Brass Machine Plates

[Nick Hale]

I have been wanting to make brass machine plates that is all the rave on youtube right now. They use acid baths, cnc mills, and a few other techniques. I think I could do the engraving, drill holes and the contour cut on my 30w fiber. I know others have done this, but cant find any in the search. I like how NYCNC did theirs on the laser, but only used a co2.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68-QAwB8TdI&t=2s

Any advice? Im located in the middle of nowhere so I have to order in materials to try this. Wasnt sure what would be best, aluminum, brass, copper, stainless steel, etc?

[Trey Tull]

I watch Johns stuff also and I found the MMMMk O Meter plate to be pretty cool. I bet you could get some painted brass from JDS, laser the paint off and then acid etch it. I don't have a fiber so I would have to cut it out with sheers and round the corners off.

[Bill George]

I would need to have about $60 for each one of these to justify all the labor cost. I could cut the contour outline on my CNC router, who is the market for these? I really do not think a fiber laser would / could do the cutting unless its a 100 watt or so? I know my 20 watt would not.

[Kev Williams]

No 30w fiber is going to cut any metal that thick, and especially not brass- and I'm with Bill, in the time it took them to make 2 plates I'd have banked $600 doing something profitable!

On a lighter note, I have that exact shear they're using (and it's an OLD honker!)

shear2.jpgshear.jpg

[John Lifer]

At less than 50 cents each in either plain brass or painted brass for perpetual plates, I can't see using anything like his process. I had guy bring me an aluminum VIN plate to replace his damaged plate the other day. 25 sec on the Fiber.....
Way too easy. Yep, at least $60 for that one George. And No one but the guy making the plate for his machine cares.....

[Bill George]

I have the Shop Fox 12 inch 3 n 1 machine that I only use for tags and thin brass - aluminum. Its razor sharp and with a proper shop added guide it does a wonderful job.

I have some already coated brass sheet that would be perfect and be 1/2 the cost.

[Jeff Watkins]

The brass they reference in the video is .015in or .381mm. I picked up a 12x18 sheet of .016in brass at my local hobby store and have been cutting 6 inch name plates for plaques that I make. I also cut my own dog tags out of 304 stainless that's just shy of 1mm. I'm using a 30w fiber. Through a progressive cutting strategy with wobble and cleaning passes I can cut that brass and stainless in a matter of minutes. Sure there are other methods of doing this but it does work, imho, and with great precision. Flowing the powder coating looks like and interesting add on.

[Nick Hale]

Thanks, Ive been playing with cutting other materials. I just dont have brass to test with. I figured more people have tried it out. Ill get some ordered first chance i get!

[Scott Marquez]

Thanks, Ive been playing with cutting other materials. I just dont have brass to test with. I figured more people have tried it out. Ill get some ordered first chance i get!

If you just need material to play with, check your local hardware store for brass stock. I’m in the Pacific Northwest and our Ace Hardware carries that material.
Scott

[Nick Hale]

We have a really small hardware store. But ill check!