| CNC engraving machines work great for when you | | | | re-sharpening. If this is a big part of your business, do |
| want to engrave into metals with cuts more than a | | | | yourself a favor and purchase your own cutter |
| few thousandths deep. This is opposed to the process | | | | sharpener. |
| of burnishing or dragging on metals. Using CNC | | | | Definitely use a cutting fluid. Using a cutting fluid to |
| engraving machines to engrave into metal presents | | | | lubricate the cutting surface will help to cool and |
| end users with a variety of options to consider prior to | | | | protect your cutters. This also helps produce a |
| production. | | | | smoother finish to the cut. Mystic Metal is a great |
| When using CNC engraving machines to engrave into | | | | cutting fluid that's available through most suppliers. |
| metal, first think about how you are going to hold the | | | | Arming your CNC engraving machines with a collet |
| material. Engraving into metal will most often exceed | | | | spindle is essential for this type of engraving. You'll |
| the strength capacity of tape or holding mats. Ideally, | | | | notice that standard top load spindles don't have the |
| you want the holding device to completely keep the | | | | support necessary at the bottom of the spindle, |
| material from moving as well as be easy to use. You | | | | causing the cutter to chatter under large engraving |
| need to be able to set and move the material as | | | | loads. This severely limits your engraving quality as well |
| efficiently as you can without sacrificing your hold or | | | | as damages the machine. |
| damaging the material. | | | | Z-Axis Speed |
| Custom Jigs | | | | It is a good idea to use a slower Z-axis speed when |
| If you're using CNC engraving machines for highly | | | | engraving stainless materials. This gives the cutter time |
| competitive work, you really should design a custom jig | | | | to fully penetrate the material to the desired depth |
| that's specific to that job. A good jig will allow you to | | | | before moving laterally. You can always adjust the |
| quickly, easily and accurately place the material for | | | | speed of the Z-axis during production for the CNC |
| multiple engravings of the same job. It's worth spending | | | | engraving machine as needed. |
| some extra time and money creating a jig that makes | | | | Challenges and Considerations |
| it easy to hold and remove the material. | | | | Rotary engraving on stainless steel is a challenging |
| Cutters, Cutting Fluids and Spindles | | | | application with CNC engraving machines. Yet stainless |
| Engraving into metal quickly eats up cutters. You really | | | | steel is a frequently requested material due to its low |
| should use standard engraving cutters that are | | | | maintenance, heat resistance and inert properties. |
| designed for engraving metals. Double ended, double | | | | It's critical that those using CNC engraving machines |
| fluted end mills work best. You'll find end mills deliver a | | | | understand that planning the production of the job is |
| much superior quality and are easy to use. No matter | | | | very important. Using the proper tools and fastening |
| which style of cutter you use, keep many duplicates | | | | devices can make a project run efficiently and |
| on hand for replacement of broken cutters and | | | | effectively. |