Best jewellery engraver entry level

[CraftyPugs]

Hi

Looking for advice on the best beginners / entry level Jewellery engraver.

I've seen lots of YouTube videos of what seem expensive machines. Seen lot of ads for cheap Chinese machines. For clarity, I've nothing against Chinese things as I have a friend there and we do import other Chinese products.

I want to do jewellery and wedding gifts. Cufflinks, hip flasks, pens, bangles wedding favours, Cufflink boxes etc.

Not sure about round things like tankards or rings. Will depend on that extra costs.

I I guess it would be good to know which are the Cheaper machines I could look at versus which are the expensive ones I could wait to buy or but used ?

I knows there's no signal correct answer so very happy to look through all machines you recommend.

Many thans
Frank

[lucan07]

Have a friend with a jewellry business and almost everything they do is either free hand or on a manual copy machine, only CNC they use is their fibre laser which was not an entry level item.

[CraftyPugs]

Hi lucan07

Thanks for the reply.

By manual copy do you mean like a pantograph machine ?

ive been offered a Gravograph IM3 for a real good price.

I'd like to see the variety of engraving that it can achieve first but would get it.

I know it does scratch engraving but wonder if it can do a slightly deeper engrave? Also, the range of things I could engrave.

Any my help gratefully received.

Thanks
Frank

[lucan07]

Yes that the type of thing they use they have circular disks of fonts etc they can load and dial in whatever is required or copy various templates scaling as required, and even work inside rings with one of them of them. Search YouTube I would imagine plenty of vid's showing capabilities of the machine on offer, but I would imagine some of the font templates etc are expensive to buy.

The problem with CNC is the set up time they can do the jobs freehand quicker than plugging it in.

[magicniner]

Yes that the type of thing they use they have circular disks of fonts .

That's ring engravers, not the IM3.

[lucan07]

Yes I know they have been in the business over 30 years and have all sorts they can do rings or plate withsame machine templates a pantograph type arm that also runs from exact same disks and you dial in and move along like an old pressure tape label makers only with drag or power engraver running on the arm or the micro tools on inside or outside of the rings which obviously rotate instead of moving.

[magicniner]

and even work inside rings with one of them of them..

Scratch engraving ring engravers, not the IM3

[magicniner]

The problem with CNC is the set up time they can do the jobs freehand quicker than plugging it in.

You've not done that then?
I have and I have to inform you that if 2D engraving with corners the diameter of your cutter at the set depth is acceptable that's fine, if you want deep engraving with sharp corners then the only way you get that is with a 3D tool path which lifts at the corners - a V-Carve type tool path - and that is CNC

;-)

[CraftyPugs]

Hi Nick

I can get the IM3 with Motor, 2 fonts and some blanks for a tad less than the above. I don't know about the depth guide but will ask.

I have seen the machine do scratch engraving on cufflinks, but would like to know the type of items and material for the deep rotary cut/milled engraving ?

At the moment, everything is new to me, Metals, plating the machines etc. I assume that the deep engraving cannot be done on Plated metals ?

Which CNC machine do you now have ?

Many thanks for your help - its appreciated.

[lucan07]

im3
doesn't use rotary font discs, that's the dedicated ring engravinbg machine.
At least Google if you're guessing when advising other users!
I own and use exactly the model which the OP requested information on and I'm not answering based on a guess or a Google search, I have actual physical experience using a Gravograph IM3 for diamond drag and rotary cut engraving!
- Nick

I answered question "like a pantographt" not about an IM3 I told him to google IM3 or search youtube.

You've not done that then?
I have and I have to inform you that if 2D engraving with corners the diameter of your cutter at the set depth is acceptable that's fine, if you want deep engraving with sharp corners then the only way you get that is with a 3D tool path which lifts at the corners - a V-Carve type tool path - and that is CNC
;-)

I have spoken to friends regarding tools used and why they do not use CNC engravers as they have a CNC fibre laser, their response was about the time and setup. The way to quality engraving is craftsmen with years of experience and professional equipment that will never be replaced by any hobbyists with V-Carve type tool paths.