Engraving via Torchmate?

[1RUSTYRIG]

Anyone doing it? What are you using for the engraver?

I kinda got interested in a laser etcher but the cost scared the crap out of me ($8K and up) so I was thinking a torchmate might be the answer.

How detailed can you get with these units? Any pics on products you have done?

Sorry for being so generic in the request...

[HardcorewannabeXJ]

We have our Plate Marking attachment, which engraves into the material about .03" wide and about half that deep. We use it for all kinds of things, from bend lines and part identification, to intricate detailed artwork. If you check out the "Let's see what you have Built with your Torchmate" thread, there are a lot of good examples of this tool.

[Torchmate]

Here is a video of our Plate Marker.

YouTube - Torchmate CNC Plate Marker and Plasma Cutter

[Kamikaze]

PM sent.

[MQYJ]

I'm curious as to what the settings on the plate marker are on that video. On mine it seems to be a bit slower to drop to the material and then has a bit of a delay which will leave a bit of a divot. Also, when I was running it at a higher feedrate, it would leave a not so smooth engraved line. I can't really see what the up close line looks like in the video but it appears to be pretty smooth.

[PAToyota]

Considering the price of the plate marker, what are the thoughts of using the router setup to engrave at about half the cost? I realize you'd run into the issue of not being able to do both the router and plasma with that setup - or maybe you could?

[StinkBug]

I use my plate marker a LOT, and I love it. If you do a search for the "Becca Webster KOH 2009" buildup thread you'll see a bunch of use, and also in the Mishka build up thread.

MQYJ there are a couple settings that it sounds like you need to dial in. One is the delay, which holds the tool in place to allow time for it to drop. If that delay is too long it'll make a divot. I cant remember where this setting is in the TM driver, but I know the tech support guys can tell you real quick. You'll also wanna play with air pressure and feedrates. Sometimes mine is a little slow to drop if my compressor is low on air, or if the carriage needs to be lubed up. Since I have mine set to start moving pretty quick sometimes it'll miss the first part of a line if the marker drops too slow. With a bit of practice and getting used to things I've got it pretty figured out now though.

Just like the Plasma there are a number of variables that really just take some time for the operator to get dialed in, but once you do you can make some really cool stuff.

[MQYJ]

I've noticed that as well Dallas. The first time I had the carriage get slow I was baffled because it worked two days prior and then it wouldn't drop at all. I think that the biggest problem that caused that was cutting without any ventilation or a water bed. That amount of plasma dust is just not good for anything in the shop. I really need to probably tear it all down, clean it real well and lube it to get it back to 100%.

What I did find out the hard way is that it is very difficult to get it dialed in on Aluminum. There is a fine line where it makes a real nice line and then a little too much action on the engraver or too slow of a feed rate and it will snag the material in a second. That's a real life sucker when it's close to the end of a long engraving program.
I agree that it is all in the operator. I just need to take the time to really play with it and get things dialed in. And then finish that with actually documenting the settings. lol. How clean of a line are you getting on steel? Is it a nice uniform cut into the material or do you get a bit of chatter marks? Maybe I'm expecting too much but I really think I can get a lot better with it.

[HardcorewannabeXJ]

The delay you are looking for is under Configuration - Programming - M-Code Definitions, where you should find an M-Code for your Plate Marker On. There is a delay value in this string, which can be sent down to 1/100th of a second (even though it only displays 1/10th and rounds up).

Down pressure varies, but it should just be enough to come down and touch the material, not enough to come down and hit it hard. If it's really smacking the material down when it hits, I would lighten up on the down pressure until it doesn't go down to the material consistently. Then add pressure (testing via the Auxiliary menu with the pen off) until it comes down consistently just pressing on the material.

Feedrates, I usually vary between 50-80 ipm with the above amount of down pressure. The slower you go the more pronounced the line will be.

PAToyota, the problem with Z axis engraving is that the material has to be perfectly flat underneath the tool, because the Z axis moves to a depth and stays at that depth for the entire program. The Plate marker with it's Pneumatic ram can float over the material with a consistent down pressure leaving an even marking across everything.

[guidolyons]

Originally Posted by MQYJ

What I did find out the hard way is that it is very difficult to get it dialed in on Aluminum. There is a fine line where it makes a real nice line and then a little too much action on the engraver or too slow of a feed rate and it will snag the material in a second. That's a real life sucker when it's close to the end of a long engraving program.

Since aluminum tends to gall pretty easily, would a light cutting oil along the path help?

I've been dreaming and lusting after a Torchmate for a long time...maybe one day I'll have the space, time, and $$ for one. Until then, I'll have to live vicariously through you lucky bastards that have one. Dallas, you do some work.