Spring Selection for the Spring Loaded Engraving Toolholder
Use of a light spring on the softer materials listed in the table above and a
light or medium spring on the harder materials listed above at the specified
feedrates has proven to be effective.
The standard spring included with the Spring Loaded Engraving Toolholder is the light force spring. This is best spring for use on the widest variety of materials. It will produce a fine engraved line on aluminum, brass, plastics, and other materials. It is ideal for engraving colored anodized aluminum to reveal the base metal color.
Harder materials such as steel generally engrave well with the standard light force spring. However, if you require a deeper more distinct mark, a spring with more force to produce the desired engraving may be necessary. If a stronger spring is desired, start with the medium spring and engrave some test marks to determine if the marks are acceptable. Move to stronger springs if required. With springs other than the standard light force spring it may be necessary to use standard engraving bits with wider tip widths to prevent the tips from breaking. Multiple passes may also be used to increase the depth of engraving.
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