How We do it....
We use a "New Hermes" Computerized Engraving Machine to do our tags. The engraver resembles an over-sized printer and is run by our laptop computer, and it can do all sorts of fancy script. It is transportable, although not really "portable". Note that means we can do engraving at onsite events like Girl Scout celebrations, events, and camps, sports/field day events, military and company picnics, and at schools and conventions. The engraver is quite stout in its build... It's base is cast iron and it weighs fifty pounds!!!
This unit is superb in its application for engraving on small items. To do our engravings, we use a diamond tipped graver, sometimes we have it spinning at 10,000 rpm, and sometimes we have it stopped. When it is stopped, it is considered to be "scratch" engraving, as the diamond cuts out the metal of the object being engraved. It all depends on how we want it to look when done, or the materials we are engraving. For other applications, we use a carbide tipped cutter or a flat cutter for softer plastics.
Here we are showing the engraving done for the Girl Scout Council of Northwest Georgia's Summer 2002 "Trippin' USA" . Each tag is placed into the tag holder and tightened down to keep it from moving. The computer sends the image from a path file derived from a vector image. A four line text engraving takes about 2 to 3 minutes, with some our detailed engraved pictures taking almost ten minutes!!
We can engrave almost anything that fits in the chuck.... I have even engraved my wife's flashlight cap with her favorite logo!!
Sometimes the diamond tip on our engraver spindle seems to last forever, and sometimes things just go wrong. If the engraving spindle travels off the item being engraved, then back on, it will destroy the diamond. That will ruin my whole day as those can be quite expensive!
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Fly Fishing Rod Case and Luggage Tags
Mark and Kathryn Curtis
3902 Lansing Ct
Kennesaw GA 30144-7200
Telephone: (770) 592-2605
FAX: (770) 592-1539
E-Mail:
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© 2002 Mark and Kathryn Curtis, ARES