I asked this awhile ago and I ended up going with the Etch-o-matic device to engrave serial numbers and put calibers on barrels.

It works ok in some instances but making stencils and getting it to look somewhat professional can be a challenge. In tight spaces, for lack of better word, it sucks. You can only go down to 10 point font size and if a customer wants a HK lower serial numbered or their class III info on it, it is very challenging getting it to engrave properly.

So I have been looking at laser engravers. Alot I find don't seem to be able to work unless the metal is flat and thin. But I find others that look like they would work on round or other weirdly shaped things.

Does anyone use one or know anything about them. I don't know what the minimum power of the laser should be and if the fiber lasers or gas lasers are better. I don't want to spend thousands on one. Would like to stay under under a grand if I can.

Thanks for any help you can give.

I would be using it to apply serial numbers, calibers/guages, my business name etc. on barrels and receivers.

How deeply will the lasers cut into the action? ATF requires .003".

Those etch type engravers are crap. Get a New Hermes. Old school, rotary engraving; as deep as you want to go.
Sometimes you can get them from jewelers who have now gone to CNC mills. Little ones.

We have a laser printer that prints on any material including metal.

Expensive around $100,000.

Works absolutely great and you can adjust the depth.

Machines

The one we have is big enough to fit a barrel inside for printing on.

I paid a pittance for this laser engraving work on one of my Colts.



I am still astounded by the quality.

We are fortunate to live in an age of amazements.

Not sure if this idea is suitable - but knife makers often use the cheap/low power laser engravers to cut the pattern/text out of a masking layer (eg nail varnish or paint) then follow up with an electro etcher.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
I paid a pittance for this laser engraving work on one of my Colts.



I am still astounded by the quality.

We are fortunate to live in an age of amazements.

Mike have you got it up and shooting yet

These bullets were printed on our laser printer.

Our long suffering driver, Lema, always picks the round for me to chamber as I get out of the truck to go hunting.

He picks one from my ammo belt.

This has been a tradition for many years.

I would like to see the look on his face when he picks a round with his name on it!

The other two are our trackers.

The box is also made here, it fits 50 Walterhog bullets.

Was asked for some 375 caliber bullets by the ammo factory we have here.

Sent them a few boxes.

They were very impressed with the box, as well as the bullets.

quote:

Those etch type engravers are crap. Get a New Hermes. Old school, rotary engraving; as deep as you want to go.
Sometimes you can get them from jewelers who have now gone to CNC mills. Little ones.

That's the path I would take, if I needed an engraving machine.

We had a Hermes before.

Worked great.

But the laser is in a different league altogether!

Ours is both a CO2 and Fiber, which means it prints on anything.

Leather, wood and other soft materials it will also cut.

It works through CorelDraw.

You can set it to print on several, similar items at the same time.

All you need is set up the items to be printed.

We use soft rubber mats with small studs we got from Amazon to put items on.

Examples are USB sticks for promotion.

I put drone videos from the desert on them to pass along to people I meet when traveling.

There is no limit to what you can do with it.

We also have a rotating attachment where you can print on circular items.

For the small shop, the New Hermes is hard to beat. You can set it up for rotary engraving, or diamond drag. When I bought mine, years ago, I made a simple fixture to hold barreled actions, where I can mark barrels and actions, and I added a stop, so the engraving is a uniform depth. Simple mods that made it more 'user friendly', and the marking looks professional.

No self promotion, but it's hard to beat hand cut lettering.

Beautiful!

Off Topic, is Camp Verde still a hotbed for homebuilt aircraft?

Sure, Laser engravers do great work, and so do hand engravers,
But I ain't paying for either of them.

LOL!

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
Those etch type engravers are crap. Get a New Hermes. Old school, rotary engraving; as deep as you want to go.
Sometimes you can get them from jewelers who have now gone to CNC mills. Little ones.

Yes after finding some answers to my questions this is route I am going. I found a few on craigslist but not sure I want drive 4 hours. I will keep looking. Actually I found a few CNC Desktop 3D engraver. Just need a computer to run the software and its about the size of a small router table.

For those interested it is recommended the engraver needs to a fiber laser and at least 30 watts. 50 watts is better. Cheapest quality one I found is $4500. There are cheaper ones but reviews on durabliity and length of service are not good.