If you’re having trouble getting your designs to land in the right spot on your blanks, the easiest fix is to create a jig. A jig is just a reusable guide that holds your blank in the exact same position every time so the machine knows exactly where to engrave.
How to Create a Jig for Perfect Alignment on the iEngrave
Here’s the simplest way to make one.
1. Start With a Piece of Scrap Material
Use anything flat and sturdy:
- Basswood
- Chipboard
- Cardboard
- Acrylic
- A leftover piece of the same material you normally engrave
Tape it down securely so it doesn’t shift.
2. Position the Scrap on the Engraving Bed
Place it in the top-left corner (or whichever corner you plan to use consistently).
This becomes your “home base” for all future engravings.
3. Bring the Blank’s Shape Into IdeaStudio
Import the exact outline of the blank you’re engraving:
- Dog tag
- Keychain
- Bookmark
- Circle, square, etc.
If you don’t have the outline, measure the blank and draw the shape manually.
Place that outline on the canvas exactly where you want the blank to sit.
4. Engrave the Outline Into the Scrap
Lower the engraving power so it only marks the surface.
Run the job.
This will burn a shallow outline of your blank into the scrap material.
That outline becomes the “pocket” where your real blank will sit.
5. Do a Test Run With the Jig
Before engraving your real blank, do a quick alignment test.
- Place your blank inside the engraved outline
- Make sure it fits snugly and doesn’t wiggle
- Hide the outline shape in IdeaStudio
- Leave only your design visible
- Put a piece of masking tape or paper over the blank
- Run the engraving on the tape
This shows you exactly where the design would land without risking the blank.
If it’s centered and aligned, your jig is perfect.
If it’s off, adjust the design in IdeaStudio and test again.
6. Engrave the Real Blank
Once the test looks good:
- Place the blank in the jig
- Tape it if needed
- Run the engraving normally
Now every blank you place in that jig will engrave in the exact same spot.