Engraving: a modders "How To" - bit-tech.net Forums

The_Pope · 17th Jun 2005, 13:40

Quote:

If you think engraving is just for having your name etched on a trophy, think again: most materials can be engraved and it can produce some great modding results. With a little practise, anyone with the time and inclination can add an Engraving badge to their modding armoury. Sit back and relax as engraving extraordinaire Micke Gustafsson shows you how...

http://www.bit-tech.net/modding/2005..._modder/1.html

RotoSequence · 17th Jun 2005, 15:11

Wonderful guide

Da Dego · 17th Jun 2005, 17:02

Beautiful! I love it.

Excellent and well written.

This makes a rather difficult subject look almost easy! A great addition to the modding page.

dire_wolf · 17th Jun 2005, 18:59

Wow, I am very impressed with some of the work on that link, the engraved table and the cs pc definately deserve respect

hughwi · 17th Jun 2005, 19:10

Nice guide, thanks

jezmck · 17th Jun 2005, 19:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Da Dego

Excellent and well written.

This makes a rather difficult subject look almost easy! A great addition to the modding page.

Ditto all that.

Bit needs more guides like this.

Atomic · 17th Jun 2005, 19:49

Ah this is the type of content I first came here for

matrixops · 17th Jun 2005, 20:13

The guide is really good, makes me want to test out engraving some of my scrap plexi.

I don't want to be one to criticize, but perhaps a bit more detail on the techniques, I am especially interested in the frosting technique. But, maybe this is just the primer I need to practice on my own.

MatrixOps

Etacovda · 18th Jun 2005, 02:25

id like to see some close ups of the 'bart' engraving w/o lighting too

very nice article, this is what is worth coming to bit-tech for.

Cowinacape · 19th Jun 2005, 03:23

Nice handy l'il guide there! Great work once again Bit Tech!

GoTaLL · 19th Jun 2005, 16:38

Xen0phobiak · 21st Jun 2005, 09:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoTaLL

There are some other ways to colour the plexi/acrylic too. You can use "sun film" or “Limo tint” that is used on cars. However, if you use that on the outside of the case that will be prone to scratching and if you do it on the engraved side it is almost impossible not to get air bubbles in the film.

If you use a pin to ***** the air bubbles behind the engraved parts of the design, the holes will let the air out and you wont see them.

good guide

GoTaLL · 23rd Jun 2005, 20:38

hopefully it helps somebody.. lots of misstakes can be reduced if you get help from the start

Blademrk · 23rd Jun 2005, 23:08

I bought a cordless dremal about 3 months back and had a quick go at etching on some scrap acrylic board. It's great fun and very easy to get into (inspiration is the hardest part) but it can also be very messy - be prepared to have a lot of shavings to clean up...

Skaal-tel · 26th Jun 2005, 04:33

I have a question for the author.. or perhaps anyone else who might know!

I can see how this would work for a tinted setup- but if for instance you were to try to light one of the back-painted and etched pieces- would the etching still stand out when lit or no? since the etching would be on the backside, would I only get a panel lit on the edges? or would the leds / cathodes shine through and light up the etched surfaces?

oh .. and.. if you were to etch the front of the panel and tint the backside you'd get the same black w/ etch effect. It wouldn't be in reverse either! heheh.

Sea Shadow · 26th Jun 2005, 06:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skaal-tel

......oh .. and.. if you were to etch the front of the panel and tint the backside you'd get the same black w/ etch effect. It wouldn't be in reverse either! heheh.

In my limited experience with etching, if you do that they don't show up so well. Where as if you light them up from the edge with the etched side facing away from you it picks up the light really well.

GoTaLL · 26th Jun 2005, 07:24

when painted and if you paint it so the light wont go thru the paint you can put the light aprox anywere, but if you dont paint its kinda annoying to have the lights where you can see them cause then the engravement wont be what you see it will be the lights.. "kinda like looking in to a lightbulb and hoping to see the wires

".
best thing to do is to try, put the piece in place and put the lights on a temporary place and try what you think looks best..

zmodder · 19th Jul 2005, 20:33

will the flex shaft fit on a dremel clone? like a dremel unit from mastercraft or somethin? or does it only have to be dremel?

GoTaLL · 19th Jul 2005, 20:57

i really dont know, but some other brands have their own flex shafts ..

Redbeaver · 15th Feb 2006, 16:01

Smoothness?

GoTall, how do you smooth large areas? Like for example i tried to engrave good round chunk on my case. I outline the circle, then I do sweeping motion (like filling blank paper with pencil) to clear the circle area.

but this gives me "stripes" texture! i see the spiderman article, on page 2, you finished the "solid area" of the smoke cloud behind spidey, but its still rough and has that stripe texture i mentioned above. On page 3, you "decided to fill the smoke cloud", and u did "fill" it and now its smooth

so my question is, i guess, how do you properly "fill" solid areas?

Thanks GoTall

edit: on another note, my next project is a .8 SECC steel case. black paint, but its still silver underneath. I engrave plexies before but i never engrave metals. Im getting the 7144/7134 dremel bit which is the diamond engraving bits. this is ok?

17th Jun 2005, 15:11	#2
RotoSequence Lazy Lurker Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: 'States Posts: 4,533	Wonderful guide __________________ Technology Schmecnology

17th Jun 2005, 17:02	#3
Da Dego Brett Thomas Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Cleveland, OH USA Posts: 3,906	Beautiful! I love it. Excellent and well written. This makes a rather difficult subject look almost easy! A great addition to the modding page. __________________ "Frankly that seems overkill. iluvtrees2 arguing with spec is the intellectual equivalent of a bunny rabbit taking on a pissed-off lion." - Nexxo

17th Jun 2005, 18:59	#4
dire_wolf Revelation Machine Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: UK Posts: 2,120	Wow, I am very impressed with some of the work on that link, the engraved table and the cs pc definately deserve respect __________________ Marching Into History, Marching Into War, Marching Into History To Function As A Whore "Don't Fear Citizens! TAD KNOWS HIS RAID!"

17th Jun 2005, 19:49	#7
Atomic Gerwaff Join Date: May 2002 Location: Norwich, UK Posts: 7,900	Ah this is the type of content I first came here for __________________ :: www.junkions.com :: Website & Server Hosting :: Ultimate CHEESECAKE ::

17th Jun 2005, 20:13	#8
matrixops Multimodder Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 141	The guide is really good, makes me want to test out engraving some of my scrap plexi. I don't want to be one to criticize, but perhaps a bit more detail on the techniques, I am especially interested in the frosting technique. But, maybe this is just the primer I need to practice on my own. MatrixOps __________________ Projects: Rat Rod/Hell Crew Mod--Completed

17th Jun 2005, 19:10	#5
hughwi Hypermodder Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Southampton Uni / London Posts: 884	Nice guide, thanks

18th Jun 2005, 02:25	#9
Etacovda Supermodder Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: New Zealand Posts: 306	id like to see some close ups of the 'bart' engraving w/o lighting too very nice article, this is what is worth coming to bit-tech for.

19th Jun 2005, 03:23	#10
Cowinacape Multimodder Join Date: May 2003 Location: Surrey B.C. Canada Eh! Posts: 206	Nice handy l'il guide there! Great work once again Bit Tech! __________________ Dan Humans, wierd pets for wierd Ferrets!

19th Jun 2005, 16:38	#11
GoTaLL Supermodder Join Date: May 2005 Location: sweden Posts: 319

23rd Jun 2005, 20:38	#13
GoTaLL Supermodder Join Date: May 2005 Location: sweden Posts: 319	hopefully it helps somebody.. lots of misstakes can be reduced if you get help from the start

23rd Jun 2005, 23:08	#14
Blademrk Why so serious? Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Here Posts: 2,360	I bought a cordless dremal about 3 months back and had a quick go at etching on some scrap acrylic board. It's great fun and very easy to get into (inspiration is the hardest part) but it can also be very messy - be prepared to have a lot of shavings to clean up... __________________ The Bit-Tech.net X-Box Live! Leaderboard My X-Box Live & X-Fire GamerTag: BladeMRK WII#: 0379 8536 3210 2060 My Flikr albums Twitter

26th Jun 2005, 04:33	#15
Skaal-tel Multimodder Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 120	I have a question for the author.. or perhaps anyone else who might know! I can see how this would work for a tinted setup- but if for instance you were to try to light one of the back-painted and etched pieces- would the etching still stand out when lit or no? since the etching would be on the backside, would I only get a panel lit on the edges? or would the leds / cathodes shine through and light up the etched surfaces? oh .. and.. if you were to etch the front of the panel and tint the backside you'd get the same black w/ etch effect. It wouldn't be in reverse either! heheh. __________________ Fight with the Canadian Forces.

26th Jun 2005, 07:24	#17
GoTaLL Supermodder Join Date: May 2005 Location: sweden Posts: 319	when painted and if you paint it so the light wont go thru the paint you can put the light aprox anywere, but if you dont paint its kinda annoying to have the lights where you can see them cause then the engravement wont be what you see it will be the lights.. "kinda like looking in to a lightbulb and hoping to see the wires ". best thing to do is to try, put the piece in place and put the lights on a temporary place and try what you think looks best..

19th Jul 2005, 20:33	#18
zmodder Multimodder Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 135	will the flex shaft fit on a dremel clone? like a dremel unit from mastercraft or somethin? or does it only have to be dremel?

19th Jul 2005, 20:57	#19
GoTaLL Supermodder Join Date: May 2005 Location: sweden Posts: 319	i really dont know, but some other brands have their own flex shafts ..

15th Feb 2006, 16:01	#20
Redbeaver Hypermodder Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ontario, CANADA Posts: 719	Smoothness? GoTall, how do you smooth large areas? Like for example i tried to engrave good round chunk on my case. I outline the circle, then I do sweeping motion (like filling blank paper with pencil) to clear the circle area. but this gives me "stripes" texture! i see the spiderman article, on page 2, you finished the "solid area" of the smoke cloud behind spidey, but its still rough and has that stripe texture i mentioned above. On page 3, you "decided to fill the smoke cloud", and u did "fill" it and now its smooth so my question is, i guess, how do you properly "fill" solid areas? Thanks GoTall edit: on another note, my next project is a .8 SECC steel case. black paint, but its still silver underneath. I engrave plexies before but i never engrave metals. Im getting the 7144/7134 dremel bit which is the diamond engraving bits. this is ok?