Engraving – Methods and Definitions
A DIN standard does not yet exist for the definition. However, it identifies a specific machining process for decorating or labelling of objects.
Engraving refers to a cutting work technique, which is mainly used for decoration or labelling on surfaces of different materials using an engraving tool which is made of solid carbide in most cases.
This was before industrialisation and the consequent forthcoming mechanisation of most craft, a simple craft operation. It had no rotating but stationary tools for engraving. Therefore, today, there are different types of engraving.
Today, engravings are made with manual engraving machines or with CNC engraving machines. The CNC engraving machine processes the milling paths which the CAD-CAM Software creates from the drawing and transmits to the control device. The entire engraving is computer-based and less error-prone than the manual engraving. The Reproduction with a CNC machine is quicker and more precise than using a manual engraving device. It is also worth mentioning that you don’t have to stand by the workpiece during the engraving. In the meantime, you can do other work which is significant for increasing your production.
Various types of engraving techniques
Engraving with a rotary tool
This engraving-technique was developed with the introduction of mechanical equipment. A tool called Engraving or Milling Graver (usually single-edged without cutting angle and clearance angle at the cutting edge) is brought in the rotation and immersed in the material to be engraved to remove material (usually only a few hundredths of a millimetre). Materials with different coloured layers (engraving plastics, chrome-plated brass plates etc.) incur as multicoloured engravings for signs etc.
Also suitable for engraving are grinding pins with diamond dust stocking for glass engraving and metal engraving, in which case the surfaces are roughened only.
Engraving with fixed tools
In this technology, a fixed diamond is used as a scoring tool to carve the surface of metals, for example, a few hundredths of a millimetre. Inscriptions, decorations, ornaments and signs on metals such as copper, silver, brass, steel, stainless steel or glass and stone can be created.
The conventional hand-engravings
In classical hand-engraving, a tool with a wooden handle is used. This usually slightly curved tool has a very sharp blade with which it is possible to score the most materials except glass. The conventional hand engraving is still often used when thinning letters in gravestones etc., for example when pure handwork is required.
Electric-engravings
The electric-engraving is related to EDM (electrical discharge machining) and welding. Here, a metal pin acting as an anode is made to oscillate to the cathode when current is applied. The cathode here is the material that is also wired accordingly to the engraving module. The current flowing between the cathode and anode burns the material at the point to be engraved. The oscillation of the engraving pin is caused by the interaction between the magnet armature and an electromagnet. The disadvantage is that you can only engrave conductive materials. The advantage is easily recognisable engravings on hard metals or HSS steels such as saw blades, milling cutters and other tools.
Laser-engravings
The most modern of all techniques today is the laser-engraving in which the material to be engraved is evaporated by the hot laser produced by the high temperatures of the laser beam at the machining point. By using the laser temperature control, it is now also possible to “engrave” semitones.