Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Need Vernier Dials for Bridgeport

You can do nice engraving by getting a photoresist kit
from an electronics supplier. Make your dial in autocad
or whatever and then follow the directions to "engrave" it.

I think for this the older "spray on" kind might be easier
than the "iron on" kind. Hard to iron-on to a machine part.

A weird way of doing it - more labor but less messing with a sometimes
frustrating chemical process -

Assuming you want even markings on the edge (turned, not faced)
of a cylinder.

Use brass, not aluminum or steel! (Aluminum reacts violently, haven't
tried steel, but it shouldn't work, as it's ferric chloride etchant)

Mount a sharpie pen in the spindle of mill.

Mount cylinder centered in dividing head or vertical rotary table.

Align pen over centerline in Y (turn off motor, obviously)

Adjust spindle height.

Run X up to a stop, making a mark.

Index head.

Repeat.

etch in PC board etchant. This will leave metal where there is a line.

Fancy ways -

Make dial of aluminum. Instead of pen use small dia. V cutter and lock spindle height.
A flame tip burr works good, as it makes a deep, narrow groove.
Make grooves.
Mix dye into epoxy (available where fiberglass supplies are sold as gelcote dye) and
coat your dial with colored epoxy.

Turn dial down until the lines are suitably thin.

A coat of clear gloss acrylic will protect the shiny look.