I am diamond drag engraving silver, using a 130* diamond, and was wondering what spacing should be used between the tool paths for it to look proper and provide the right "shimmer".

Using a vision 1212, with proximity sensor on, slow xy speed.

The 130* diamond gives a slightly wider line than the 120*, but will not go as deep so you might end up with a width/depth of only a little more than 120* in soft brass.

Using that as a basis, I would guess that .010 to .015 would give the best appearance.

Do a test at .007, .010, and .015 to see the result. Maybe even do one at .020 just for kicks. my guess is that .015 will give good grooves and lands, looking the best.

As anything else the type of silver will make a difference. Like all other metals, silver will harden when rolled to thickness, and may be annealed to relieve the hardness/stress which will bring it back to dead soft. Any alloys in it will change the hardness. Sterling silver is 93.5% pure, 6.7% alloys.

Silver is an unusual metal in that it can be stretched to 1000 times its length before hardening to the point of breaking. I would guess steel is about 1.5 times and copper probably somewhere about 5.

Let us know the best spacing results.

Philadelphia, PA (Really Bensalem)

When you finally understand it completely... it changes.

Thanks for the info... I may not have been clear....

The problem lies in when I am "filling" an engraving. It has shimmer to it at certain angles, but at other angles, it doesn't have the shimmer, and looks quite dull and unattractive.

This is something that I haven't had an issue with in using my Roland engraver- it shimmers from all directions... never a "dull" look to it.

Perhaps I am not engraving deep enough?

I am engraving in .999 pure silver, so it's relatively soft material.

Sample engraving attached.

Are all the fill lines engraved in the same direction?

If some of the fill engraves, top to bottom and other segments of the image engrave in the opposite direction, you'll see bright and dull parts of the image, while viewing it at the same angle.

Is the diamond new?

Sometimes, a new diamond is "too" pointed and the engraving can feel rough to the touch.

That could also affect the way the light bounces off of the image.

The engraving looks sort of grainy. Maybe too much pressure compared to the Roland, maybe too close together. Maybe a different batch of silver also.

Just check for all differences that there might be between the machines. Bits, speed, pressure, direction of cuts, etc.

Philadelphia, PA (Really Bensalem)

When you finally understand it completely... it changes.

increase your speed to medium, change your fill style to reverse spiral and increase the spring tension on your spindle. this will give you not only more shine but a neat dimensional effect.

DS

Thanks for the tips. I haven't had a chance to mess with it yet, as I've been busy with business :-) 

I thought that the depth (tension) might not be enough so it's been a shallow engraving.

DS -

I've tried what you said, but it isn't working. I have proximity sensors on.

I have increased the depth of engraving as well, to no avail. the same funky shimmer in one direction, but dull in another direction.

Bad tip, perhaps?