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Use your CNC router, CNC mill, or CNC plasma cutter to diamond drag engrave plastics, brass, aluminum, steel, glass, and granite. Stained glass artists also love using our Diamond Drag Engraving Bit to score and cut glass with their CNC machines.
Our CNC Diamond Drag Engraving Bit fits in any 1/2" collet, just like a regular end mill. (A 1/4" Shank Version is also available our Specialty Bits section.) Instead of rotating and cutting like an end mill, the bit engraves with the spindle TURNED OFF. The spring-loaded, "floating head" style bit applies constant pressure on the diamond tip. As your CNC machine drags the diamond tip against your part, it creates very precise, permanently engraved lines on the part's surface. The bit is designed to compensate for warped material and tables that are not perfectly flat. Engraving pressure is adjustable to match the hardness of the material you are working on.
Comes complete with everything you need to start diamond drag engraving including the floating-head engraving bit with 120 degree diamond tip, high-pressure and low pressure engraving springs, and detailed directions on how to create your cut files, how to set your bit height / Z=0 level, and recommended feed/speed rates. (Mounting bracket required for use with CNC plasma cutters is NOT INCLUDED.)
We recommend using our 90 degree diamond tip (Sold Separately) for engraving coated materials, such as lacquered brass or anodized aluminum name tags. The 90 degree tip is also recommended for engraving very fine details, such as tiny lettering, and thin materials ( < 0.030" thick.)
Diamond Drag Engraving Bit Technical Specs:
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Shank Diameter: 1/2"
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Bit Length: 3 3/4"
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Engraved Line Width: ~ 0.005"
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Blade: 120 Degree Tip (Included) or 90 Degree Tip (Sold Separately)
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Common Applications for CNC Diamond Drag Engraving
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Engrave your signature, company logo, or artwork on parts
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Create custom engraved brass and aluminum plates for commemorative plaques, trophies, name tags, and monograms
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Engrave decorative glass, mirrors, and granite tile
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Permanently Engrave serial numbers and ID information onto products for security
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Score and cut plate glass for creating stained glass artwork
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CNC Machine Diamond Drag Engraving in 3 Easy Steps
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STEP 1: Create your CAD/CAM file (G-Code) using the same software and methods used to create standard 2-D cut
files. (Detailed instructions on creating cut files, including
recommended feed / speed rates, are included with the bit.)
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STEP 2: Secure your part to the spoilboard with vacuum pressure, clamps, screws, double-sided tape, etc. Insert the CNC Diamond Drag Engraving Bit in your 1/2" collet (router/mill) or mounting bracket (plasma torch) and set your bit height / Z = 0 level.
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STEP 3: Run your cut file to engrave your part. The spring-loaded, "floating head" style bit applies constant pressure
on the diamond tip. As your CNC machine drags the diamond tip against
your part, it creates very precise, permanently engraved lines on the
part's surface.
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Common CNC Diamond Drag Engraving Questions & Answers
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What's Included with Our CNC Diamond Drag Engraving Bit:
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Spring-loaded "floating head" style bit with diamond engraving tip
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Detailed step-by-step instructions on how to create your cut files, how to set your bit height / Z=0 Level, and recommended feed/speed rates
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Hex wrench for installing diamond replacement tips
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What Else Do You Need To Get Started Diamond Drag Engraving:
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CNC router, CNC milling machine, or CNC plasma cutter with 1/2" collet or mounting bracket
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Standard CAD and CAM software for creating your engraving cut file
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Spoilboard surfaced flat to +/- 0.020". The bit is designed to compensate for warped material and tables that are not perfectly flat. Avoid worn spoilboards with large holes or recessed pockets - unsupported materials may flex or crack under engraving pressure.
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Supplies to clamp your part in place while engraving
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Replacement Parts / Maintaining Your Diamond Drag Engraving Bit:
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The industrial diamond tip included with our engraving bit is manufactured to last a long time before it wears out. Individual results will vary based on your engraving pressure and the hardness of the material you engrave (brass and aluminum are much less abrasive than glass or granite.)
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Diamond tools are extremely hard, but they are also brittle. Dropping the bit onto a concrete floor or rapidly plunging your Z-axis into granite may crack the diamond tip. If you're the type of person
who likes to keep a backup on hand, or if you find that your tip is worn or damaged, replacement tips are available in our Replacement
Blades, Tips, Pens, etc. section.
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What Kinds of Material Can You Diamond Drag Engrave?
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Our CNC Diamond Drag Engraving bit works on plastics, brass, aluminum,
steel, glass, and granite. It can also be used to score and cut plate
glass for creating stained glass artwork. Engraving pressure is adjustable to match the hardness of the material you are working on. Materials with rough or
textured surfaces may cause abnormal wear and tear on the bit's tip and
are not recommended.
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Will Our Diamond Drag Engraving Bit Work with Your CNC Machine?
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Our CNC Diamond Drag Engraving Bit is compatible with most CNC routers, CNC milling machines, and CNC plasma cutters. It fits in any 1/2" collet, just
like a regular end mill. Instead of rotating and cutting like an end
mill, the bit engraves with the spindle TURNED OFF. The spring-loaded, "floating head" style bit applies pressure
on the diamond tip while your CNC machine "drags" the tip against
the surface of your part.
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If you use a CNC plasma cutter (or your spindle is too small for 1/2" shank bits) you can attach our CNC Diamond Drag Engraving Bit directly to your Z-axis for engraving. The easiest way to accomplish this is to create a bushing that slips over the bit and fits into your current torch/spindle mount. Some customers modify their mounting bracket to hold the bit at an offset from the standard cutting head, allowing them to diamond drag engrave without removing their torch/spindle.
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Can Your CAD/CAM Software Create Cut Files for Engraving?
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Cut files (G-Code) for our CNC Diamond Drag Engraving Bit can be created using the same software and methods used to create standard 2-D cut files. While some software packages offer built in engraving or V-Carving options, standard profiling operations will work just as well. Detailed instructions on creating cut files, including recommended feed / speed rates, are included with the bit. Make sure that your engraving path does not cross any open holes or
pockets in your part - the spring-loaded diamond tip will drop into the
hole and could be damaged.
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How Do You Set Z = 0 with Our CNC Diamond Drag Engraving Bit?
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Electrical sensors and touch plates used for setting Z-axis
values with standard end mills will not work with our CNC Diamond Drag Engraving Bit - the diamond tip does not conduct electricity. We recommend setting your bit height / Z=0 level manually by slowly lowering your Z-axis while sliding a piece of paper back and forth across the top of your part. When your bit reaches the top of your part (Z=0 point,) it
will pinch the paper against the part's surface and the paper will
stop sliding. Set Z=0 in your control software and you're ready to start engraving.
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