 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
| HomeDiscussion Groups General ModelsRailroadsRocketsRadio Controlled Air ModelsHelicoptersLand ModelsWater ModelsModelGeeks.com Contact UsLink To UsSearch & Site Map |
Model Forum / General / Railroads / June 2004Laser Etching Brass
Can anyone recommend, from personal first-hand knowledge, any company or individual to do custom, laser etching on brass? I have had several dealings with companies and individuals I found on the Internet and thus far I have not found any that I will go forward with my project with. I have CAD drawings ready in any format and only need very limited run....two or three 8X10 sheets at most....but it is highly detailed. This combination of requirements has proven either too daunting or undo-able to all I have contacted so far. Thanks for any input. Biggest problem is the production run is going to be quite expensive as there is almost nothing but setup time with your project. Finding a small shop where they do that sort of stuff regularly is the best thing. I'll also note that chemical milling may be better for you. -- Bob May Losing weight is easy! If you ever want to lose weight, eat and drink less. Works every time it is tried! Precisely! That's what I'mooking for and not finding! Three places on the Internet took a look at my etching templates and offered to do them in hardwood but not metal. Two others took the plans and never returned my e-mail. I have worked on this project for a very long time and have made several attempts to create these locomotives using chemical and photo etching processes to no avail. It would appear that laser is the only way to achieve the level of detail I desire. I can buy the laser machine that will do the job, they run $10K, Buy It Now on Ebay or direct from the manufacturer. however, an hour after I got it and made my runs I would no longer have use for it. I have to believe there is someone out there that can do the work. Thanks for your response. >Biggest problem is the production run is going to be quite expensive as >there is almost nothing but setup time with your project. Finding a small >shop where they do that sort of stuff regularly is the best thing. >I'll also note that chemical milling may be better for you. >> Biggest problem is the production run is going to be quite expensive >> as there is almost nothing but setup time with your project. >> Finding a small shop where they do that sort of stuff regularly is >> the best thing. I'll also note that chemical milling may be better >> for you. > Precisely! That's what I'mooking for and not finding! Three places > on the Internet took a look at my etching templates and offered to do [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > believe there is someone out there that can do the work. Thanks for > your response. As for chemical milling, you may have a look at http://www.photo-etch.co.uk/. I've had Photo Etch Consultants do etching for me several times based on my AutoCAD drawings, some of it rather intricate work. The only errors were those that I made myselv preparing the artwork.  SignatureBest regards Erik Olsen http://www.modelbaneteknik.dk/ >>> Biggest problem is the production run is going to be quite expensive >>> as there is almost nothing but setup time with your project. [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] >intricate work. The only errors were those that I made myselv preparing >the artwork. They do it for a lot of the British etched brass kit manufacturers. Quality artwork produces quality kits and quality engines built from them. Randy, I not sure that a laser (at the price range you are quoting) could etch metal. I have a friend that has a (10K) machine and it only does wood/certain plastic. If they could do metal I sure it would be in the .001 or .002 range. Setup is not a problem and is done quickly. Load the software and adjust the head. Probably less than 15 minutes. "I not sure that a laser (at the price range you are quoting) could etch metal. I have a friend that has a (10K) machine and it only does wood/certain plastic. If they could do metal I sure it would be in the .001 or .002 range." I believe these lasers can etch *into* metal but they can't etch *through* the metal. That would have to been done chemically. Eric Laser cutting of steel for items such as frames is commonplace in model engineering. I have a set of frames for a 5" gauge GWR Metro Tank laser cut out of 3mm thick steel plate. The laser certainly cuts right through the material. For smaller scale models chemically etching brass or nickle silver sheet is common here in the UK. There are hundreds of etched brass loco, coach and wagon kits produced in all scale from 2mm to 10mm scales. > "I not sure that a laser (at the price range you are quoting) could > etch [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Eric Randy, I'm sure I was told some time back that laser cutting of brass is not done due to its high reflectivity which has a detrimental effect on the laser. Bob. >I'm sure I was told some time back that laser cutting of brass is not done >due to its high reflectivity which has a detrimental effect on the laser. From a quantum physical point of view, every metal absorbs light at some wavelengths, reflects at most others. The trick is finding a laser whose frequency matches the metal absorption frequency. But again, I'm no physics major. Jay Americans have the best legislature money can buy. Unfortunately it's corporate money. |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.