Nose Cone Riding
The most common method of engraving is where the spindles nose cone rides along the surface of the engraving stock during cutting. Since the cutter depth is controlled by the micrometer setting and protrusion of the cutter below the nose cone, this method will produce a consistent and even cut depth. Below are some of the popular styles of nosecones
Regardless of the material surface changes, or levelness of the table, depth is consistent over the entire table area. The drawback of this method is that the nose must contact the surface of the material. This may cause scratching or “nose rub” on the material surface that can be seen after engraving. There are several popular ways to limit the rubbing effect. They are as follows:
- Use a plastic nose cone instead of a metal cone.
- Reduce the amount of down pressure applied by the cutting head or the Z-axis assembly.
- Leave the protective coating on the material or apply a temporary mask.
- Switch to non-nose riding.
Note: If depth is to be accurate and consistent while engraving plastics, a vacuum chip removal system is recommended. This will prevent chips from being trapped between the nose cone and the work surface, which causes changes in the cutting depth.
Non-Nose Riding
Non-nose riding methods generally employ the use of the software or a mechanical stop to keep the nose cone from contacting the material surface during engraving. This is especially effective when cutting metals where chips trapped by the nose cone would cause damage to the engraved item. This method requires more care when setting up the job. Based on the levelness of the work piece or engraving table, accurate depth control may be difficult. Although nose rub is eliminated, it may be a difficult trade off to uneven depths on a large plate.
