Engraving Lines - A Plan

[Anorak Bob]

While I now have a Gravograph, engraving the millimeter lines required for a couple of scales would not be its forte. Here is an idea. A cheapish powered spindle attached to my mill's overarms by means of a fabricated bracket. The bracket would allow the spindle to nod, facilitating stopped lines. It would also work in conjunction with a rotary table for radial engraving.

Anyone know if it is possible to obtain a small, cheap ER nosed spindle capable of engraving cast iron? Rod M?

BT

[Ueee]

Hi Bob
What about a cheap air operated die grinder or similar? You would be stuck with 1/4" shanks but surely that would not be a huge problem?

[rodm]

BT
For a nearly old fellah your mind never stops. :)

I have some suitable spindles with Baldor bearings that will do the job. They have ER16 collets from memory. Your welcome to one of those but you will have to match a motor and pulleys to it. They were spares out of a hard disk manufacturer if the ebay listing can be believed.

Not sure about nodding the spindle as it will create varied depth depending on the radius of the nod. If you plan on using a "V" bit then that means varied width line.

Of course you realise this is a job for CNC. :rolleyes:

[Stustoys]

Hi BT,
Whats wrong with using the mill? are you just worried about rpm?

Stuart

[Big Shed]

This is one way of doing it,

Project 7-6 Graveren (http://home.scarlet.be/mini-draaien-frezen/engels/project-07-6.html)

but I'm sure I have seen it done on the lathe with basically a piece of sharp HSS used as a scratch tool.

[Anorak Bob]

This is one way of doing it,

Project 7-6 Graveren (http://home.scarlet.be/mini-draaien-frezen/engels/project-07-6.html)

but I'm sure I have seen it done on the lathe with basically a piece of sharp HSS used as a scratch tool.

Fred,

I've used HHS and carbide to scratch graduations. Scratching works well enough on steel but chipping occurs on cast iron. Hence the idea of using a rotary engraving tool.

Bob.

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachments/f65/171327d1306577706-cross-slide-threading-stop-hercus-tool-cutter-vise-base-january-2009-007-large-.jpg

[Big Shed]

Thanks Bob, learn something every day:2tsup:

[Anorak Bob]

BT
For a nearly old fellah your mind never stops. :)

I have some suitable spindles with Baldor bearings that will do the job. They have ER16 collets from memory. Your welcome to one of those but you will have to match a motor and pulleys to it. They were spares out of a hard disk manufacturer if the ebay listing can be believed.

Not sure about nodding the spindle as it will create varied depth depending on the radius of the nod. If you plan on using a "V" bit then that means varied width line.

Of course you realise this is a job for CNC. :rolleyes:

I know it is a job for CNC young Rod but if I could rig something up with what I have I would be able to graduate the cast iron swivel base and make up the distance scales with the mill then use the Gravograph for the numbering.

The nodding was a simple way of withdrawing the cutter. The mill table could be used to set the depth with the cutter in the vertical position.

If the Dumore TPG wasn't too awkward to set up, it would be a source of spindle speeds up to 38,000 rpm. An issue would be oil draining out of the spindle. No, the more I think about it, the Dumore would be cumbersome. I had better arrange a time for a visit to the Blue Grotto :U to look at your spindles.


Hi Bob
What about a cheap air operated die grinder or similar? You would be stuck with 1/4" shanks but surely that would not be a huge problem?

Ewan,

I do have a hardly used Shinano die grinder that would be noisier than the Dumore and maybe as awkward to use. A problem with what I'm suggesting is that co-ordination is required. The horizontal head must be advanced while the spindle is held down. Schaublin offered a rack and pinion feed for the horizontal head. I don't have one but I do have an X axis rack and pinion for my little Hercus mill. Sadly it's of no use for making the distance scales, the Hercus is imperial, the scales metric.



Hi BT,
Whats wrong with using the mill? are you just worried about rpm?

Stuart


Stu,

The high speed head is good for 6000 rpm, too slow I imagine for an engraving cutter. If it isn't too slow then it would be perfect. Bolt on and off I go.:U

BT

[Ueee]

The high speed head is good for 6000 rpm, too slow I imagine for an engraving cutter. If it isn't too slow then it would be perfect. Bolt on and off I go.:U

BT

What sort of cutter where you envisaging Bob? 60deg, multi flute or one of those pointed bits with one side ground off to give you just one cutting edge.
I would be tempted to try a router bit like this maybe 815 V-Grooving Bits : CARBA-TEC (http://www.carbatec.com.au/815-v-grooving-bits_c18020) but at 60 deg. I think 6k would be fine.
Like this, a few option here. http://www.carbitool.com.au/pdf%27s/PageR014.pdf

[Anorak Bob]

What sort of cutter where you envisaging Bob? 60deg, multi flute or one of those pointed bits with one side ground off to give you just one cutting edge.
I would be tempted to try a router bit like this maybe 815 V-Grooving Bits : CARBA-TEC (http://www.carbatec.com.au/815-v-grooving-bits_c18020) but at 60 deg. I think 6k would be fine.
Like this, a few option here. http://www.carbitool.com.au/pdf%27s/PageR014.pdf

Ewan,

I have a couple of Gravograph carbide cutters. They are an 1/8" in diameter but they may be too long to the fit in the high speed head E20 spindle. If they do fit it would be good because the local Gravograph dealer charges 9 dollars to sharpen them. Rod uses some reasonably affordable cutters but he usually cuts soft stuff. I need to check the suitability of his cutters on CI and steel. The resharpening of the linked cutters might be a problem.

BT

[rodm]

BT,
Thinking about it I have a few more options you could try. A Sherline high speed spindle 10k RPM which is set to go and probably the easiest to set up.

A 24k RPM 3 phase water cooled spindle with single phase VFD and ER11 collet.

Have attached picies of the Baldor bearing spindle and ER16 chuck which you can have and the others you can play with as long as you like.

I have a range of solid carbide cutters ranging from D bit 20 degrees through to 90 degrees and a rather unusual 60 degree with three flute cutter.

Blue grotto indeed. :)

[CGroves]

Hello Bob,

You may want to try a Kress spindle:
Kress Elektrowerkzeuge: Products : Power tools (http://www.kress-elektrik.com/Power-tools.71+M5aabe1784b7.0.html?&tx_commerce_pi1)[catUid]=17&tx_commerce_pi1[mDepth]=1&tx_commerce_pi1[path]=2%2C68

You can get them from Amazon in Germany:
Kress 06082301 530 FM / 530 Watt Fräsmotor / 1050 Watt / 290 1/min.: Amazon.de: Baumarkt (http://www.amazon.de/Kress-530-FM-Watt-Fr%C3%A4smotor/dp/B000W08ANW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1346104249&sr=8-3)

Regards, Christian

[nadroj]

The small Emco Unimat SL lathes had an accessory WW spindle, that was also used in toolpost grinders. They show up on ebay occasionally.
Maybe the standard spindle with a screw on ER chuck would do too?
Pics are of the WW spindle, which uses 8mm collets.
The SL head is detachable and can be mounted elsewhere, and has a pinion lever for the rack on the spindle. Versatile!

Jordan