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/diy/ - Do It Yourself

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1184546 No.1184546 [Reply] [Original]

Been doing sculpting and engravings for larger casts, but I've begun thinking about doing it for jewelry. Does anyone have a recommendation for a laser engraver or desktop cnc machine? The pieces I indent on making will be no larger than say, 2x2 inches. I could practice carving, but somehow I don't think I'll get good enough to do pic related.

>> No.1184772

>>1184546
12 hour bump.

>> No.1184883

>>1184546
check out etching, it doesn't require equipment. Otherwise you're looking at metal cutting devices which get grit everywhere and needs workspace

>> No.1185137
File: 47 KB, 640x480, cutters.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
1185137

>>1184546
look up electric etching. all you need is masking (for the part) a couple nine volts alligator clips saltwater and a sponge. obviously better equipment equals better results. here's a link to the first video i found.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTInRaM2eTw
if electro isn't your thing I've heard ferric chloride is similar, but less user involvement. its often used to etch one-off circuit boards. also early link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtK7Erd3Hn8
if your working with no-corrosive metals either tiny chisels, or pony up the $300-$∞ for a cnc machine like this one. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hobby-Desktop-3-Axis-Mill-Small-CNC-Machine-DIY-PCB-Milling-Engraving-Router-Kit-/111891372282.. cheers mate.

>> No.1185141

>>1185137
or a dremel / non-dremel dremal (small rotary tool with interchangeable bits, hand held), but it takes almost as much skill a cutters and it makes a mess.
https://www.amazon.com/Genesis-GRT2103-40-Rotary-Tool-Accessories/dp/B00885ZI06/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8 this one is shit but you get the idea

>> No.1185260

Op here, thanks for the replies. I feel stupid, because I see I didn't explain fully.

I'm wanting to do the engraving on the wax blanks I'm using to do the casting. Any recommendations for that?

>> No.1185315

>>1185260
And the detail you'll want at 2x2 inches is probably cost prohibitive for a machine to make.

It's not like you can't practice and melt down the wax and try again.

Just git gud.

>> No.1185318

>>1184883
It's not really possible to achieve super fine detail with etching. So for putting your name on a stainless coffee tumbler, it's great. Trying to make jewelery, not so much.

>> No.1185352
File: 442 KB, 787x1000, etched.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
1185352

>>1185318
wut

>> No.1185354
File: 529 KB, 1530x990, graver.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
1185354

>>1185260
a graver is the tool used to engrave metal, you can use them for wax too.

>> No.1185519
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1185519

>>1185352
Ya, I think that kind of looks like shit.

Pic related is what engraving can look like. You could never even get in the same county as that ballpark if you're doing electro-etching.

>> No.1185593

>>1185519
No one is going to get near that ballpark without years of practice anyway.

>> No.1185636

>>1185593
No part of what you just said challenges any part of what I have said.

Regardless of what you just said, the point remains that in comparison etching looks like fucking garbage in comparison to actual engraving on small surfaces.