New guy - trying to find PC controlled engraver

[guymark]

Hello.

I am a fellow in Wellingborough UK, trying to work out a little about the different angraving machines about - and trying to get some information about the sort that I need to be looking at for my application.

In short, I am wanting something to be able to mark-up little plates/tags which are going to be made from anodized aluminium. Basically a dog-tag design and with probably two or three lines of information.

If the project works well, I will need to produce a good number (for me) of these (several dozen a day). As such, although a hand-held engraver and a stencil was great for prototypes, I really want something a little easier/faster for higher use.

I tried to post in the right section, but I couldn't see a generic "PC controlled engraver" or such like.

I am VERY happy with second hand - or economically priced new. I just want to be able to type two or three lines of text onto a PC and then "Print" it to the little machine which then engraves a dog-tag for me. I have a horrible feeling things will not be that simple - but if they are great.

If someone could please point me in the direction of the sort of thing I need it would be really helpful - also any names of good second hand gear which I might be advised to keep an eye out for.

I have no real preference for a "grinding type" engraver or a small laser powered engraver which (I think) are supposed to work well on anodized aluminium and make less noise too.

My knowledge at the moment is REALLY basic - as I am sure you will have realised - and frustratingly, google has not really helped me much - with the single exception of finding this forum.

Kind Regards

Guy


ps: I did try to use "PC" as a tag, but it reckons two letters is too short - which might be why I cannot find anything about PC when I search

[PS_Bond]

Well, this isn't going to be entirely useful, but it'll hopefully help obliquely...

'Round here, the abbreviation PC is used for the Palm Control rather more than Personal Computer - the Palm Control being the controller for Steve's Airgraver. Not quite the sort of beasty you're after, from your description - and it'll take someone who has more experience in that area to comment on what's good. I know the systems are out there - Gravograph do one, for example - but that's about all.

As for too-short searches, this is a common setting for vBulletin - short words are matched more frequently and therefore increase the load on the server. There is a workaround though - use someone else's search engine. http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=pc+...avingforum.com

[bildio]

I have a Umarq Gem RX-4. The current model is the RX-5. I think it will do what you want. Check out the Umarq products.

http://www.u-marq.com/

[guymark]

Thanks for the helpful info from both of you.

I will have a look at the links.

Many thanks

Guy

[Roger B2]

Hi Guy,

The laser engraver is a great option but may be out of your price range. If so, check out pantograph engravers. They drag a needle across the surface of your item guided by letter templates - this creates the "engraving". Hermes is one brand that you could look for.

Take care,
Roger

[guymark]

Thanks Roger, I will have a look and see what I can find about them.

I am sure they would be better than what I have been using (vice, stencil glorified dremel) but was hoping to find something where doing perhaps 20 or 30 would be an hours work and not half a days work.

It is frustrating but about a year ago, I must have struck lucky with a google search term as I found a little unit that was I guess about an 8 inch cube sized unit - which was a basic laser engraver for small items.

I recall a lot of people being quite critical because it was limited in size and speed - but from what I remember, if all it was needed for was to engrave small tags, most folks seemed to think it was ok.

I have trawled through all my history but cannot find it - and cannot recall the make / model other than (I think) it has an "X" and possibly 75 in the title - eg: Model X75etc

I will keep hunting and in the meantime, will have a look for a pantograph system too.


Kind Regards

Mark

[SVD]

There's the EpiLog Laser system - they're similar to what you describe but they don't have anything that small. http://www.epiloglaser.com

[guymark]

Thanks, I will have a look and see what they do - it doesn't HAVE to be small - if a reliable second-hand one is for sale at a price I can afford, then no size concern at all. It is just that I only NEED a small area - anything else is a happy bonus

Thanks for the link, I will see what they are like.

I have spotted some 20w CO2 lasers cutter/engravers on Ebay for about £700 including carriage. Seem suspiciously cheap for the size/power - but interesting nonethless.