CIRCLE 91 ON AD EXPRESS - The Engravers · PDF filere rotary engraving machines go-ing the way...

CIRCLE 91 ON AD EXPRESS


ROTARYENGRAVINGAPPLICATIONS,ADVANCEMENTS&ALLUREBy Jackie ZackThe age-old question “Is it rotary or is it laser; which is right for me?” is resolved.

ROTARYENGRAVINGPHOTOEXPOA plethora of rotary engraved products and applications.

2006EJEQUIPMENTADVISORYWe’ve pre-scouted the Vegas show. Have a sneak peek

at the assortment of products you’re in store for.

WHAT’SINTHEFUTUREFORLASERENGRAVINGBy J. Stephen SpenceSteve Spence takes a look into his crystal ball and predicts where the

world of laser engraving equipment will take us over the next five years.

LASERENGRAVINGPHOTOEXPOAn abundance of laser engraved products and applications.

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© 2006 Davis Multimedia International Inc. All rights re-served. THE ENGRAVERS JOURNAL is published monthly by Davis Multimedia International Inc. (a Michigan corpora-tion), P.O. Box 318, Brighton, MI 48116-0318, (810)229-5725 FAX (810)229-8320. Nothing may be used or stored in any electronic medium or reprinted either in whole or in part without the written consent of the publisher.

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11 ROTARY ENGRAVING14 LASER ENGRAVING18 ADJUNCT EQUIPMENT

a supplement to The Engravers Journal

� THE ENGRAVERS JOURNAL 2006EQUIPMENTADVISORY


re rotary engraving machines go-ing the way of the dinosaurs? With the proliferation of laser engraving

machines in this industry, one might quick-ly jump to that conclusion. Who wants to deal with all those cutters and holding jigs and material chips when you can just pop a plaque into a laser engraving machine, set the power and speed and walk away while the machine does the work? Laser engraving is undisputedly the best technological advance to hit this industry since computerized mechanical engraving debuted over 25 years ago. But are laser en-graving machines actually replacing rotary systems? Ask anyone who’s been in the in-dustry for any length of time—most users will answer, “No!” Interestingly, most of the major machine manufacturers in this industry now offer both laser and rotary equipment and there’s a reason for that. The two technologies actu-ally have unique and separate qualifications that make each one better suited for certain types of jobs. For many traditional engrav-ing applications, for instance, rotary engrav-ing is not only the best way to go, it is the only way to go; on the other hand, laser en-graving has an edge when it comes to pro-ducing larger volumes of products quickly and efficiently and, to a great degree, when you need to do special graphics such as spe-cial fonts and logos.

In many industry-based firms the two technologies actually work together, side by side. “Especially in the awards and recogni-tion industry, we see quite a few businesses that have the laser doing the bulk of their production and the rotary system doing some of the more high-end type of work,” says Guy Barone from Xenetech Global, Inc., Ba-ton Rouge, LA. “That’s one of the reasons why we got into the laser business in the 90s, because we saw that they do complement each other very well.”Why All the Laser Fuss? So why is there so much excitement and emphasis on laser engraving in this industry, when clearly rotary engraving is still a major player? Several factors contribute to this phe-nomenon, including the newness of the tech-nology, the versatility of the process, gradu-ally declining equipment costs and plain old marketing ingenuity. “It is the newest technology,” explains Jonathon Cohen, Gravograph-New Hermes, Inc., Duluth, GA. “It’s newer than rotary en-graving. But also there is an ease of use about it. You don’t have to select different tools, you don’t have the same cleanup, you don’t have to worry about tool breakage or wear since you are just using a laser beam. Plus, more and more materials are becoming laser engravable and the cost of lasers is becoming more economical for what you get. Cost ver-sus functionality is improving.”

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inherently fast, versatile and easily learned process, characteristics that make it particularly appealing. Ac-cording to Xenetech’s Guy Barone “I think it’s the versatility of the machine and the productivity. You can actually produce quite a bit of product, espe-cially by raster engraving with a laser. And you have a great deal of versatil-ity from cutting acrylics to engraving a plaque, marking wood, etc.” It doesn’t hurt, either, that there’s an ongoing laser engraving market-ing blitz that attracts mass attention. “Laser engraving machine manufac-turers comprise a good portion of the industry and are growing all the time,” says Carl Thompson, Vision Engrav-ing Systems, Phoenix, AZ. “They are spending a lot of money in trade pub-lications and things like that to put themselves out there in the forefront of the market. So for a lot of people just getting into the industry, that’s all they see. They see a lot of people talking about lasers and the awesome things they do for the engraving in-dustry.” And while no one is disputing that laser engraving is a remarkable tech-nology and that it certainly has made its place in the industry, major en-

graving machine manufacturers report that sales of rotary machines have re-mained steady and, in some cases, are increasing. “Our sales have been on the increase and have been for the last five years,” says Gravograph’s Cohen. “People are still purchasing these ma-chines.”The Best Machine for the Job For those entrepreneurs consider-ing purchasing new equipment, con-sider this: There are still many ap-plications within the recognition and identification industry that require ro-tary engraving, such as cutting out shapes in plastics with a beveled edge and marking bare metals like brass, aluminum and stainless steel. While there are ways to provide contrast on metal using a laser engraving machine (engraving metal with an anodized coating or using Cermark metal mark-ing solution to create a blackened ef-fect), the fact remains that most lasers can’t actually engrave bare metal. “There are so many things out there that have to be done on a rotary machine,” says Thompson. “Metals are a huge part of the engraving in-dustry and that’s just something that a CO2 laser can’t do. As far as the tradi-tional engraving, there’s no way that a laser can do it. Even the YAG lasers that can penetrate metal to a certain degree, depending on the wattage and

the style, can’t take the place of rotary engraving.”The Market Demands the Method One of the major areas of the in-dustry where rotary engraving contin-ues to dominate is the jewelry and gift personalization market. “Some YAG lasers have begun to make a presence in the gift industry but, for the most part, mechanical engraving still rules personalization in that end,” says Bar-one. Thompson agrees, “A lot of tradi-tional engraving into gift products can really only be done on a rotary ma-chine. There are some anodized prod-ucts on the market, but a laser really can’t do anything to traditional prod-ucts like flasks and plated metal key chains.” Signage and the industrial market are two other market areas where ro-tary engraving is often the best equip-ment choice. “In particular ADA sig-nage. It’s very difficult to make an ADA sign with just a laser because you don’t have control over the depth like you do with a rotary machine,” says Cohen. And industrial marking typically involves a variety of metal engraving techniques, such as mark-ing machine parts and deep engrav-ing into stainless steel or aluminum, which dictates rotary engraving. The bottom line is that you need to select the type of machine that fits the type of work you’re doing. “We are selling to all of the traditional markets that we have sold to in the past,” ex-plains Gravograph’s Cohen. “For ex-ample, our M40 vise version is very well suited to trophy and award shops because it is inexpensive and it has the engraving area that is required by them. We are selling the gift machine into the gift and retail market. And we are selling our large tables into the in-dustrial market and also into the high-er production trophy and award mar-ket where they do multiple pieces at a time.”The Look Has It Going beyond a machine’s actual capabilities, it’s also true that some people actually prefer, and demand, the look of rotary engraving. “There is no question that some people prefer the look of mechanical engraving over laser engraving,” says Cohen. “For

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2006example, with some of the high end awards, they want to have a mechani-cally engraved look and feel to it. Ev-eryone has seen a person who receives an award and the first thing they do is run their fingers over the engraving. If it’s flat, such as laser engraved black brass, it just doesn’t have the feel—it looks good but it just doesn’t have the feel of an incised engraved plaque. There is something more substantial about that.” Barone agrees that the rotary en-graving look is sought after, particu-larly in the recognition market. “They have customers that really notice the difference and they want to make sure they can offer their customers that burnished plaque as opposed to the la-ser engraved plaque.” Thompson says that the look of rotary engraving is really unique and that’s something that many custom-ers look for. “Rotary engraving has a much higher perceived value especial-ly in the metals. There’s no compari-son, especially with people that want to match something that is preexist-ing, like perpetual plaques.”Better Technology Boosts Productivity & Profitability As the popularity of rotary en-graving has continued, manufacturers have sought to improve technology and make the equipment even better by improving features such as rigid-ity (especially important for industri-al metal engraving applications), en-graving speed, third-party software compatibility and Ethernet connectiv-ity. Just a few years ago, for example, Xenetech switched from microstepper technology to the newer Viper elec-tronics, which dramatically increased rotary engraving speed. Thompson agrees that rotary engraving technol-ogy has improved over the years. “We continue to introduce new machines, new styles of machines and also new electronics for the machines that we have,” he says. “Connectivity to new-er computer systems and also the

speed at which we are actually able to move the machines has increased quite a bit over the last few years.” Both Gravograph-New Hermes and Xenetech have recently intro-duced rotary engraving machines to reach the huge gift/jewelry market and make the process of engraving these products easier and more efficient. Gravograph-New Hermes introduced the GravoTech M40 machine last year with an innovative “laser spotting beam” feature that allows you to point to the corners or center of the engrav-ing area and the system automatical-ly sizes the job to fit into that space. Xenetech also introduced the GE gift engraving machine in 2005 that’s pop-ular in the gift and jewelry engraving market.What About Cost? Rotary engraving machines still have it over laser engravers when it comes to the cost of the equipment. Generally speaking, mechanical en-graving machines are less expensive than laser systems but the gap has be-come smaller in recent years; prices for rotary systems have basically re-mained stable while lasers have come down in price somewhat. “With the rotary systems we’ve been able to increase the performance and utility and keep the price the same so the end user is getting more val-ue out of the rotary system purchase than they did a few years ago,” says Barone. “I think lasers have become less expensive and so the differences (in cost) are becoming smaller. Your entry level smallest laser is around $10,000 or so and your entry level ro-tary system is probably around $7,000 or even a little bit less than that,” says Barone.Who’s Buying Rotary Machines? Engravers who are currently pur-chasing rotary engraving machines run the gamut from new owners just getting into the industry, to people who already own an engraving ma-chine and want to add and/or upgrade to owners who want to supplement a laser. The right equipment choice ba-sically boils down to knowing what you need the equipment to do.

“Some of the people who are just getting into the market are being so barraged with the laser hype that is out there that they purchase a machine and find out, only later, that the major-ity of the stuff that they wanted to do, they can’t,” says Vision’s Thompson. “So it’s starting to turn where people are buying rotary machines after they purchased their laser, especially peo-ple who are new to the industry and really didn’t realize what they were getting into until they had to send work out of house that they couldn’t do.” Thompson adds that many estab-lished engravers in the industry are al-ready well aware of the capabilities of mechanical engraving. Many of these engravers purchased a rotary machine before they bought a laser and others have elected to forgo the laser tech-nology altogether and, instead, update their existing equipment with new ro-tary engraving technology. For example, one major customer of Xenetech’s is a large production catalog order company that recently replaced their older rotary machines. “They told us that one of our ma-chines with the new Viper electronics will now do the work of 14 of their older machines,” says Barone.Is There a Future For Rotary? It’s clear that rotary engraving is the method of choice for several im-portant engraving applications in this industry. It is the technique for per-sonalizing jewelry and gifts and it re-mains the number one approach in other money-making markets like in-dustrial and sign engraving; it’s still the best way to mark on metal; and it continues to be a look that people ask for. “People are still purchasing these machines because there are some things that rotary systems do that la-sers still don’t. Our sales of mechani-cal engraving systems are consistent and, in fact, they’ve increased a little bit in the last quarter over last year so we’re feeling pretty positive about ro-tary systems,” says Barone. By all accounts, rotary engraving is still alive and well in this industry.

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10 THE ENGRAVERS JOURNAL 2006EQUIPMENTADVISORY

GRAVOTECH M40G COMPUTERIZED ENGRAVING MACHINEThe GravoTech M40G rotary engraver offers engraving versatility. This one machine can engrave flat and cylindrical items plus glass engraving as well. Switch-over time between flat and cylindrical takes only sec-onds, thanks to its motorized vise. Features like auto-Z and its integrated red laser pointer aid in quick job setup and error-free test engraving. The GravoTech M40G features a 12" x 8" engraving area, super simple software, a small machine footprint and excellent engraving quality. A high-precision workhorse, the M40G is excellent for personalization on glassware and high-end glass awards as well as on hard-to-hold items such as jewelry boxes and odd-shaped awards.

CONTACT: GRAVOGRAPH-NEW HERMES 770.623.0331


EQUIPMENT ADVISORY

2006

ROTARY ENGRAVING

EachandeveryyearretailersflocktovariousshowsacrossthecountrytogetalookatwhatmarvelousnewequipmenttheR&Iindustryhastooffer.Beginningin2006,The Engravers Journalhasdonealittlepre-scoutingforyou.We’veassembledanassortmentofthenewest,mostexcitingequipmentthatR&Isuppliershavetooffer.Sobeforeyouhittheshowfloorrunning,takeasneakpeekatwhatyoushouldputonyour“MUSTSEE”list!Anddon’tforgettofillouttheAdExpresscardinthisissuetore-ceivemoreinformationonthesefabulousproducts.

VIPER ENGRAVING SYSTEMSXenetech’s Viper electronics (standard on all Xenetech rotary engraving systems) drive their rotary engraving machines significantly faster than traditional micro-stepper driven systems, in some cases up to 10 ips. In addition, all Xenetech Viper systems utilize a state-of-the-art touch screen pendant, 4-axis simultaneous interpolation electronics and virtually an unlimited job queue and network access through Ethernet communications.

CONTACT: XENETECH GLOBAL, INC. 225.752.0225


112006EQUIPMENTADVISORYTHE ENGRAVERS JOURNAL

THE 350 ROTARY ENGRAVERNewing-Hall’s 350 Rotary Engraver is a good starter engraver featuring a 16.5" x 15" engrav-ing area, powerbase, vise and cylindrical capa-

bility. The 350 can engrave items like brass, aluminum, plastics and acrylic. Switching from flat engrav-

ing to cylindrical is easy with the remov-able dyanagrip (self sticking table, no

clamps) that allows you to en-grave round items like pewter

mugs and bowls. You can add the glass kit and engrave your favorite stem-ware or glass mugs.

CONTACT: NEWING-HALL, INC., 800.255.8804


EGX PRO SERIES ROTARY ENGRAVERSRoland’s EGX PRO Series rotary engravers have the power, size and speed professional

engravers need. With Roland High Speed En-graving (HSE) technology, the EGX-400 and EGX-600 have a maximum engraving speed of 100 mm/second and a maximum spindle speed of 30,000 rpm. Both can handle a wide variety of materials, including wood, urethane foam, plastic, acrylic and light metals such as brass and aluminum.

CONTACT: ROLAND ASD714.349.7976


VISION’S MAX PRO ROTARY ENGRAVER

Vision Engraving Systems has developed the MAX Pro Engraver allowing for engraving of flat, deep, round or odd-shaped items in one compact, easy-to-use machine. The system contains Vision’s automatic surface-sensing feature that allows for flat and curved surface engraving on materi-als such as plastic, brass, coated and non-coated metals, stone, pewter, glass and more. For easy job setups, the MAX Pro uses Vision’s Auto Laser Layout feature, which feeds the engraving area and position directly to the software without measuring. Each MAX Pro system includes the new Vision Series 3 high-speed electronics with hand-held pendant and Vision-Pro software.

CONTACT: VISION ENGRAVING SYSTEMS888.637.1737


SUREGRAVE/ DAHLGREN

MINI M.E. COMPACT ROTARY ENGRAVER

The Suregrave/Dahlgren Mini M.E. is a small, lightweight and ultra portable com-puterized engraving machine. The Mini M.E.’s features include a high speed mo-tor, an engraving area of 6" x 4" (work plate 8" x 6"), a deep vise and auto “z” axis. The Mini M.E.’s compact design makes it well-suited to trophy shops, hobbyists and retail outlets which need to engrave a large va-riety of materials. The unit comes with flat pen engraving capabilities as standard and rotary pen and inside ring engraving op-tions will be available soon.

CONTACT: EAST COAST MARKING SOLUTIONS, LLC

434.293.6990CIRCLE 105 ON AD EXPRESS

ROTARY ENGRAVING

THE EXCELSIOR ENGRAVING SYSTEMThe excelsior™ engraving sys-tem is a high precision 2D and 3D rotary engraving and ma-chining system. The excelsior has an extremely stable, com-pact machining area for applica-tions requiring tight tolerances and perfect surface finishes. The one-piece cast steel gantry frame offers superior machining quality with welded-frame style con-struction. The 11" open height facilitates larger parts. The ex-celsior is ideal for industrial engraving applications such as embossing and progressive dies, steel stamps, coin and me-dallion dies, panels, mold making, stainless panels or any ap-plication requiring superior stability and surface finishes.

CONTACT: DATRON DYNAMICS603.672.8890




LASERMASTER L30V LASER ENGRAVING MACHINE

Cam Tech’s new Lasermaster L30V features a large format process bed. The built-in

fume extraction system provides 1/2 downdraft bed for vector cut-

ting and 1/2 raster bed for engraving. A stan-dard 70 watt vertical-ly mounted CO2 laser optimizes beam deliv-

ery for precision work. Up-gradable to 100 or 250 watts the

L30V provides power flexibility to meet your specific needs. The company’s passion is on product devel-opment and a focus on after-market support to meet your current and future needs.

CONTACT: CAM TECH INDUSTRIES, INC.403.236.4464


THE EPILOG MINI 18 LASER SYSTEMThe Epilog Mini 18 is a small format, high quality CO2 laser system designed as an introductory en-

graving and cutting system for small businesses. It al-lows businesses to break into engraving with a relatively small investment. The Mini provides highly detailed en-

graving. Built to fit almost any work space, the Epilog Mini 18 features an 18" x 12" (457 x 305 mm) en-

graving area and comes in 25, 35 and 40 watts. The system includes a vector grid, vacuum table, red dot pointer,

air assist assembly and auto focus, so there aren’t a lot of add-ons to drive up the cost.

CONTACT: EPILOG LASER 303.277.1188


VERSALASER CO2 LASER CUTTING, ENGRAVING AND MARKING SYSTEM

The VersaLaser is a compact, easy-to-use and affordable comput-er-controlled CO2 laser cutting, etching and marking system. Ver-saLaser features a unique materials-based print driver that takes the guesswork out of complex power and speed setting. The VersaLaser is as easy to use as a desktop print-er and is compatible with Windows® XP and most popular graphic soft-ware programs and is available with 16" x 12" or 24" x 12" engraving areas and with five laser power options.

CONTACT: UNIVERSAL LASER SYSTEMS, INC.

800.859.7033 CIRCLE 161 ON AD EXPRESS

VISION VXL LASER ENGRAVERVision’s VXL Series Laser is a high-speed CO2 laser system developed for the person-alization marketplace. These galvo-based laser systems have the ability to provide la-ser marking at a rate of 5–50 times faster than traditional laser systems. The system utilizes its own VXL Series Laser Software which imports files from almost any graph-ics package and has an X-Y table for load-ing parts in volume. The Vision VXL series can also be adapted to your assembly line for added efficiency. Class I or Class IV so-lutions are available in 10-300 watts.

CONTACT: VISION ENGRAVING SYSTEMS, 888.637.1737


FINEMARKER HYBRID CO2 & YAG LASERTrotec’s FineMarker Hybrid™ combines a diode pumped Nd:YAG (YVO42) laser with a CO2 laser with a high speed flying-optic X-Y motion system. The result is a machine

capable of engraving, cutting and marking on a wider range of materials than either technology separately. [The system thus

offers all the advantages of a high precision CO2 laser or the unique cutting characteristics of a YAG laser,] in par-

ticular the ability to directly mark and engrave metals such as stainless steel. The Hybrid uses the same platform (chassis, electronics and motion system) as the Speedy CO2 series and is the first laser system

to combine both technologies on one platform. CONTACT: TROTEC LASER, INC.


LASER ENGRAVING

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LS900 LASER ENGRAVING MACHINEThe LS900 Laser Engraving machine, combined with the op-tional Integrated Exhaust module, was designed for the pro-fessional laser engraver. This industrial strength floor mount-ed CO2 laser with a 24" x 24" table allows the user to process a half sheet of engraving stock at one time (ex: a full matrix of engraved and cut out badges). The LS900 has user-friendly features like auto-focus and red laser pointer, which reduce set up time and engraving errors. The LS900 has a heavy duty chassis and gantry and offers laser power ranges up to 80 watts. Its front access provides effortless loading and ad-justing of objects.

CONTACT: GRAVOGRAPH-NEW HERMES, 770.623.0331CIRCLE 115 ON AD EXPRESS

KERN 52 LASER SYSTEM WITH HSEThe new CO2 HSE (high speed engraving) design en-graves up to 60" per second. It pro-duces clean, crisp, detailed artwork in 2D and 3D design using 1G of acceler-ation, while maintaining the same laser spot diameter and power over the entire table. The HSE is available in a variety of wattages including 100, 150, 200 and 400. The HSE allows easy access to three sides of the table, plus the open design permits materials to extend out the front and the back of the table. The metal cutting option is available to cut mild and stainless steel.

CONTACT: KERN ELECTRONICS & LASERS, INC.218.631.2755


HAND-HELD PORTABLE

MARKING SYSTEMPTG Industries’ innovative Porta-ble Hand-Held Fiber Laser Marking System produces permanent, leg-ible marks on a variety of materials. This new laser system is a safe, reliable, direct part marking alternative to Nd:YAG lasers. The system is extremely reliable delivering 50,000 hours of mainte-nance-free operation. The extremely versatile unit can be easily moved to any location for convenient operation and is capable of marking materials ranging in size from miniature to equip-ment too large to fit into traditional marking systems.

CONTACT: PTG INDUSTRIES, 407.804.1000CIRCLE 333 ON AD EXPRESS

THE PINNACLE ZX-SERIES LASER ENGRAVING AND CUTTING SYSTEMThe Pinnacle ZX-Series CO2 laser engraving system is available in 30-100 watt configurations with standard features including: One Touch Auto Focus, Quality Speed Mode, oversized 38" x 20" work area with front and rear doors for large objects, air assist and built-in USB support. Ap-plications include part marking and identification, serialization, 2D matrix, barcoding and more.

CONTACT: ENGRAVING SYSTEM INTEGRATORS, INC. 440.409.0100


THE LASERPRO SPIRIT ENGRAVING AND CUTTING MACHINEThe LaserPro Spirit is a user-friendly 12-100 watt CO2 laser en-graving and cutting machine. The Spirit features a pass-through front and rear door design for flexible applications. The Spirit also features SmartLID™ with instant access to the work table for quick and easy maintenance and SmartPIN™, an auto focus probe providing optimal focal distance at the press of a button. The Spirit GE is the “Grand Edition” and includes a super-wide work area extendable to 38" x 18" It’s available in 30–100 watt laser configurations.

CONTACT: GCC, 909.718.0248CIRCLE 345 ON AD EXPRESS

LASER ENGRAVING

XLT-2436 LASER ENGRAVING SYSTEMThe newest Xenetech CO2 laser, named XLT-2436 for its 24" x 36" (61cm x 91cm) engraving table size, has new and estab-lished features from the XLT-1325. One enhancement is its ability to reach engrav-ing speeds of 150 ips. The new system contains a top mounted touch-screen key pad allowing users unprecedented con-trol of the system and the job including job settings, job preview, pan and zoom, on-the-fly power and speed adjusting, system feature controls, job queue from the host-computer’s hard drive, real-time job timer, direct import of files and auto focus to any location on the table or object.CONTACT: XENETECH GLOBAL, INC.



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THE MILLENNIUM 590 FULL COLOR BADGE/PLATE PRINTERThe Millennium 590 full color badge/plate printer uses a unique dye diffusion thermal printing technology and prints directly onto a variety of pre-cut, rigid, print recep-tive substrates in one color or in full color. The 590 is perfect for your identification, recognition and small sig-nage needs, allowing you to print directly onto substrates from 1" x 3" up to 2.5" x 10" and from .010" up to .060" thick. The 590 utilizes continuous tone imaging technology to assure a clear, sharp and professional looking output from digital graphics, scanned images and original artwork created in popular software applications.

CONTACT: DIRECT COLOR SYSTEMS860.829.2244


DK20S 16" X 20" DIGITAL HEAT TRANSFER PRESSThe DK20S 16" x 20" Digital Swinger is Geo Knight’s new industrial heat transfer press. The DK20S boasts a heavy-duty solid steel welded frame providing even pressing and pressures up to 2,200 pounds of force with minimum operator effort. The heat platen pressure is also adjustable to accommodate material thicknesses rang-ing from thin fabrics to 1" thick. The lower tables are instantly interchangeable with many differently sized optional platens. The DK20S’s fully digital heat control utilizes an oversized LCD display showing both tem-perature and time simultaneously. The 16" x 20" heat platen uses a proprietary heating method called SuperCoil-Microwinding™ heater technology.

CONTACT: GEO KNIGHT & CO., INC.508.588.0186


MODEL 635 CHEMICAL ETCHING MACHINEMasteretch’s Model 635 Chemical etching ma-chine etches a variety of metals including stain-less steel, copper, brass, aluminium, steel and bronze. This makes it a great unit for produc-ing nameplates, panels, ADA signage and other

products where a durable and attractive solid-metal product is desired. The Model 635 is capable of etching panels 25" wide by any length. Mas-teretch supplies conveyorized

etching equipment in all sizes from table top units to high volume production systems. CONTACT: MASTERETCH SERVICES. LTD.

+44(0)1536.266.288CIRCLE 419 ON AD EXPRESS

EPSON SUBLIMATION PRINTERSJohnson Plastics now offers three new Epson printers: the C88, R1800 and 4800, which are ideal for sublimation. Each Epson Printer delivers outstanding performance with amazing quality and durability. Choose the affordable C88 printer for sharp, clear photos up to 81/2" x 14"; or the Epson R1800 or 4800 using the new 8-color ink technology. Sublimation inks are also available for all three of these printers.

CONTACT: JOHNSON PLASTICS 800.869.7800


ADJUNCTEQUIPMENT

DOT EMBOSSING UNITThe vhf Dot Embossing unit has been designed for lettering metals, including steel and stain-less steel. The Dot Embossing unit works by indenting the surface of the work using little “ham-mer strokes” made with a thin and extremely hard needle. The needle oscillates approximately 300 times per second and the single dots adjoin each other so closely that the inscription looks like it has been engraved. The Dot Embossing unit is powered by compressed air.

CONTACT: vhf CAMFACTURE GMBH +49 7032.97097.0



THE PHASE II HOT STAMPING SYSTEMThe Phase II Hot Stamping System will put an elegant foil imprint on a variety of flat surfac-es such as plastics, leather, paper and wood. Phase II Systems are offered in manual or convenient pneumatic operation. Phase II Hot Stamping Units can make imprints on award ribbons, badges, napkins, flat-sided pencils and pens, matchbooks, book covers, letter-heads, business cards and photographic slide-mounts. Jackson also offers the MD-100 pho-topolymer system which allows users to create their own hot stamping dies for use with the Phase II and other hot stamp systems.

CONTACT: JACKSON MARKING PRODUCTS CO., INC., 618.242.1334


2034 AUTOMATIC RECYCLING SANDCARVING SYSTEM

The 2034 Automatic Recycling Sandcarving Sys-tem has a totally self-contained space saving de-sign that will enable you to recycle abrasive in 90 seconds. The attached 50 lb., 45° pot bottom allows for unrestricted abrasive flow for approxi-mately 45 minutes of blast time. The 2034 fea-tures a powerful built-in high efficiency dust col-lector motor designed for years of trouble-free operation. Their new mechanical “shaker” and ex-clusive dust collection removal feature completely eliminates exposure to airborne dust during main-tenance and dust removal. This unit also features the brightest lit workspace on the market with dual recessed halogen lamps.

CONTACT: RAYZIST PHOTOMASK INC.800.729.9478


MODEL VA 10 CIRCULAR SAFETY SAWB.F.’s VA 10 safety saw offers precision cutting of sheet material, including plas-tic, wood, non-ferrous metal, rubber, card-board, phenolic and more. The VA 10 in-corporates the highest standards of safety, precision and quality of workmanship. The powerful, high speed, 350 watt motor, coupled with a long-wearing carbide-tooth blade, handles the tough jobs for a smooth cut in a wide range of materials. It makes it easy to cut very thin strips or large plates with great accuracy.

CONTACT: B.F. PLASTICS, INC.800.866.7121


JP 500 SUBLIMATION MUG PRESSThe JP 500 Mug Press from Johnson Plas-tics cuts costs and produces consistent quality sublimated mugs. The JP 500 can sublimation print all types of artwork de-signs including beautiful, full color photo-graphs and company logos on most 11, 15, 18 and 22 oz. mugs and steins. The unit has an easy pressure adjustment for achieving uniform pressure while printing various size mugs. Other features include digital electronic controls and an automatic digital timer. CONTACT: JOHNSON PLASTICS


GUILLOTINE SHEAR MODEL 4001Accu Cutter’s Model 4001 guillotine-style shear pro-vides a heavy duty, bench top solution to all of your cut-ting needs. With a larger-than-normal 13" cutting capac-ity and interchangeable top and bottom blades, the unit provides a smooth, burr-free cut on even very thick materials such as .080" aluminum and .050" brass. The 4001’s full 12" back gauge provides accurate and repeatable cuts. A particular convenience is the shear’s repositionable handle allowing the unit to be set up for right or left-handed operation.

CONTACT: ACCU CUTTER COMPANY717.241.2330


ADJUNCTEQUIPMENT


MUG PRO PLUS DIGITAL HEAT PRESSNova Chrome’s Mug Pro Plus is a digital heat press sublimation system for mugs. The Mug Pro features top-to-bottom print-ing capabilities, an accurate digital elec-tronic controller to insure consistent heat and time, an auto-start timer and heavy-duty construction. The Mug Pro Plus prints on sublimatable mugs and steins from 11 oz. to the 22 oz.

CONTACT: NOVA CHROME800.788.6682


THE SWINGMAN 20D HEATTRANSFER PRESSThe SwingMan 20D is a 16" x 20" heat press designed to meet the printing needs of any textile or sublimation business. The SwingMan 20D features a swing away heat platen with a print gap that accepts any substrate up to 13/4" thick. The heads-up display also features digital time and temperature control from 0° to 450°. The over-center le-ver provides easy lock-down with a full range of pressure adjustments. These features combine with an easy-swing platen which enables productivity and ease of use. All heating elements carry a lifetime warranty.

CONTACT: HIX CORPORATION800.835.0606


MODEL #938512" PLATE STOCK CUTTERMain Trophy’s Model #9385 shear is a guillotine-style met-al-cutting shear. The unit fea-tures square, burr free cuts on brass, aluminum and steel. Hardened tool steel blades, an adjustable stop and a side edge ruler are all stan-dard features on the Model #9385. This shear is a real workhorse and is made of cast aluminum for durability.

CONTACT: MAIN TROPHY SUPPLY CO.847.439.2550


We hope you’ve enjoyed your sneak peek atthe exciting equipment EJ has assembled fromyour favorite R & I suppliers. Now it’s time tohit show floor running with your “MUST SEE”list!Orifyou’renotattendingthisyear,youcanstill share in the excitement. It’s easy to receiveliterature from thesesuppliers.Simplyfillout theAdExpressCardinthisissueandhavethelitera-turemaileddirectlytoyou.Happyshopping!


ADJUNCTEQUIPMENT




www.engraversjournal.com / www.uidmarkinginfo.comVisit Us On-line!


et me dust off my crystal ball and look deep within it. That’s where (if I’m a little bit

smart and a whole lot lucky) I may discover where laser engraving technology might be going in the near future. Of course, this prediction business is always a dangerous practice since there’s always someone anxious to hold on to these articles and keep score as to how many of my predictions turn out to be right and how many are wrong. Still, I will dare to join the ranks of the Jeane Dixons of the world and make thirteen predictions. Yes, thirteen is an ominous number but I will take a stand and here are my predictions—some accurate and some not so accurate. PredictionOne: Lasers will continue to come down in price, just as the PC market has. Although it may take several years, we’ll see 25 watt CO2 lasers showing up at less than today’s (market) price. We already have a few lasers that sell for less than $10,000 but, the prices will continue to slowly drop. Keep in mind that the higher end systems will be significantly less expensive. Really the trend that drives this prediction is that many of the sys-tem manufacturers have come up with entry-level systems—often machines with a smaller work area and perhaps a lower wattage laser tube. Prediction Two: With the lower prices, there will be less “hand holding” for first time buyers. Currently, service, support and training are high on the priority list of any good laser manufacturer but, as the prices come down, there will be less of a profit margin for such necessities (luxuries). As a result, we’ll see more companies charging a fee for specialized training and support. PredictionThree: More and more features will become standard. In the battle of the lasers, we’ll see more production line models where everything is standard: air assist, red dot laser pointer, vector cutting table and auto focus. Many lasers already offer these as standard equipment. PredictionFour: We’ll see more market “nich-es” open up in the least expected places. Already,

we’re seeing lasers going into other markets such as scrapbook shops, hobby shops, photography studios and antique shops. As time goes by, we’ll see the tag and label industry invest seriously in lasers as will those serving the UID (Unique IDentification) government market. Along with these emerging markets, we’ll see more architects buying lasers to make 3D models and see even more companies spring up specifically for that purpose. Manufacturers of all kinds of models will join the ranks. I know of people who use them to cut out parts for the model train, car, dollhouse and airplane markets. We’ll see lasers shown at more and different trade shows and especially those central to these new markets. PredictionFive:A laser will become “standard equipment” in every serious awards or engraving shop. The advantage some of us enjoyed by having a laser and thus an advantage over our competition will evaporate. An awards shop without a laser will fall behind and many will die a painful death trying to compete using more labor intensive marking methods. PredictionSix:We’ll see lasers become faster and more efficient through the use of specialized optics. Already, most laser manufacturers offer some form of high intensity lens but this technology is still in its infancy and will grow dramatically in the next couple of years. PredictionSeven:We’ll see more shops add lasers to their opera-tion for specific application needs such as the making of rubber stamps, the UID market, metal marking, etc. Rather than just having one multi-purpose laser, shops will sport two, three or more with each unit assigned a specific type of application. It will be rare to find a shop with only one laser, let alone none at all.

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Prediction Eight: We’ll see new software (drivers to be more specific) that’s written for direct application without the use of CorelDRAW or other graphics application programs. Currently, there are drivers that have pre-loaded settings that interact with CorelDRAW (or other programs) to insure the proper settings, focus, etc., are automatically set, but this will be further refined to eliminate the need for learning a graphics program alto-gether. Prediction Nine: A greater vari-ety of materials will be developed as “laser ready.” Already, we have mate-rial suppliers that offer a huge variety of materials and engravables that are laser friendly. This will continue to expand to include more highly spe-cialized metals and laserable plastics that interact with CO2 lasers without the need for chemicals. Prediction Ten: We’ll see more and more YAG type lasers enter the engraving business. YAG lasers and their close cousins, the Vanadate lasers, offer a number of advantages over CO2 lasers, in particular their ability to directly engrave metals, including stainless steel. Some YAGs and Vanadates will use the traditional Galvo design (these use a fast-moving mirror to produce incredible speed when mark-ing metals and other friendly materi-als, but are severely limited in the size of the engravable area). Others will use “moving optics” like the gantry driven systems used on most current CO2 lasers. These will be slower, but allow shop owners to engrave over a very large work area. PredictionEleven: We’ll see more “hybrid” lasers which will combine

both a CO2 laser and a YAG laser in the same cabinet and use the same optics for both lasers. This not only reduces the number of lasers needed, it adds a great deal of flexibility since it greatly increases the number of materials that they can mark and thus reduces the relative price since the cabinet, mechanics and optics of both lasers are shared. Trotec is the only company currently offering a hybrid, as far as I know, but it’s a really neat idea and I predict it’ll catch on with other manufacturers. Prediction Twelve: The advent of inexpensive and relatively mass-marketed laser engraving systems will bring a lot of new people into the industry and create new competi-tion for you. This likely will include hobbyists, photographers, pen turn-ers, wood workers, early retirees and others looking for a new or reworked career. Of course this is not a totally new trend in the industry, as many of the really well-established manu-facturers of rotary and laser engrav-ing equipment have long courted the SYOB (start your own business) crowd very successfully. What all this means is that peo-ple in the mainstream engraving and awards field will have to remain on the leading edge, having a good range of highly productive and mod-ern equipment. The experienced users will have to offer more and better ser-vices that the start-ups can’t compete with. PredictionThirteen:The Internet will play a bigger and bigger role in the way we do business. The ability for companies (or individuals) to go online and design their own prod-uct on a user-friendly site so all an engraving shop has to do is produce the product and ship it will become commonplace. This may become one

of the most (if not the most) common ways plaques, gift items and indus-trial labels are ordered. There will be less and less face-to-face contact and less and less community loyalty since products can be ordered just as easily from 2,000 miles away as from down the street. Not only must entre-preneurs of the future have a web-site, the website must be designed to allow customers to easily design their own products. Well, there you have them. My predictions for the next five years. Some will come true and some may not, but according to my crystal ball, this is what we’ll see in the near future. Oh, there’s one more tiny predic-tion that should go without saying: The company that goes through 2006 without a laser will be at a big dis-advantage. Even those who enter the laser capable market this year will be years behind the curve of those who entered the market early on. Those who hold off, waiting for the price to drop or the technology to become even easier to use, may find themselves on the outside looking in. I have said it a thousand times and I will say it again: “Anyone who buys a laser in today’s market and can’t make it pay for itself in a year or two, just isn’t trying very hard.” Enjoy your new laser. If you don’t have a laser yet, enjoy yourself while getting one and learning how to use it. I hope it makes as much money for you as my two lasers have made for me and that you have just as much fun during the learning phase as I did! What did I just say? I’ve been lasering for 15 years now and I’m still in the learning phase and still having fun with every new trick and capability I learn!


1. Rotary engraved acrylic desktop award, PDU photo.

2. Diamond engraved pewter locket, cour-tesy of John E. Lepper, Inc.

3. Crystal stemware rotary engraved using the Stylus Cylindrical engraver from Vision Engraving Systems.

4. The New Hermes Vanguard Orbiter dia-mond engraving a solid brass bell.

5. Rotary engraved and paint filled Corian sign from Ashcraft Graphic Impressions.

6. Rotary engraved pen. Photo courtesy of Vision Engraving Systems.

7. Rotary engraved Corian solid surface ded-ication plaque from P.D.M. Products.

8. Diamond engraved men’s ID bracelet from Speidel.

9. Granites Deluxe, a granite-look plastic from Rowmark can be rotary or laser en-graved. Johnson Plastics photo.

10. Rotary engraved acrylic award from Tropar.

11. Machining aluminum block using the CAT3D-M3 CNC System from Datron Dy-namics.

12. Diamond engraved items from Gravo-graph-New Hermes, Inc.

13. ADA compliant signage with raised let-ters and Braille can be easily created using a rotary engraving machine. Accent Sig-nage photo.

14. Rotary engraved control panels from Royal Oak Nameplate Co. and Legends for Industry.

15. Heart locket from Gravograph-New Hermes personalized using diamond-drag engraving.

16. Rotary engraved pens from Artmold/Pierre Cardin (top) and Anson Incorporated.

17. Rotary engraved acrylic award from JDS Industries.

18. Silverplate Revere Bowl with diamond engraved plate, Freeman Products photo.

19. Gavel with diamond engraved band and block with rotary cut plate. Items from The Gavel Company.

1. Pewter plate laser engraved with a CO2 laser and CerMark solution. Laser-Bits photo.

2. UID (Unique IDentification) nameplate for the DoD (Department of Defense) us-ing AlumaMark laserable aluminum. Hori-zons photo.

3. Renoir’s “The Luncheon of the Boating Party” is an example of laser “art.” Photo courtesy of CAM Tech Industries.

4. Classic wood desk nameplate laser en-graved by Lee’s Wood Products.

5. Horizon’s AlumaMark blanks turn black when struck by a CO2 laser beam. John-son Plastics photo.

6. Ring laser engraved with the Vision En-graving Systems MAX Pro engraver.

7. This crystal award from SCT Crystal can be beautifully laser engraved.

8. The completed “Buried Alive” sign was fashioned in plastic by Rowmark.

9. Acrylic gears laser cut with the ULS-25E laser engraver from Universal Laser Systems.

10. From LaserBits, the laser engraved Frosted Mountain Award.

11. Black marble block from LaserBits, la-sered using a CO2 laser and PhotoGrav software.

12. LAMA, Laserable Anodized Mirrored Aluminum, from Johnson Plastics, is a highly reflective .020" mirrored aluminum that turns white when lasered.

13. Alumamark Brass provides high quality CO2 laser-engraved photos and text. Las-erBits photo.

14. An ordinary metal flask can be laser engraved using MetalMark spray. Photo courtesy of Jorlink USA.

15. Intricate designs can be easily created in wood with your laser. Epilog photo.

16. Laser engraved “Elegance” awards from Acrylic Idea Factory.

17. LaserFrost from Identification Plates, is a laserable metal with a frosted back-ground that allows you to laser through the printed frosting to the background of bright gold or satin silver for an etched look.

18. Key fobs are a quick and easily laser-ed item.

19. Red Alder wood plaque lasered with a CO2 laser. JDS photo.

20. Jet Black Marble plaques from Laser-Bits laser engraved with a CO2 laser.

21. An Epilog laser was used to create this moose, including cutting and surface en-graving.

22. Leather shoe accents created by Gra-vograph-New Hermes, using one of their laser engraving machines.

23. Metal frying pan personalized using a CO2 laser and CerMark solution. Universal Laser photo.

24. A 3D laser engraved image created with a GCC LaserPro.

25. These (non-coated) Italian charms from Johnson Plastics, can be laser engraved using CerMark and a CO2 laser.

26. Laser engravable brass plate com-pletes this Tropar corporate award.

27. Wooden pen lasered with a CO2 laser.

28. The Pike’s Peak trophy is an example of subsurface crystal laser engraving where thousands of dots appear suspended in-side a block of solid crystal. Photo courtesy of GW Crystal.

29. Craft foam sheets are a versatile mate-rial that can be laser cut and formed into unique items like this frame from Epilog.

30. Lasered acrylic award from Tropar’s “Flame” series.

31. Clock award with a CO2 laserable brass plate from Tropar.

PHOTO EXPO Captions

ROTARY ENGRAVING

LASER ENGRAVING

Photos on page 23.Photos on page 7.

PHOTO EXPO Captions



AD EXPRESS #

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

Accent Signage Systems, Inc. ............................................................p.26 399

BF Plastics, Inc. ......................................................................................p.8 441

Epilog Laser ............................................................................................p.3 55

Geo Knight & Co Inc. ...........................................................................p.21 24

Gravograph-New Hermes ......................................................................p.5 74

Horizons .................................................................................................p.24 260

Identification Plates Inc. ......................................................................p.21 481

Johnson Plastics ......................................................... Inside Front Cover 91

LASERPRO (GCC) .................................................................................p.15 473

Trotec ....................................................................................... Back Cover 2

Universal Inkjet Printers ......................................................................p.20 496

Universal Laser Systems Inc. ........................................Inside Back Cover 18

Vision Engraving Systems ....................................................................p.9 72

Xenetech ...............................................................................................p.13 448

J. Stephen Spence

J. Stephen Spence is president and founder of Awards by Recognition Concepts in Huntington, WV. Steve is a recognition authority and well known lecturer in the R & I industry.

Steve can be reached at [email protected].

Jackie Zack

Jackie Zack began her career in the industry in 1985. She has authored hundreds of articles for The Engravers Journal.

Jackie can be reached by E-mail at [email protected].

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Where would R & I professionals be without their equipment? Beginning in the upper left and proceeding clockwise and ending in the middle, ViperSpeed from Xenetech Global (Baton Rouge, LA), Cornermaster from Johnson Plastics (Minneapolis, MN), LaserPro Spirit from GCC (Taipei, Taiwan),Johnson Plastics Table Shear, the VersaLaser from Universal Laser Systems, Inc. (Scottsdale, AZ), The Digital Knight DK20S from Geo Knight & Co., Inc. (Brockton MA),the GravoTech M40G from Gravograph-New Hermes (Duluth, GA), the Epilog Mini (Golden, CO) and the IS400 Volume from Gravograph-New Hermes.




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