Engraving question
Posted by
exeric1
on 2002-07-12 12:59:49 UTC
Earlier I asked a question about Dremel motors for retrofitting to a
CNC mill. I got a lot of good answers to that and I won't try using
one anytime in this lifetime. Sorry I didn't get back to those
answering me - I did appreciate the advice - and am using it.
Another question: I was going to engrave some chrome plated aluminum.
I've seen sites on the web where they say adamantly that you can't
engrave chrome. The reason being that once you break through its
prone to flaking. That leaves two options - engraving first and then
plating - or burnishing down to aluminum. In the second case I would
use an oxidizers to to blacken the aluminum (the engraving will be
just for labeling). In the second case - well thats a good question -
how to do make any kind of paint stick to chrome, even if it is in
the depression where the aluminum was engraved.
Finally, if the piece is pre-engraved and then plated what
modification do you have to make in the engraving process.
Specifically how much deeper do you have to go to allow for the
filling in of some of the detail. And do you have use a more rounded
engraving bit so the depression isn't too angular? I would think that
sharp angles would be where the chrome would tend to separate. Anyone
have experience with some of these issues? Thanks.
Eric
CNC mill. I got a lot of good answers to that and I won't try using
one anytime in this lifetime. Sorry I didn't get back to those
answering me - I did appreciate the advice - and am using it.
Another question: I was going to engrave some chrome plated aluminum.
I've seen sites on the web where they say adamantly that you can't
engrave chrome. The reason being that once you break through its
prone to flaking. That leaves two options - engraving first and then
plating - or burnishing down to aluminum. In the second case I would
use an oxidizers to to blacken the aluminum (the engraving will be
just for labeling). In the second case - well thats a good question -
how to do make any kind of paint stick to chrome, even if it is in
the depression where the aluminum was engraved.
Finally, if the piece is pre-engraved and then plated what
modification do you have to make in the engraving process.
Specifically how much deeper do you have to go to allow for the
filling in of some of the detail. And do you have use a more rounded
engraving bit so the depression isn't too angular? I would think that
sharp angles would be where the chrome would tend to separate. Anyone
have experience with some of these issues? Thanks.
Eric