Can someone help me with questions about engraving brass?

[grommet]

I need to engrave 1mm letters and numbers into brass. I need someone to teach me what machine would be best.

I have tried to figure this for myself but I am confused. I looked at CNC engravers but it seems they might not be able to make such small characters though they are the lowest cost option.

Laser seems to work very well but it costs too much. A company said I would need to buy their fiber laser and it was thousands of dollars.

I also tried learning about rotary engravers.

 

[Nitro]

Do you have any idea how small 1mm characters would be?

 

[Gerontius]

Look into photo-etching and maybe electrolytic etching processes; that might do better. I wonder what kind of project you must make such small letters for?

There are some videos put out where people have used this to restore worn-away manufacturing marks on gun barrels (I like watching Larry Potterfield videos; he's like the Bob Ross of gunsmithing and he has done this on some old Winchesters.)

 

[Streetwise]

Dremel Stylo+ 2050-15 Rotary Multi-Tool - Machine Mart - Machine Mart one of the tips looks 1mm do a practice on spare metal

 

[grommet]

Do you have any idea how small 1mm characters would be?

I do. I use 1mm metal stamps now.

 

[grommet]

Dremel Stylo+ 2050-15 Rotary Multi-Tool - Machine Mart - Machine Mart one of the tips looks 1mm do a practice on spare metal

Thank you but I need clear letters and numbers, not something that would be done hand-held. I need something that CNC could produce.

 

[grommet]

Look into photo-etching and maybe electrolytic etching processes; that might do better. I wonder what kind of project you must make such small letters for?

There are some videos put out where people have used this to restore worn-away manufacturing marks on gun barrels (I like watching Larry Potterfield videos; he's like the Bob Ross of gunsmithing and he has done this on some old Winchesters.)

Can you give me the name of an etching brand or product I can look up? I worry etching would not give me a durable enough image but I have not done it so I do not know.

 

[Streetwise]

Thank you but I need clear letters and numbers, not something that would be done hand-held. I need something that CNC could produce.

You make it clear by practice and a guide that's all what you're paying for practice

 

[grommet]

You make it clear by practice and a guide that's all what you're paying for practice

Thank you but I do not want hand made letters and stamps, I want a machine made look. I would not make them by hand, I do not need more information on how that could be done.

 

[Atrapa Almas]

Im not an expert, so I will be probably wrong,:

If you dont want to go the mechanical way, you could try to make the letters in a sheet of plastic, use adhesive to fix the plastic to the brass sheet, then apply acid so it will just affect the brass in the letter holes made in the plastic.

 

[grommet]

Im not an expert, so I will be probably wrong,:

If you dont want to go the mechanical way, you could try to make the letters in a sheet of plastic, use adhesive to fix the plastic to the brass sheet, then apply acid so it will just affect the brass in the letter holes made in the plastic.

I do want to use a mechanical method and something fast with little work. If it is a long process with a lot of work I would not want to do it. A fiber laser seems the best way but the cost is impossible, also the machine is large. It may not be possible for me to use something instead of stamps but I would very much like to.

 

[maycontainthunder]

I do want to use a mechanical method and something fast with little work. If it is a long process with a lot of work I would not want to do it. A fiber laser seems the best way but the cost is impossible, also the machine is large. It may not be possible for me to use something instead of stamps but I would very much like to.

If you want the mechanical method then you need to find a Pantograph Engraver. These vary in size from something you can use on a kitchen table right up to industrial machines.

With these the hard part to find is the script (the forms for the text) which you may or may not need to get made to suit your chosen font. These machines are adjustable so the size of the font you have isn't the necessarily the size it comes out at. I do feel that 1mm size might be a real challenge to do on anything that isn't CNC.

Edit: other things to be aware of; the size of the cutter you will need to do letters this small falls in to the category 'sneeze and you'll break it'.

From someone who has worked with big engineering machines; lots of small cuts. If you try one big one you'll go through cutters like I go through cookies...

 

[grommet]

If you want the mechanical method then you need to find a Pantograph Engraver. These vary in size from something you can use on a kitchen table right up to industrial machines.

With these the hard part to find is the script (the forms for the text) which you may or may not need to get made to suit your chosen font. These machines are adjustable so the size of the font you have isn't the necessarily the size it comes out at. I do feel that 1mm size might be a real challenge to do on anything that isn't CNC.

Edit: other things to be aware of; the size of the cutter you will need to do letters this small falls in to the category 'sneeze and you'll break it'.

From someone who has worked with big engineering machines; lots of small cuts. If you try one big one you'll go through cutters like I go through cookies...

Thank you for all the great information. this company is one I looked at. As I have researched the small size I need seems to be making fiber lasers the only option but I cannot buy one. What I am starting to think instead is to see if I can spend more on a metal stamp aligner that will let me impression more evenly and precisely. It would cost so much less. I will keep trying to learn more about laser engraving. I cannot pay for one but if I know the amount I can think about it, I enjoy thinking about things I want even if I do not think I can have them.

 

[maycontainthunder]

Thank you for all the great information. this company is one I looked at. As I have researched the small size I need seems to be making fiber lasers the only option but I cannot buy one. What I am starting to think instead is to see if I can spend more on a metal stamp aligner that will let me impression more evenly and precisely. It would cost so much less. I will keep trying to learn more about laser engraving. I cannot pay for one but if I know the amount I can think about it, I enjoy thinking about things I want even if I do not think I can have them.

Some sets of number and letter stamps came with one. A British company that made them was Prior. I have an 1/8th set (I think that's the size) that came with one. It's a simple thing to make if you have the tools.

 

[grommet]

Some sets of number and letter stamps came with one. A British company that made them was Prior. I have an 1/8th set (I think that's the size) that came with one. It's a simple thing to make if you have the tools.

I have 1/4 inch metal stamps in 1mm, 1.5mm, 3mm. I have an HPC stamp alignment tool but it is not accurate. The stamps fit loosely so I have to remember to push the stamp up and to the right or in any combination of directions for each impression or it is not even.

I have been looking online for something better but I have not been able to find anything yet. If you have a brand name or link I would like the help.

 

[maycontainthunder]

I have 1/4 inch metal stamps in 1mm, 1.5mm, 3mm. I have an HPC stamp alignment tool but it is not accurate. The stamps fit loosely so I have to remember to push the stamp up and to the right or in any combination of directions for each impression or it is not even.

I have been looking online for something better but I have not been able to find anything yet. If you have a brand name or link I would like the help.

I have made a slight typo, the maker is actually called Pryor. I've looked up what a new set costs and they are a scary amount of money but there is that chance you might find a secondhand set locally. The set in the link is very similar to mine;

Pryor Fount Set 1mm (0.040") Number & Letter Punches | eBay

 

[grommet]

I have made a slight typo, the maker is actually called Pryor. I've looked up what a new set costs and they are a scary amount of money but there is that chance you might find a secondhand set locally. The set in the link is very similar to mine;

Pryor Fount Set 1mm (0.040") Number & Letter Punches | eBay

Thank you. I would only need the holder, I think the Wokesi stamps I have are very nice, the best I have used. Holders like that all seem to be $200 and up. I am thinking to practice with the HPC alignment tool I have. It is pretty good and if I practice hard maybe I could get really good with my impressions being even and where I want them each time.