Spring Loaded Engraving Tool vs. Rigid Tool: Cycle Times
Significant cycle time reductions can be obtained when engraving using the Spring Loaded Engraving Toolholder.Cycle times can be reduced up to 84% when using the Spring Loaded Engraving Toolholder in comparison to engraving using a rigid tool.
The Spring Loaded Engraving Toolholder is operated at much faster feedrates in comparison to engraving with a rigid tool.
Additionally, instead of slowly plunging into each engraving line as with a rigid tool, the Spring Loaded Engraving Tool makes rapid moves into the material at the start of each engraving line. This has the effect of dramatically decreasing the cycle time.
Examples of the Significant Cycle Time Reductions for engraving Aluminum and Stainless Steel are shown below:
Cycle Time Comparison |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stainless Steel | Aluminum | |||
| Letter Height = 0.150" | Letter Height = 0.150" | |||
| Rapid Plane = 0.125" | Rapid Plane = 0.125" | |||
| Depth of Engraving = 0.005" | Depth of Engraving = 0.005" | |||
| # of Characters = 25 | # of Characters = 25 | |||
| Spring Loaded Tool | Rigid Tool | Spring Loaded Tool | Rigid Tool | |
| Spindle Speed | 3000 RPM | 3000 RPM | ||
| Cutting Feed Rate | 13 ipm | 6 ipm | 20 ipm | 6 ipm |
| Plunge Feed Rate | 250 ipm | 3 ipm | 250 ipm | 3 ipm |
| Cycle Time / One Part | 47 seconds | 194 seconds | 30 Seconds | 194 Seconds |
| Cycle Time Reduction | 147 sec. (2.45 Minutes) per Part 76% less time engraving |
----- | 164 sec. (2.73 Minutes) per Part 84% less time engraving |
----- |
| Spindle Speed | 6000 RPM | 6000 RPM | ||
| Cutting Feed Rate | 26 ipm | 12 ipm | 40 ipm | 12 ipm |
| Plunge Feed Rate | 250 ipm | 6 ipm | 250 ipm | 6 ipm |
| Cycle Time / One Part | 24 Seconds | 97 seconds | 15 Seconds | 97 seconds |
| Cycle Time Reduction | 73 sec. (1.22 Minutes) per Part 75% less time engraving |
----- | 82 sec. (1.36 Minutes) per Part 84% less time engraving |
----- |
| Spindle Speed | 7500 RPM | 7500 RPM | ||
| Cutting Feed Rate | 32.5 ipm | 15 ipm | 50 ipm | 15 ipm |
| Plunge Feed Rate | 250 ipm | 7.5 ipm | 250 ipm | 7.5 ipm |
| Cycle Time / One Part | 20 Seconds | 78 seconds | 12 Seconds | 78 seconds |
| Cycle Time Reduction | 58 sec. (0.97 Minutes) per Part 74% less time engraving |
----- | 66 sec. (1.1 Minutes) per Part 84% less time engraving |
----- |
The Spring Loaded Engraving Toolholder has been tested up to 10,000 RPM.
Optimum operational speeds are from 3000-7500 RPM.
Note: Testing was performed using the Tough Tip Tool on Stainless Steel and a Standard Conical Engraving Tool on Aluminum.
The feedrates listed in the table above for the Rigid Tool on Stainless Steel are actually 2X the recommended feedrate due to the faster feedrates allowed with the Tough Tip Tool. Operating at the recommended Rigid Tool feedrate for Stainless Steel will increase the cycle time for the Rigid Tool on Stainless Steel and cause additional time savings with the Spring Loaded Engraving Tool to be observed.
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