Perhaps you’re new to metal engraving or intrigued by the process of creating texts and images on metal surfaces. You’ve come to the correct spot. Metals are ideal for engraving because of their robust and flexible nature.
Engraving has been around for a long time. It wasn’t until the middle ages that metalworkers began using engraving to create beautiful and ornamental impressions on metals. Apart from artistic ability, here are some hints regarding how to engrave metals without making mistakes, especially if you’re a novice.
Know Your Tools
You’ll need to have the appropriate equipment in order to engrave with traditional methods. If you’re new to engraving, one of the first things you should know is how to avoid metal engraving mistakes. The tools themselves are known as “engraving tools.” There are many different types of malleable metal, such as copper, brass, and so on. Knowing the equipment that can cut or shape them will assist you in creating stunning patterns.
The graver, or burin, is one device utilised in creating engraving designs on metals. This tool is manufactured of steel and other metal alloys much harder than the metal you wish to etch. The size and shape of the burin is determined by the diameter and width of your material. Depending on the sophistication of your design, you may need to combine various burns.
Metal Texture
You should check the hardness of your metal before starting any design on it. The texture of the metal you want to “play” with is one of the most common causes of engraving mistakes since the burin may break if the texture is too strong. When the burin breaks, even little flaws are problematic to control on a metal surface. To engrave metal using traditional methods you’ll need a high level of expertise. The Engraving People employ people who have this expertise.
Engraving by laser
The use of lasers to engrave metal is a contemporary technology that offers higher precision. Laser engraving uses a high-temperature laser beam to evaporate or melt the surface of your selected metallic substance, leaving a visible and tangible cavity or impression. It’s simple to make once you’ve got a concept and can use CorelDraw Photoshop or Autocad to construct the design. However, there are various ways to avoid making mistakes.
- Calibrate the laser
Regardless of the material, you should test and calibrate your machine with different cutting speeds, cut depths, line thicknesses, and laser powers. This will help you avoid needless errors and materials wastage.
- Smoke stain
While this is more prevalent with wood, laser engraving is generally a heat and smoke-emitting operation, making the smoke stain a typical source of the mistake. Avoid this problem by covering the surface of your metal with masking tape. Don’t worry, lasers will go through the tape and produce a cleaner product without smoke dust.
- Hire a professional engraving service.
If you’re a novice and want something more beautiful than an amateur design, The Engraving People can help you with your engravings. They can work with a wide range of materials, including metal.
