughtful gift for friends who enjoy handmade crafts, making it not just a decorative piece but also an interactive toy and a cuddly plush.

How: The design utilizes laser cutting technology to shape Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) and acrylic materials, complemented by UV inkjet printing technology to enhance the piece with a playful and childlike charm.

Materials:

1. Laser Cutting Machine（LaserPro Mercury III ）

2. UV inkjet printer（Roland BersaUV LEF2-200 Benchtop UV Flatbed Printer）

3. 5mm thick Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) Board, 40*30cm for 1 piece

4. 2.5cm Diameter Marble for 1 piece

5. white glue

6. Yarn (5mm thick, replaceable with other thicknesses)

7. Yarn Needle (a bobby pin is also a good alternative)

8. Scissors

Outline:

1.Design the pattern

2.Design the bottom groove and outer layer pattern

3.Create the color draft

4.Laser cutting and UV printing

5.Assemble them

6.Finished！

To thread yarn, several holes (5mm in diameter) need to be left on the pattern. In the example file, each hole is spaced approximately 7mm apart. The diameter and spacing of the holes depend on the thickness of the yarn and the desired density.

We created an adorable ballerina panda with a thickness of three layers of 5mm MDF boards (total panda thickness: 15mm). Several holes were cut into the white and blue-gray areas of its body. The method for presenting different yarn colors will be explained in the following sections.

After designing the pattern, the next step is to design a structure on the bottom of the sleigh that can hold marbles. I cut 5mm MDF boards into 5 pieces, each with a hollowed-out section. Once glued together, they form a "25mm long × 25mm wide × 20mm high" cavity to hold the marbles (as the marble's diameter is 2.5mm. If the marbles you use are of a different size, you can adjust the cavity size accordingly).

In my design, I added a sleigh around the panda pattern to cover the marbles underneath.

The panda sleigh consists of 9 cut-out pieces in total. The note in parentheses “with or without holes” indicates the parts of the base that are cut to hold marbles.

The components are as follows:

1. Front sleigh (no hole)

2. Bottom panel (no hole, ensure the sleigh have enough space to thread yarns)

3. Bottom panel (with a hole)

4. Front panda (with a hole)

5. Panda middle section (with a hole)

6. Back panda (with a hole)

7. Bottom panel (with a hole)

8. Bottom panel (no hole, ensure the sleigh have enough space to thread yarns)

9. Back sleigh (no hole)

In total, the elements required are:

1. Sleigh × 2
2. Bottom panel (no hole) × 2
3. Bottom panel (with a hole) × 2
4. Panda × 3

Note: The holes in pieces 3–7 need to align perfectly. I used Adobe Illustrator for the design, making it easier to use directly with a laser cutting machine.

I use Adobe Photoshop for coloring and Adobe Illustrator for layout. Following the file requirements provided by the UV printer, I created two additional layers: the "Crosslinking" layer (green area) and the "White Ink" layer (gray area). This results in a file with three layers in total (the third layer being the CMYK color layer). Finally, I convert the file to PDF format to ensure compatibility with the UV printer.

Note: If you don’t have the necessary software or a UV printer, that’s okay! After laser cutting, you can adhere the pieces and hand-paint them with acrylic paint to add color to your work.

Laser Cutting

Parameter settings: Speed 0.4, Power 65

UV printing colors

Place the cut wooden boards into the UV inkjet printer and set the parameters: Height setting: 6mm (greater than the board thickness), Print quality: normal, Print order: White to CMYK.

Note: The panda and the sleigh need to be printed one forward and one backward.

According to the sequence provided in the first image above, paste each piece of the MDF board in order. After pasting, wait for about a day.

Note: Use a small amount of white glue. Applying it with a spreading method ensures even coverage and faster drying.

Your cute design becomes even softer and warmer after being knitted. It is perfect for gifting or for personal enjoyment.

I'll use a laser cut donut to demonstrate how to thread yarn through. Start by threading the yarn from the back to the front, then pull it tight. After that, thread the yarn from the back to the front again, repeating this process until the edges are completely surrounded (or until you're satisfied). Next, thread the yarn through the center, just like before, threading it from back to front. You can refer to the video above.

Note:

1. This method is not mandatory; it's just an easier option.
2. If you don't have a yarn needle, a bobby pin is also a good alternative.

Congratulations on completing this soft piece.

Hope you'll enjoy it, and I also hope it can warm your heart !