Full Version: Beveler
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#13]
16 Sep 2005
To: Paul (MMENGRAVER) [#11] 17 Sep 2005
A beveler is much more accurate because the back is against the table and the piece is pinched between the table and the cutting bit.
I have two bevelers, for two different thickness materials. It is a great convenience and I could not do without at least one. All of my sign and badge material is prepared in advance and beveled.
From: logojohn [#14]
16 Sep 2005
To: Paul (MMENGRAVER) [#11] 17 Sep 2005
then use the laser for the lettering. I use that method whenever I can. We have 3 rotarys and only 1 laser so time is tight on the laser. I also don't like the sticky, non beveled edges and possible heat-smoke damage from laser cutting.
Some tips.
Place a sacrifice sheet under the material to avoid
cutting into the rotary table. Set the depth to the thickness of the material.
Leave the protective mask on when doing the profile cut to avoid nose cone scratches. I use the nose cone that has snap on changeable tips. I use old damaged ones for cutting with the mask and switch to virgin ones for engraving non laser material.
Laser material especially does not cut as easy as non laser material. If you use the special profile cutters, the chips from laser material get stuck in the groove and even a good vacuum chip removable system does not remove them. This will scratch any non-masked material. You may need extra z axis pressure to stop the nosecone from riding up over the chips and not cutting through. If machine time is not critical do 1 pass 3/4 of the way through and another one the rest of the way. You can also just apply thumb pressure down to keep it in contact.
If you don't mind the look of a wider bevel, just use a
.015 or .020 regular angle flx cutter. The wider groove allows the chips to go up the vaccuum. There is much less chips left behind.
Add about .03 to each dimension when profiling. (adjust by trial and error)*
That will yield a cut blank of the exact size you want.
Take the blanks and place on the grid in the laser. Since the grid was made with the laser the grid is the exact place it will laser the pieces. It is easy to align multiple small badges. *If you tweak it you can just butt the pieces together for an exact fit on the grid.
It also helps on pre made peices that are not exact. Just center on the grid at the dimemsions in your layout. You can also align items at the base that don't have a flat edge at the top.
Below are some previous messages about it.
________
Using a profile cutter on a rotary machine for cutting blanks
http://www.engravingetc.org/forum/index.php?webtag=EE&msg=1557.14
placing pre cut pieces in the laser using a grid:
http://www.engravingetc.org/forum/index.php?webtag=EE&msg=1557.18
From: trophyman (MIKEBERGER) [#15]
19 Sep 2005
To: Paul (MMENGRAVER) [#11] 19 Sep 2005
From: Paul (MMENGRAVER) [#16]
19 Sep 2005
To: trophyman (MIKEBERGER) [#15] 19 Sep 2005
From: Shaddy [#17]
19 Sep 2005
To: Paul (MMENGRAVER) [#16] 19 Sep 2005
Not sure I'm fully understanding... but if you want to cut first, then use the laser to engrave, you could make a template. Use some stock (birch, MDF, acrylic) and use the laser to cut out a shape that's the same as the one you are wanting to engrave. Then you take out that cut piece, and insert the thing you want engraved into the hole. Poof, you just made a template and you know right where the borders are for your laser, and everything is aligned. Just save the file that your laser used, and mark the template so you always know which is the upper left and top, and you can use it with pretty good repeatability.
Shaddy
From: Paul (MMENGRAVER) [#18]
19 Sep 2005
To: Shaddy [#17] 19 Sep 2005
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#19]
20 Sep 2005
To: Paul (MMENGRAVER) [#18] 20 Sep 2005
As far as speed, nothing like a beveler.
As far as beveling an edge 1/2" or smaller, nothing like an engraver. You have to get the technique down in order to bevel a short edge without nicking the corner due to the leading corner wanting to fall into the tiny area where the bit is. (You may want to start by using a small square of about 1x1 to use as a square to push with.)
From: PenTrophy (PENINSULATROPHY) [#20]
20 Sep 2005
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#19] 20 Sep 2005
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#21]
20 Sep 2005
To: ALL
Here's what you do:
Let's say you need a number of 3/8" x 2" plastic plates. Cut a 2" x 12" length from a piece of sheet stock.
Bevel the two 12" long sides.
Guess what? By beveling the 12" widths, before you cut the individual plates, you've already beveled the small widths.
That means, after cutting the individual plates, all that's left to do, is bevel the 2" widths.
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