Engraving cement paver with router

[Evan Meier]

Good afternoon everyone,
I have a friend that wants a name cement. What kind of bit would you recommend? I have honestly never even thought about it. I know there are v bits for drilling into tile... I'm not expecting this to look like vcarved wood, just something that can be seen..
Thanks for your help.
Evan.

[Jim Becker]

Not sure I'd take this job on with my CNC machine, even with the right tooling, due to the kind of debris and dust produced, etc. And then there is the need to cool the tooling.

But to your specific question...probably one of the expensive diamond bits would be required at a minimum, if it can be done at all.

[Curt Harms]

I've never been involved with such an undertaking but I'd be inclined to try making a form with the name somehow. I don't know if the letters would be suitably formed and crisp or not. If that didn't work I guess the process would be similar to how letters on stone markers and the like are engraved. Jim is right about the abrasive dust created.

[Grant Wilkinson]

I would think that a diamond drag bit would do it. With them the router is not spinning, so dust and crap would be minimal. They are pricey, though.

[Jerome Stanek]

I would cut a mask and sand blast it

[Adam Herman]

you could make a mold from something and paint it well. pour the paver and have a really good looking name. very similar to a concrete countertop. what size is the paver/lettering? you can dye the cement to be many different colors as well.

the countertop I poured shows every little imperfection from the mold, even the finger marks in the silicone I used to seal the corners.

[Mike Null]

Diamond drag is not the answer. I agree with Jerome that sand blasting is best though molding might be easier and cheaper for low volume.

[Mark Bolton]

Thinking freaky outside the box (and scary) you could find, buy, build, a tub and come up with some way to rigidly fixture the brick inside the tub then using as long a reach diamond tool (profile of your choice) as you can find, set the tub on the bed of your machine, fixture the tub, fixture the brick, fill the tub with water to cover the brick by 1/2" or so, and machine the brick completely underwater. Very conservative toolpaths even with a big router, it would work and zero dust.

I'd say it'd be a $500 brick. $750 if its a friend.

:p

[Mark Bolton]

Better option is to just ship the brick to a laser engraver and have them blast the name in it for 20-30 bucks

[Evan Meier]

Thanks for everyone's input, I was able to get out of it by suggesting a small cedar bench flower pot holder with name on the top arch. I must say I'm really intrigued by the idea of engraving under water.... Also does anyone know how many watts it takes with a laser to touch cement?

[roger wiegand]

According to at least one site that sells lasers you need a minimum of an 80 watt CO2 laser. Given that there are dozens of companies that will do it for 20-50 bucks depending on size and complexity I'd sure just send it out to one of them. Unless, of course, you need an excuse to buy a laser.

[Evan Meier]

According to at least one site that sells lasers you need a minimum of an 80 watt CO2 laser. Given that there are dozens of companies that will do it for 20-50 bucks depending on size and complexity I'd sure just send it out to one of them. Unless, of course, you need an excuse to buy a laser.

It would be silly to let my wife know that there is a company out there that can do it when I can use it as an excuse to get a new toy...
Luckily she doesn't know about this site....

[Jim Becker]

You better be in really good status with her if you decide to shop for an 80+ watt laser engraver/cutter. LOL ching...ching... ;)

[Jerome Stanek]

You better be in really good status with her if you decide to shop for an 80+ watt laser engraver/cutter. LOL ching...ching... ;)

Depends on the laser. I got my 130 watt with chiller and rotary delivered for $4000

[Ted Reischl]

Use a laser with enough power and the concrete will explode. There is this little thing about heat, moisture, expansion, BOOM!

[Jerome Stanek]

Use a laser with enough power and the concrete will explode. There is this little thing about heat, moisture, expansion, BOOM!

You don't have to use full power to engrave

[Brad Shipton]

Here is a video of engraving a brick. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmQL2S_9si4

[Mark Bolton]

Use a laser with enough power and the concrete will explode. There is this little thing about heat, moisture, expansion, BOOM!

Heh. Odd, you see hundreds and hundreds of lasered pavers on city streets and in commercial buildings commemorating donors/sponsors/whatever. Sad so many had to lose their lives to bomb-bricks while engraving to a depth of perhaps .03125".

:D

It'd take a heck of a lot of heat input in a few milliseconds to create enough steam/expansion to pop a brick. I'd guess the brick probably enjoys the whole process as it feels like a nice back scratching.

[Jim Becker]

Both Ted and Mark are correct...using a laser like a weapon on the Millenium Falcon would likely be a, um...bad idea. Done correctly with the right power levels, etc., it's probably not going to be a problem. Personally, I'd leave this to someone experienced. BTW, water jet might also be a possibility.

[Mark Bolton]

The millennium falcon had lasers? Cool never knew.

[Jim Becker]

The millennium falcon had lasers? Cool never knew.
Maybe it did; maybe it didn't I don't know. But it seemed like a good example either way. LOL

[Mark Bolton]

Maybe it did; maybe it didn't I don't know. But it seemed like a good example either way. LOL

Well we now know that when hitting a brick with any advanced technology,.. set your phasers to stun.

:D

[Jim Becker]

Well we now know that when hitting a brick with any advanced technology,.. set your phasers to stun.

:D

And it would indeed be scary if Star Wars and Star Trek suddenly merged LOL