key cabin Posted March 20, 2012 Report Share Posted March 20, 2012 Hi Chaps, Just a quick one, why am i getting shadows when engraving brass? i am putting the cone just onto the brass plate then just giving it one click but no matter what i do i just keep getting shadows. its costing me a fortune. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray Posted March 20, 2012 Report Share Posted March 20, 2012 I don't use a cone on brass, lock your spindle and set the depth with the software. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted March 20, 2012 Report Share Posted March 20, 2012 Even if you use a nylon cone with the lightest weight it will still mark brass. As Gray says don't use the cone, alter the depth using your software. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted March 20, 2012 Report Share Posted March 20, 2012 I use a nosecone. Cover the brass in vinyl, drop the nosecone down to the brass,drop in the cutter until it touches the brass and tighten the cutter holder.I generally use 12 clicks which cuts to a depth of 0.3mm, which I've found best if you're filling with paint. This way is better if your flatbed is not perfectly flat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CotswoldEngraver Posted March 20, 2012 Report Share Posted March 20, 2012 I set the depth in the software and use the depth profile funtion in vistool to make sure the brass is flat in the machine. Any variations in the brass will be accounted for in the depth profile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
key cabin Posted March 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2012 Will give it a go without the cone, Cheers lads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray Posted March 20, 2012 Report Share Posted March 20, 2012 Just one thing. When you've locked the spindle and engraved the brass don't forget to unlock it before your next job in case its something soft. Thats caught me out a couple of times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironplanet uk900 Posted March 20, 2012 Report Share Posted March 20, 2012 What machine you using Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray Posted March 20, 2012 Report Share Posted March 20, 2012 Is it just shadows or is Cliff Richard there as well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AcremanS Posted March 21, 2012 Report Share Posted March 21, 2012 I use the nose-cone myself, but I always put engraving tape on the brass and engrave through the tape. Just make sure there's not too much pressure or it will cause the shadowing again. I go over twice in this way, works fine for me...no shadowing and even depth all round. I'm just not comfortable using a cutter without a cone ...only done it once, but only as a last resort Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironplanet uk900 Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 What machine you using? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AcremanS Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 What machine you using? Who me? Gravograph is200 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironplanet uk900 Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 thats what I suspected, you can't really do a brass plate with equal depth of cut without a nose cone, because the jaws of the vice are never 100% level, ideally you need a dedicated flat bed machine to be able to do this type of work without a nose cone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevecoco Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 Now guys just a quick reminder. If you do get shadowing you could always use micro mesh to rescue any blemishes on the material. Ideally the best bet is to engrave without producing shadows but this stuff will save you throwing away perfectly good engravings. Search for the post on this site about it. It will be money well spent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevecoco Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 viewtopic.php?f=4&t=7005&p=65257&hilit=micromesh#p65257 this is the link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray Posted March 29, 2012 Report Share Posted March 29, 2012 I've just ordered some Cokes........It had better be good. Not that I make mistakes. ........... Nobody's perfect not even me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gray Posted March 29, 2012 Report Share Posted March 29, 2012 thats what I suspected, you can't really do a brass plate with equal depth of cut without a nose cone, because the jaws of the vice are never 100% level, ideally you need a dedicated flat bed machine to be able to do this type of work without a nose cone. Ah! but what if you have a flatbed attachment you can clamp into your machine and have a depth profile function in your software? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironplanet uk900 Posted April 4, 2012 Report Share Posted April 4, 2012 thats what I suspected, you can't really do a brass plate with equal depth of cut without a nose cone, because the jaws of the vice are never 100% level, ideally you need a dedicated flat bed machine to be able to do this type of work without a nose cone. Ah! but what if you have a flatbed attachment you can clamp into your machine and have a depth profile function in your software? Then you wouldn't have the problem he has Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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