Drag engraving tool in UK

[stk2008]

Hi all I am after a drag engraving tool in the UK.

It needs to fit a 1/4" router Collete.

I want to engrave all types of materials eg

Aluminum
Plastic
Glass
Perspex (plastic I suppose)

I have seen one supplier in the UK and he wants £50 this may be what they all charge but I was hoping some one who lives in the UK could link me to a some where that does them and has used the tool successfully.

Thanks

[louieatienza]

I used to work for a large awards company where we did a lot of drag engraving. You would need a holder that has an adjustable spring load, unless maybe your table is absolutely perfect. Even then, you may be drag engraving something like lacquered brass, where there may be slight differences in finish thickness, and without that "spring" you'll get inconsistent lines. The ones I used were all 1/8", but you might be able to sleeve them if your collet is 1/4". Also comes in diamond tip.

[DMF_TomB]

i have made spring engravers that take a carbide point usually sold for a Dremel vibrating type engraver. points cost $2 to $4 each. usually just make it so carbide point is a press fit and or use a loctite type adhesive, could be metal bonding glue or the stuff so screws don't vibrate loose.
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if you want a cheap and easy spring engraver use a spring tapping guide.
Tap Guide at Wholesale Tool
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there are 2 main versions and the cheaper $4 one should work ok. the point is not as hard as carbide but is hard enough to practice with. you could always make a replacement point that could have a Dremel carbide point in it's tip.
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i am not aware of one with a 1/4" shank, you would need to make an adapter.
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by the way a spring engraver i use, i do not rotate (spindle stopped). a spring engraver made for rotating is more complicated to make. usually if a non rotating spring engraver is not making deep enough lines i just use a 1/16" carbide ball end mill...... but a spring engraver is more tolerant of height variations in the part where a ball end mill will show different line widths if part has different height (z axis)
..... the expensive spring engravers usually have a collet to hold bit and can be rotated to they take a ball end mill too. if you tried to make one you will find cutting threads, splines / keyways and grinding hardened steel is a lot of labor and expense.
.....practice with a cheaper one but if you do much professional quality work at production speeds you will find the expensive ones are reasonably priced for their performance qualities.

[stk2008]

Yes my table is spot on but some of the things I want to engrave wont be.

I know that it needs to be spring loaded but would like to know where I can get one for a good price in the UK?.

Thanks for the reply.

Thanks for the info but the link is for US and I aint importing no point tbh.

[louieatienza]

The machines we had were New Hermes, which I think is Gravograph now. I believe they have office in the UK as well...

[Bob Shaw]

Do not drag engrave in a router with a max collet size smaller than 1/2".

The router bearings will be ruined by the heavy unilatteral side loads imposed by the drag engraving process.

Remove the router and make a split collet for your machine to take the drag engraver.

BR,

Bob.

[louieatienza]

Another site to check out...

vhf camfacture AG ? Carbide tools, diamond tools, engraving tools, milling tools, cutters, special tools

[DMF_TomB]

for a cheap drag engraver to try use a tapping guide (pointed end)
Chronos Ltd Engineering Tools
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in the UK i believe there are many model engineering stores for making steam engines and other machines.
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with the tapping guide you can sharpen the end or make the plunger part with a carbide tipped point. i use Dremel carbide engraver replacement points which are about $3 and are originally made for Dremel vibrating type engraver