Swiss Army Knife settings?

[Dee Gallo]

Has anyone engraved a Swiss Army Knife? I have to do two in about a week and don't want to buy one to test settings on... I assume they are "just plastic" but assuming is always dangerous. I used to have one, but it got confiscated by TSS... the rotten bums.

I am looking for settings to use with either a 25 or 35w Epilog. If you have any experience, I'd really appreciate hearing about it.

Thanks, dee

[Kathy Madan]

I've only ever engraved them with my rotary engraver. Never tried them in the laser. The plastic is a little soft tho, my rotary will melt the plastic instead of cutting if the speed is too fast.

[Bill Cunningham]

I usually just mask, use the same setting I would use for masked Romark.
It usually leaves plastic knife handles/pens/etc. engraved deep enough to colour fill. Without fill, the engraving will be just about invisible..

[Dee Gallo]

I usually just mask, use the same setting I would use for masked Romark.
It usually leaves plastic knife handles/pens/etc. engraved deep enough to colour fill. Without fill, the engraving will be just about invisible..

Thanks, Bill. I've never used Romark, so I looked around and got mixed results for settings. One person says they use 70sp/100power/600dpi and another says 100 sp/80 power/400 dpi. Any opinion there? This is just for engraving some initials, nothing fancy.

:confused: dee

[Bjorn storoien]

I have lost the settings i used but it was higher than the rowmark settings

aprox 1 mm deep into the handle

engraved nice and clean

This was on the newer models with transparent handles (red)

Bjorn

[Mike Null]

Dee

I just use my plastic nametag settings and run two passes if needed. You can then color fill this if you choose.

Oops---try this: power 100 and speed 30 on your 35 Watt machine. I imagine you'll want two passes.

[Dee Gallo]

Thanks, Mike, I was hoping you'd chime in!

:) dee

[Greg Bednar]

Dee,
I did mine to see how it would come out and just a side note, if the knife is used, i.e. scratched and such, be careful with the rub & buff. It will of course find its way into the minutest of cracks/scratches. But you probably knew that. :)

[Dee Gallo]

Thanks Greg, these knives are brand new, so no scratches I hope! Did you use Mike's settings? I should be getting these in a few days, so still in planning mode.

For rec, I did some more mugs, rotary is fun!

thanks, dee

[Mike Null]

Dee

I just estimated your settings based on my Trotec settings and what I think is your raster speed (estimated at 80 ips).

If you have any plastic handy run a test on that as the settings will be very close.

If you intend to colorfill be selective about the fonts as fine lines may not show as well as you'd like.

[Greg Bednar]

<snip> Did you use Mike's settings? I should be getting these in a few days, so still in planning mode. <snip>

I reduced my power output 10% from factory recommended settings and did small ( very small ) print at 600DPI. The problem is there is not a clean cut as with acrylic. It looked more like a small branding iron the first time out, hence the reduction in power. It would be nice if Swiss Army had a white substrate. But.........

[Dee Gallo]

Dee

I just estimated your settings based on my Trotec settings and what I think is your raster speed (estimated at 80 ips).

If you have any plastic handy run a test on that as the settings will be very close.

If you intend to colorfill be selective about the fonts as fine lines may not show as well as you'd like.

Thanks Mike - It's the type of plastic that's giving me fits, I don't know how each type of plastic will act until I try it... and this is not where I want to do any R&D. So I was hoping someone had already done this exact brand of knives. I like to be able to predict exact results when I do a real job, call me compulsive.

I was not going to color fill, but the more I think about it, the more I think I might, maybe white to match the logo.

:) dee

[Mike Null]

Try a piece of acrylic. Should be very close.

[Bill Cunningham]

Put some mask on the acrylic, and start about 60%speed, 100% power, keep decreasing speed until you can get through the mask, at a depth you feel comfortable with filling

[Dee Gallo]

Put some mask on the acrylic, and start about 60%speed, 100% power, keep decreasing speed until you can get through the mask, at a depth you feel comfortable with filling

Thanks Bill, that sounds like a plan. Just what I needed!

:) dee

[Dee Gallo]

Thanks to Mike and Bill especially, I got the knives done, plus leather cases to boot. I guess there was nothing to be worried about, it went easily, with two passes as Mike suggested. Color filling was an excellent choice!

You guys are always there to save my bacon, THANK YOU!

[Mike Null]

Just like an old pro. What paint did you use for fill?

[Dee Gallo]

Just like an old pro. What paint did you use for fill?

Thanks, Mike, it would have been more nerve-wracking without your help. I just used my old standby, Testor's oil based model paint. It's dense and stands up to handling well.

:) dee

[Greg Bednar]

Always the consummate professional, Dee. Looks great.

[Lisa Hiemstra]

I have done several Swiss army knives. I have used the power 65 speed 85 and DPI 500 on a 60 watt machine. It goes deep enough to paint fill. Just go a little less power and more speed to test and you should be fine.






Thanks Greg, these knives are brand new, so no scratches I hope! Did you use Mike's settings? I should be getting these in a few days, so still in planning mode.

For rec, I did some more mugs, rotary is fun!

thanks, dee

[Mike Null]

Lisa

Welcome to SMC. This thread's a little old but we're still glad you shared your experience.