Business Signs

Engraving & Etching Techniques

Two main types of engraving technique are offered in today's engraving market. The first engraving system uses precision tools fitted to high speed spindles to supply an accurate result. The second method utilizes laser beams to acts as a cutter into the material. Engraving is considered by some signage companies as a complicated process, with machines requiring a countless number of different tools for a varied selection of materials.

The real requirement of industrial engraving machines is that the equipment can work with the necessary materials and has the capability of being used with numerous sizes and types of cutter.

Diamond cutters are generally used for some types of plaque engraving, jewellery, or trophy engraving as they are suitable for metal and glass surfaces, while high speed stainless steel (HSS) or tungsten carbide cutters are used more for certain types metal, wood and plastic materials. The size of the cutting tip is responsible for the final width of the engraving.

Laser engraving machines comprise of three main separate elements, the controller, the surface, and the laser itself. The laser resembles a thin pointer with its beam directed by the controller onto the material placed on the surface bed. As the laser touches the material at the focal point, the surface is altered by its energy and produces the required engraved result. The laser engraving method leaves consistently clean results without ragged edges and because a beam of laser light is used as the cutting tool, there are no tools which wear and need replacing and no other consumables to worry about.

Strict and critical safety regulations and maintenance schedules need to be put into operation with Laser engraving systems to ensure that correct preventative measures have being taken and the machines are running correctly.

Many techniques have been adopted by modern machines such as specially devised surface sensing systems that are designed to adjust continuously to surface height of the engraving material making depth settings and surface registrations a simplified task. Some machines can be operated via remote radio controlled handsets which give the operator complete access to the machine without restrictions. Traditional material clamping is also made a thing of the past with some high specification machines, as the material is gripped firmly and equally, this can increase the production life of the cutter and reduce surface vibration.

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