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Post by nlalston on Mar 13, 2021 17:15:06 GMT -5
Hello CNC'ers.
I am very interested in getting into glass & acrylic (maybe even brass, aluminum) engraving, and have never stepped into those waters, before. Like almost anything else, there are a fair amount of offerings out there, from different manufacturers, and I would really appreciate some info/advice from those of you, here, who actually have experience in this area. Advanced thanks.
Nathan
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johnb
Full Member
New owner @ March 2019, AR16 Elite, Aspire, 4th Axis & Laser
Posts: 326
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Post by johnb on Mar 13, 2021 23:48:10 GMT -5
Having gone through an entire diamond drag bit in the course of engraving two State Seals of Texas on tempered glass (just shy of 18"x18") my recommendation would be ...Don't engrave tempered glass. Aside from the "hatching" being really rough on the bit...it continued to pop off glass dust from the engraved lines for about two weeks. I have no idea (yet) what happens with un-tempered glass...maybe someone else can chime in.
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Post by nlalston on Mar 14, 2021 15:00:36 GMT -5
Having gone through an entire diamond drag bit in the course of engraving two State Seals of Texas on tempered glass (just shy of 18"x18") my recommendation would be ...Don't engrave tempered glass. Aside from the "hatching" being really rough on the bit...it continued to pop off glass dust from the engraved lines for about two weeks. I have no idea (yet) what happens with un-tempered glass...maybe someone else can chime in.
As had been mentioned earlier, glass would be something that I'd like to try an engraving on - but that (glass) would be a very small part of my interest. I would align myself, more so, with acrylic, brass, aluminum and, maybe, even some copper. 'Sorry that you experienced what you did, with that tempered glass, and I sure will heed your advisory on standing against engraving on that type. When in a liquor store, last December, there was a lady in there with a high-powered laser machine, who (for a fee) would engrave personalized messages on gift bottles of purchased spirits. I thought that doing something like that would be nice for me to do, for someone. I don't have a laser powerful enough to do that, but I should certainly be able to engrave on the flatter configuration bottles. And that is just a very small fraction of ideas that I already have, with engravings in mind.
Thank you - and stay safe, my friend.
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Post by nlalston on Mar 17, 2021 12:38:58 GMT -5
Johnb,
Aside from your experience with tempered glass, I assume that you are (otherwise) happy with your purchase of that engraving tool. If so, please share what you have. I want to invest in one, and had looked into the WidgetWorks offering. That one is $179.99, though, and I wonder if I might be able to find something decent for less of a reach into the pocket.
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johnb
Full Member
New owner @ March 2019, AR16 Elite, Aspire, 4th Axis & Laser
Posts: 326
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Post by johnb on Mar 17, 2021 19:42:32 GMT -5
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Post by microreefsaquariums on Mar 21, 2021 21:38:42 GMT -5
Will that work on cast acrylic? I looked at the link, but it didn't mention acrylic and that is what I work with. Thanks, MG |
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johnb
Full Member
New owner @ March 2019, AR16 Elite, Aspire, 4th Axis & Laser
Posts: 326
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Post by johnb on Mar 23, 2021 12:42:39 GMT -5
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Post by nlalston on Mar 24, 2021 9:29:27 GMT -5
Well, I had went ahead and purchased the Diamond Engraver Bit from Widgetworks Unlimited. It should be here by this weekend, and I am so excited to into working with it.
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Post by dustypilot on Mar 30, 2021 17:18:43 GMT -5
![]()  I bought the Widgetworks 120 deg bit and it works great in acrylic. Here is my first try at it on a 2.5"x10" piece with the company logo. I used 0.1 for the hatch/fill and small letters and 0.2 for the rest of the outlines. The defect in the middle is my own fault. Was using a torch to smooth the edges and got carried away. Will resort to buffing from now on (yes I had on the respirator and was outside so no poison plastic gas). HINT: Reverse the image and carve on the BACK SIDE. That way you won't get a reflection. (If you carve on the front, you may see it reflected off the back). |
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Post by nlalston on Jul 28, 2021 8:29:25 GMT -5
![]() View AttachmentI bought the Widgetworks 120 deg bit and it works great in acrylic. Here is my first try at it on a 2.5"x10" piece with the company logo. I used 0.1 for the hatch/fill and small letters and 0.2 for the rest of the outlines. The defect in the middle is my own fault. Was using a torch to smooth the edges and got carried away. Will resort to buffing from now on (yes I had on the respirator and was outside so no poison plastic gas). HINT: Reverse the image and carve on the BACK SIDE. That way you won't get a reflection. (If you carve on the front, you may see it reflected off the back). I really like how that came out. Nice. |
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Post by joshuag on Feb 5, 2024 22:00:14 GMT -5
Having gone through an entire diamond drag bit in the course of engraving two State Seals of Texas on tempered glass (just shy of 18"x18") my recommendation would be ...Don't engrave tempered glass. Aside from the "hatching" being really rough on the bit...it continued to pop off glass dust from the engraved lines for about two weeks. I have no idea (yet) what happens with un-tempered glass...maybe someone else can chime in.
As had been mentioned earlier, glass would be something that I'd like to try an engraving on - but that (glass) would be a very small part of my interest. I would align myself, more so, with acrylic, brass, aluminum and, maybe, even some copper. 'Sorry that you experienced what you did, with that tempered glass, and I sure will heed your advisory on standing against engraving on that type. When in a liquor store, last December, there was a lady in there with a high-powered laser machine, who (for a fee) would engrave personalized messages on gift bottles of purchased spirits. I thought that doing something like that would be nice for me to do, for someone. I don't have a laser powerful enough to do that, but I should certainly be able to engrave on the flatter configuration bottles. And that is just a very small fraction of ideas that I already have, with engravings in mind.
Thank you - and stay safe, my friend.
Considering your interest in engraving on materials like acrylic, brass, aluminum, and possibly copper, the Monport laser could be a great option for you. Its high quality, ease of use, and affordability make it suitable for various engraving projects. Plus, it offers precision and versatility, allowing you to explore different materials and designs with confidence. You can check out the Monport laser product on monportlaser.com/collections/co2-laser-engravers/products/monport-40w-lightburn-ready-12-x-8-co2-laser-engraver-cutter-with-fda-approval?sca_ref=5031521.ka374VZjm3 for more details. |
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Post by joshuag on Feb 5, 2024 22:02:40 GMT -5
![]() View AttachmentI bought the Widgetworks 120 deg bit and it works great in acrylic. Here is my first try at it on a 2.5"x10" piece with the company logo. I used 0.1 for the hatch/fill and small letters and 0.2 for the rest of the outlines. The defect in the middle is my own fault. Was using a torch to smooth the edges and got carried away. Will resort to buffing from now on (yes I had on the respirator and was outside so no poison plastic gas). HINT: Reverse the image and carve on the BACK SIDE. That way you won't get a reflection. (If you carve on the front, you may see it reflected off the back). Consider trying out the Monport laser for your engraving needs. It's known for being user-friendly, delivering high-quality results, and being affordable. With its features, you can easily create intricate designs like your company logo on various materials like acrylic. Plus, its reliability ensures consistent performance for your projects. Check out the Monport laser product on monportlaser.com/collections/co2-laser-engravers/products/monport-40w-lightburn-ready-12-x-8-co2-laser-engraver-cutter-with-fda-approval?sca_ref=5031521.ka374VZjm3 to learn more. |
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