Exploring CNC for watch dial manufacture

[Lewiswatches]

Hello all,

Lewis from Glasgow here. I've recently begun looking at ways of making simple watch dial blanks using a CNC router, we currently make them by stamping copper or cutting by hand, but I thought CNC would allow us to make slightly more complex forms - ideally we'd like to have a raised lip around the edges. I'm not an engineer though and thought this would be a good place to come and learn more about machines before jumping in!

thanks,

Lewis

[men8ifr]

Lewis

Something like this?



If so that looks reasonably simple but you need to ask what accuracy you need, 0.1mm most/all machines should do this, 0.05 again shouldn't be too difficult but 0.02 or 0.01 I think you would need to pay close attention to the machine specs and likely pay a lot more.

2nd thing would be what is the smallest drill/cutter you will regularly use - this will dictate spindle RPM, I think you need small bits maybe 1mm so think you probably need 5,000rpm spindle speed, slower will work but the machine will be much slower at making parts.

Proxxon make very small CNC milling machines I would think something like this:

https://www.proxxon.com/en/micromot/27112.php



Would seem to fit the bill nicely

[Lewiswatches]

Thanks men8ifr! Much appreciated.

It's actually a lot simpler (I think), we wanted to achieve a lip around the outside and around the hole in the centre.

I'm guessing it's a case of taking a copper disc of (in this instance) 1.2mm thick and 35mm in diameter and hollowing out the area between the edge and centre leaving an outer wall of 0.5mm and an inner wall of the same, around the 2mm hole in the centre. The thickness of dial would be 0.4mm and the walls 1.2mm.

Would a machine like the Proxxon be able to do that do you think?

Many thanks for the suggestion!