Full Version: Protective Cutter Tips
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#1]
16 May 2004
To: ALL
Here is a tip utilizing the protective cutter "tips" which come on most, if not all, new cutters. These are the small plastic sleeves which come in a variety of colors. (blue, red, yellow, white)
If you have a workholding "vise" on your engraving machine, (computerized or manual) you've no doubt had occasion to use a variety of "jigs" (workholding devices, usually made of plastic or bakelite) which fit over the "pins" which are located at the top of your workholding vise and are permanently attached to the vise. Jigs can be used to hold jewelry, lighters, watches, and flatware to mention a few items; In short, most items which are not easily held on the flatbed type engraving machines.
Occasionally the "pins" themselves can make an excellent method of holding certain items, such as smaller diameter silverplate trays and medals, which can sometimes slip out of jigs, as well as thicker substrates which can sometimes exceed the height capability of some workholding jigs.
Using the pins as a workholding device can sometimes be detrimental to the item being held. If overtightened, the pins, being made of metal, can sometimes "crimp" the area of the item being held. The object in holding any material in a workholding vise is to apply the least amount of pressure necessary to securely hold your item in place.
This is where the plastic "tips" come into play. Although cutter diameters basically come in three sizes, (1/8, 11/64, and 1/4 inch) the most commonly used cutter diameter is the 11/64". The protective cutter tip for this size cutter fits perfectly over the "pins" of your workholding vise. Having these protective sleeves over the pins of the vise offers a two-fold benefit:
1) You've created a "softer" surface in which to clamp your engravable item.
2) The plastic sleeve provides "traction" which allows you to securely hold your item in place without having to apply undue pressure to a fragile substrate, such as a pewter (very soft metal) tray etc.
Depending on the item being held, the pins can be a better holding method than using jigs which can sometimes ride off of the pins during engraving. This rarely happens, but if the holes on a jig are worn, or if you are really exerting a lot of pressure on a jig, it's a possibility. You can't hold everything in the pins of a workholding vise, but I try to use them whenever applicable.
David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri
DGL Engraving
Port Hueneme, CA