Engraving ali

[Shedendman]

I've a project in mind where i want to (call it engraving if you like)cut on thick ali,be 8mm thick
using a ball end

but what kind, tungsten carbide or diamond tipped,i guess speed plays a big factor to it being ali,ie clogging up etc
Anything else to bear in mind before i start?

 

[Shedendman]

I guess i better add i've 2 dies grinders one vari speed one not and yes be done free hand

 

[Screwdriver]

You can't link to eBay images...

 

[Shedendman]

Better?

 

[Country Joe]

I've not used one for engraving, but I imagine you'll want it spinning quite quickly.

Smaller diameter burrs always seem to (as with drills) need faster speeds, and combined with softer materials also needing faster speeds - you'll maybe need it to be going flat out.

I'm assuming you're using a very fine burr, though.

Usually the ones for aluminium have a much coarser cut to them - probably to prevent clogging, but I imagine you'd not be removing all that much material if engraving, for that aspect to be paramount.

Bear in mind I don't actually know though - having not ever tried to do this!

They only ever seem to dig in if you have it set at too slow a speed - I imagine using one in a drill would be nigh-on impossible!

All the Best,
CJ

 

[500e]

@julianf is the resident guru

 

[anto44]

Lots of wd40 will help stop the bit from clogging. The best thing for ali though is to get the proper bit for it. Here's one shown beside a standard carbide bit.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

@Shedendman For stuff/jobs like that [which isn't often] I use a flexi-drive extension in the Dremel - then you're using it like a pen.

Don't know if this helps or hinders you in your choice(s)....

 

[Alan Reynolds]

Depending on how deep you want your engraving, why not try a Burgess Engraver. It uses a carbide tip and works on the principle of impacts. The two speed one that I bought is great for engraving on many metals. I think Cromwell even do the bits. They are listed on Ebay cheaply and you can use it like a pen. It got an award from the Design Centre when it was introduced.

 

[Alan Reynolds]

Just looked. Cromwell do various bits under Burgess engraving bits for about £8.00. They also still do the engraver new.

 

[anto44]

A regular wood router can also be used on aluminium, depending on what it is you're doing

 

[julianf]

@julianf is the resident guru

8mm deep? I never go that deep, nowhere close. That is, surely, just a milling job, rather than engraving?

I won't pretend to know anything about theory etc, but single flute cutters are, it seems, generally the way with alloy.

I would imagine a cutter like the ones pictured to just get gummed up almost instantly.

As a comment -

I buy cutters from a chap in America. I got one batch, same spec etc. but none of them would cut properly. Looked the same to the eye, but all just got gummed up instantly. I've been buying these same ones for years, and this lot were just no good. Got another lot, again, same make / spec and they are fine again.

The problem ones look just the same. I guess slightly incorrect rake or somthing? O don't know.

I've tried cheap Chinese ones before, and, again, they just get gummed up.


This is for milling though. For engraving I used a v bit. I grind them from a solid tungsten bar / cylinder. I grind to make the cylinder to a half cylinder (ie flat off exactly half the diameter) then grind a V cutter out of it, with clearence on the back of the cutter.

Then the very top is ground away, to a 0.1mm truncation.

But this is for my work. These cutters are fragile, so dropping them to 8mm would not even be a consideration! Again, 8mm is just a milling job...

 

[Shedendman]

8mm deep?

No,the material is 8mm thick,i'm looking no more than 2-3mm say

@Shedendman For stuff/jobs like that [which isn't often] I use a flexi-drive extension in the Dremel - then you're using it like a pen.

Don't know if this helps or hinders you in your choice(s)....

Has crossed my mind
Did come across these https://www.cutwel.co.uk/miscellaneous/solid-carbide-rotary-burrs/ball
At not bad prices
Best to add this,what i'm cutting isn't flat its round cylinder shaped
Thanks for the tips chaps