Can You Use Conventional Engraving Bits on CNC Machines?

Conventional Engraving Bits for Engraving and Cutting CNC Engraving Machines While some special engraving bits can be used on CNC milling machines for milling metal molds, CNC drilling machines for drilling holes, and CNC machining centers with automatic tool changers for cutting wood and metal, a standard engraving bit can't be used on a CNC lathe in place of a lathe tool.

Engraving Machine Bit

What is an engraving machine bit?

Engraving tool is used for flat engraving, relief engraving, cutting, slotting, drilling and other processing, fixed on the spindle of CNC engraving machine through the tool holder, according to the G-code instruction issued by the CNC controller, it moves along the tool path and engraves patterns or cuts shapes on the substrate.

The cutting speed of the CNC engraving machine is very important, and the engraving machine drill bit manufacturer and model will also affect the processing quality and efficiency. How to choose the right Engraver Drill Bit for your Engraving Machine CNC Machine?

How many types of engraver bits are there?

The most common standard engraver bits on the market today include straight cutting bits, slotting bits, V-groove cutting bits, flush trimming bits, core cutting box bits, edge cutting bits, recess cutting bits, filleting bits, chamfering cutting bits, and specialty engraver bits.

One of the issues that must be faced when making a toolpath is the choice of cutter. The cutting edge angle and width of the cutter have a great influence on the machining accuracy and speed, if the cutting edge angle and width of the cutter are large, the cutting speed is fast, but the graphics obtained may not be fine; if the cutting edge angle and width of the cutter are small, the cutting speed is slow, but the graphics are very fine, and the durability of the cutter is also relatively poor. So it is necessary to master the path as much as possible and choose the most suitable tool. In actual machining, the relationship between machining quality and efficiency should be fully considered, and rough milling cutter, fine milling cutter and fine milling cutter should be used. 3D milling cutter should be applied flexibly, small tools should be used for fine machining, and the setting of tool overlap rate is also important, so the accurate use of tools is the key to success in the actual cutting process.

How to use an engraver's drill in a CNC machine?

Different tools are used for different materials. Here I will introduce you to which type of engraver bits should be used for specific materials:

- Acrylic cutting is recommended to use a single-edged spiral milling cutter, which is characterized by smokeless and odorless processing, fast speed, high efficiency, non-sticky chips, and truly environmentally friendly. Its special manufacturing process ensures that the acrylic surface is smooth, the blade is sharp and will not burst. Processing surface needs to achieve frosted effect, it is recommended to use double-edged 3-edged spiral cutter.

- MDF cutting is recommended to use double-edged large chip removal spiral milling cutter, with 2 high-capacity chip removal grooves, double-edged design, processing of medium and high density board when the tool is well-balanced, no blackening, no smoke, long service life.

- Aluminum plate cutting is recommended to use single-edged aluminum special milling cutter, cutting without sticking knife, fast speed, high efficiency.

- Precision small relief is recommended to use round bottom engraving milling cutter.

- Cork, MDF, logs, PVC, acrylic large deep relief is recommended to use single-edged spiral ball end milling cutter.

- Single- and double-flute up and down cutters are recommended for burr-free cutting.

- Single and double edged straight fluted flat bottom engraving machine bits are recommended for metal engraving.

- 3D milling cutters with high concentricity and sharp edges are used for precision 3D engraving.

- Edge milling cutters are recommended for high density boards and solid wood.

- Double-edged, straight fluted cutters are recommended for plywood and plywood.

- The undercutting cutter makes the upper surface burr-free and wobble-free during machining.

- Tungsten carbide milling cutters with purple-black and hardened titanium plating are recommended for metal mold making.

- Multi-stripe engraver bits are used for roughing out particle board.

- Diamond milling cutters are used for acrylic mirror engraving.

Turning Tools

Turning tools are the most widely used single-edged tools, but also to learn and analyze the basis of various types of tools, turning tools for a variety of lathes can be processed cylindrical, internal holes, end faces, threads, turning grooves and so on. Turning tool according to the structure can be divided into a whole turning tool, welding tool, clamping tool, indexable turning tool and molding tool. Among them, the application of indexable turning tools is becoming more and more widespread, and the proportion of turning tools is gradually increasing.

Turning tool for single-edged tools, turning workpiece shape and a variety of different types, but the name of the part and the role of roughly the same. A good turning tool must have 2 major components: hard shank and sharp blade. The angle of the cutting edge of the tool directly affects the turning effect. Turning tool material and workpiece material is different, the blade angle is also different. There are 4 important angles for lathe tools, i.e. front-back angle, side-back angle, back-bevel angle and side-bevel angle.

Milling Cutter

A milling cutter is an important part of a machine tool A CNC milling machine milling cutter is a rotary tool with one or more teeth for milling. During milling, each tooth intermittently cuts through the rest of the workpiece. Milling cutters are used to mill flat surfaces, steps, flutes, molded surfaces, and cut workpieces.

In a typical milling operation, the cutter in a CNC milling machine moves perpendicular to its own axis, allowing excess material to be removed from the workpiece around the cutter. CNC milling machines are versatile machines that can perform a variety of machining operations. CNC milling machines are used to machine and fabricate parts of various shapes and sizes. Milling tools are essential for accomplishing these tasks.

In order to make milling a versatile machining process, there is a wide range of milling cutters available in the market. These milling cutters come in a variety of sizes, shapes and materials. Some milling cutters are made of high speed steel (HSS), while others have carbide tips.

The most common milling cutters include end mills, roughing cutters, peripheral milling cutters, side milling cutters, face milling cutters, concave milling cutters, thread milling cutters, ball end milling cutters, and fly cutters.

The choice of cutter diameter varies greatly depending on the product and production lot. The choice of cutter diameter depends mainly on the equipment specifications and the size of the workpiece to be machined.

For finishing, the best option is to use ground inserts. This kind of insert has better dimensional accuracy, so the positioning accuracy of the cutting edge during milling is higher, and better machining accuracy and surface roughness can be obtained.

It is better to use pressed inserts for roughing, which can reduce the machining cost.

The dimensional accuracy and sharpness of pressed inserts are worse than that of ground inserts, but the edge strength of pressed inserts is better, and they are resistant to impact when roughing, and can withstand large depth of cut and large feed.

Sharp, large rake angle inserts can be used for milling sticky materials such as stainless steel. Through the cutting action of sharp inserts, the friction between the insert and the substrate is reduced and chips can leave the front of the insert faster.

Whether choosing a milling cutter on a CNC milling machine or an ordinary milling machine, it is necessary to consider the material and hardness of the milling cutter, as well as the specifications of the milling cutter such as the flute length, cutting edge length, cutting edge diameter, shank diameter, and so on. Ordinary milling machine is usually suitable for the selection of high-speed steel milling cutter, while the CNC milling machine gives priority to the use of carbide tools.

Things to consider

- The selection of the milling cutter requires that the tool collet is the right size, the collet has a cross-section, the bore is not deformed enough to be round, the collet is worn for a long time, and the bore has a taper, which is likely to cause vibration of the tool shank.

- The tool shank should be matched with the collet and be able to move smoothly in and out of the collet. The tool shank should be able to be firmly put into the collet and tightened. If the tool collet is used for too long and the bore is deformed, it should be replaced with a new one immediately.

- Frequently check the toughness and sharpness of the tool, if the tool is found to be blunt or broken edge should be replaced immediately.

- CNC milling cutter requires that the thickness of the substrate should not exceed the maximum cutting thickness of the tool, otherwise it will cause the tool to break or the cutting effect is not ideal.

- For the carving and cutting of different materials, different tools should be selected, and reasonable modification of the cutting and carving speed.

- Engraving machine work process, high-speed rotation of the tool is very sharp, pay attention to the body as far as possible not to close to the engraving machine cutter head, especially try not to cross the wide overalls, women should be wrapped hair in case of accidents.

- Working Speed CNC Engraving Machine Drill Should be balanced and the cutting speed should be as consistent as possible.

- It is best to use professional cleaners to clean the tools.

- Apply grease to prevent the tool from rusting when the engraver drill is not in use.

- Do not sharpen or change the shape of the blade by yourself.