Engrave after anodize

[Bob_Looney]

Anybody have a tip or two for coming back after anodizing and engraving text in aluminum. I have 10,000 rpm and need about .030" wide text. I'm thinking a 60 deg cutter will be most forgiving with regard to flatness over the face of the part (3.5" dia.)

 

Bob

[Thad]

Bob,

 

It probably wouldn't have hurt to send out a test piece to anodizing. The extra cost would have been minimal and then you'd have something to test it on.

 

You should do alright with the tapered cutter you mentioned. Let us know how it works out.

 

Thad

[EX-wccprogrammer]

Bob --

 

I do this a lot on air filters. I use a 60 degree single flute solid carbide engraving bit, high RPM and coolant. At 10,000 RPM, you can cut full depth (.015) at 15 IPM.

 

You may need to run twice over the part, the first pass usually leaves little burrs.

[Keith Graydon]

the aluminum oxide(anodizing) is very abrasive

Go with carbide. 60 deg is a good choice.

[Paul B Toolcraft Co.]

Bob,

 

What I like to do for ingraving aluminum is use a 2 flute 3/64 carbide ballmill, .005/.006 depth of cut will give you the width you're looking for, 20ipm @ 10000rpm is about .001 chipload. One pass will look great.

 

Paul B.

[Nominal]

We engrave prior to anodic treatment else we have to touch up the anodize. Aside from that there is "hard anodize" which can have a significant build up, or other processes where the build up can be .00004 or so.

[Code_Breaker]

I used diamond engraving tools for hard machining engraving. Should work great on anodizied aluminum.

 

Code_Breaker

[Bob_Looney]

thanks guys, I got a piece of alum sheet 9 x 24 anodized the same as the part, sitting right here. I will try both the ball mill and a 60 deg engraver tool.

 

bob

[TheePres]

Agree that 3/64 ball gives best looking results, but the 60 degree is more forgiving on flatness problems.

 

Also #00 carbide center drills give excellent results.