Best jewellery engraver entry level

[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.

[m_c]

Frank,

have a look over on the CamBam forums, in the Members Projects board (http://www.cambam.co.uk/forum/index.php?board=9.0), for the watch threads (there's two that I know of) by Arie kabaalstra. I know his current machine is reasonably expensive, but that was an upgrade after he started producing watches commercially.
His posts give a good insight into fine work, which I'd think would give you a good insight into the process (design, work holding, tooling etc)

There was also a ring maker over on the mach support forums, however I can't remember his username, and it's been a few years since I noticed him post.

Regarding machines, it'll depend on if you want something turnkey, or to convert something your self. If you want turnkey, of the top of my head I'd suggest looking at a Seig KX1 (Arc Euro Trade sell them), or there's a Swiss company who do a good range of smaller milling machines including CNC options, but I've forgotten their name!

[magicniner]

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.

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

[magicniner]

Covered Already!

[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.

[magicniner]

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.

That sounds good and ought to get you going, you can buy a range of depth regulating noses to fit Gravograph spindles, the picture for depth noses on Gravograph's site is of a ball type - http://www.gravograph.co.uk/engravin...ng-machine.php

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 ?

Using carbide cutters with 3 in one oil for lubricant I've engraved a variety of metals including Aluminium, cast Zinc, Steel and Titanium

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 ?

If it's a plating that can lift if damaged then cutting through it is likely to cause peeling or flaking, I engrave parts prior to finishing whether that's blueing, painting or plating.

Which CNC machine do you now have ?

My benchtop CNC is a little ex-educational mill from Connect CNC, it's been retro-fitted for Mach3 and has very little left on it that's standard, the engraving spindle is mounted on a small spring loaded slide and is driven with a pulley which mounts in place of milling tooling giving speeds up to 30000rpm.

If you go CNC you are definitely best with a purpose made OEM system as the software will not require you to jump through the hoops that CAD/CAM/CNC will and the learning curve will be more like that for vinyl cutting than CNC.

There are engraving specific forum sites out there where you will get better answers from those already doing what you want to do than you could get from general CNC users,
Regards,
Nick