Odd Shapes

[bob pfohler]

I'm curious how everyone centers their engraving on odd shapes. I just bought some of those nifty christmas trees from Cewbarka and was getting ready to engrave them.

I usually scan and trace the item, then I take a scrap piece of material place it in the upper corner and cut-out the profile. This template helps with proper placement in repetative jobs.

[Garrett Nors]

I'm curious how everyone centers their engraving on odd shapes. I just bought some of those nifty christmas trees from Cewbarka and was getting ready to engrave them.

I usually scan and trace the item, then I take a scrap piece of material place it in the upper corner and cut-out the profile. This template helps with proper placement in repetative jobs.

I either do that (I use blue painter's tape instead of scrap material), or (more often than not) I scan/trace, then put it roughly in the center and eyeball it, using a vector line at 80% or so speed and the laser pointer. I've gotten pretty good at it and can usually get it dead-on in 2-3 tries.

[john passek]

Try a search for center/center engraving in the SC files, you might find something useful there.
Good luck.

[Rodne Gold]

We do the same , a quick trace and engrave the outline on cardstock or similar and place the item on it (normally the trace outline is slightly bigger or offset than the item so we can actually see it's placed 100%)

[Rangarajan Saravana kumar]

Yes, we do it by tracing and marking on a 3mm mdf using low power and high speed and keep them perfect with eye sight. Thats it, if we cut the exact profile, will take a bit of power, material, time etc.,

Regards,
Saravana kumar

[Dee Gallo]

Me too. But I use different template materials depending on whether the job is a one-off (paper), one time job needing several refills (cardboard) or a repeating job (MDF/acrylic). I write my settings on the template so there is no confusion when I use it at another time. There's nothing easier than having one ready to go, even if a later job is only a few, since the template and file are ready to use.

I usually make the cut lines an unprintable layer in case I ever have to make another template or want to line up new designs inside the shape without having to remove outlines.

dee

[Amy Shelton]

I just made templates for Chewbarka's trees last weekend! I scanned as a PDF on my printer, imported, traced, cut a cardboard jig. After cutting, in CorelDraw, I make the outline gray then lock it. But Dee's idea of a non-printable layer is simpler.

For one-offs, I'll just guesstimate where to put the item, say a knife. Then I draw a box around the text and do a red-pointer outline w/ the lid open, and move the knife around until it's centered. Then I double-make-sure that I do NOT engrave that outline box when I send the file to the laser. Scary thought for it to engrave an unwanted alignment box.

Bob, what are you going to engrave on the trees? I've done some with a photo of a baby, and "2010...Baby's First Christmas", and a couple with just text of Bible verses. Any other ideas?

[Richard Rumancik]

If the graphic position is really unimportant, I might align to a fixture by eye. But most of my parts are a bit more critical. If you have a border or outline on the item it will show if not centered. Also since you are usually viewing at an angle you can be in error.

I usually draw the outline on a particle board fixture which is screwed to the table to prevent motion. Then I etch the shape outlines. Following that I place thin blocks of wood or plastic on the outline to act as stops. Usually I have scrap parts or dropouts around, some of which even have PSA on them.

For labels and tags, I draw the outline, place stops on top and left by eye to the lines, lay down a sample part, and then place the last couple of stops butting to the part itself.

Sometimes another small piece of PSA in the center of the shape on the fixture will just add enough adhesion to keep the part from lifting or sliding due to vibration, exhaust, air assist, or warping.

It takes almost no extra time to drop the parts in place and there is lower risk of rejects.

[Linda Kroeker]

Just looked on Chewbarka's website and did not see the Christmas Tree tags? Where would I be able to get some?

Thanks,
Linda

[Dee Gallo]

Just looked on Chewbarka's website and did not see the Christmas Tree tags? Where would I be able to get some?

Thanks,
Linda

Linda, go to ebay and type in chewbarka. Click on any auction and you can get to their store. They have trees and bells for Christmas there.

[Tony Lenkic]

Download a vector template and create a fixtures for most of Cewbarka's tags, simple and accurate.

[bob pfohler]

Bob, what are you going to engrave on the trees? I've done some with a photo of a baby, and "2010...Baby's First Christmas", and a couple with just text of Bible verses. Any other ideas?

My wife is making gifts for teachers, postman... etc. I was going to use them as tags for the gifts.