Gravograph Pantograph IM3: Part 2 - Using it. 

Hi Nick great video . Im a gravotech engineer and the graduated wheel is the depth of the engraving you want to do. the metal nose cone will make sure every engraving is the same depth. the higher the number the deeper the depth of the engraving

I bought the machine today second hand, its soooooo aweesome!

Thanks for teaching me how to use this machine although I don't have any but I believed I'm going to have it one day, thank you once again.

Excellent video Nick, I found if I put Scotch Magic tape on the metal first and than engrave on top of the tape you get a much smoother engraving, take care!

If you want to engrave a shape, such as you have tried, make a former/pattern. I use a base of 20thou styrene, cut out my pattern in the same material and stick it to the base. Use a round blunt follower and go round your pattern. You can make the pattern 2 ,3 or 4 times bigger than the finished work to improve the result. Note that the follower and cutter need to be in the same ratio as the pattern and shape. For a pattern twice the size of your shape the follower has to be twice the size of the cutter. Pantograph Services will grind cutters to any shape/size. I have some parallel cutters from 0.5mm to 2mm in 0.5mm increments. The problem you would have with your leaf shape is getting a true 'V' - even a 0.5mm cutter would leave a curved base but you could file it out.

Nice score Nick, we used to have one of these at work, for the electrical department to make labels for panels switches and whatever. I never saw it being used, but I was intrigued by the mechanisms. Enjoyed the video, take care and cheers!

I have some slight experience of panto engraving. Here's some of what l know, l hope it may be of some use to you. The Template or Copies are made of Engravers Hard Brass. The metal you're engraving should be no harder/tougher than Engravers - free cutting - Soft Brass that will contain lead to a specified %. Avoid cutting aluminium, it welds itself to the cutting edge. The inclusive angle of the stylus is important, it should be a snug but sliding fit in the Vee of the Copy letter. Hone off it's point and add a small drop of thin oil to each Copy vee groove. Any lateral wobble here will effect your engraved accuracy. With the cutter edge's, sharp and at the correct angle's for the work-piece material, try to make each stroke in one pass, otherwise your copy template will be prematurely worn out. Year's ago, template's came in generally two dimensions, height and bevel angle according to manufacturer. The width of each template is also important, not just randomly arrived at. The template width will determine the space in between your engraved letter's. Make spacer's to suit. To copy an image, an established method is to scratch draw it onto Perspex or suchlike material. Here demands some artistic skill. Use a home-made scratch drawing scribe that will -by stage's - deepen and widen the groove to comfortably accept the included angle of your stylus. As ever, wobberly in = wobberly out. When engraving any kind of plastic, give the material a low flow cooling air stream to prevent melting or else a scientifically sharp cutting edge. I hope these little snippets help you along the way.

Hi Nick, nice video! Thanks for spending the time to address the steel question. Although I haven't used the machine or something similar I could see that engraving steel is more difficult. My next question would be milling entire pockets of bigger depths like 2mm but I am not sure a machine like that can handle that. Of course to try something like it you would have to use different kind of cutters I guess. From what I have seen I would make the assumption that in my case I would need a pantograph/mill that can handle that process. It seems like a fun machine nevertheless and with practice you will definitely get better and more consistent results. Keep it up!

Keep them coming very good thank you

I think, as you already said you need a finer engraving tool, and use the tip from a pen (such as a BIC pen/BIC Crystal) to replace the stylus so not only it provides a hard and lubricated point perfect for paper but also you will know where you already engraved the drawing. As an alternative put a piece of glass on top of the drawing: steel is not known to catch in the glass :)

Very useful video for me, I like the idea you could copy the printed picture. If you where to take the tip from a ballpoint pen you might be sble to mount it on the scriber. My machine has a diamond point and it would copy your picture more finely, I'm not sure but it may also engrave the netal better .Thanks for a great video

Thanks heaps, like you I have wanted one of these machines for a long time and finally have one. I had no idea how to set it up or use it but you have shown me the way. It’s a T2 but they all look similar and work pretty much the same way. Any chance of a new video showing what you have learnt after a year of having one. Cheers Stuart 🇦🇺

Thank you for posting

Hi Nick, thanks for your video! I have a mk5 and I'm trying to figure out whether the vice assembly can rotate? The angle markings around the shaft seem to indicate it can, however I can seem to achieve it! Does your one?

Hey Nick, Excellent video as all of your videos are! I'm sure with some practice you'll master the technique. As for its capability to engrave on steel seems that it can, but not too deep; I assume that if you want to engrave a design or a pattern on a blade, definitely can be done. For deeper cuts on steel I think it would be best if you change its motor with a bigger one. Now, if you want to engrave various designs, patterns or special letters to your blades or to any other of your artwork, use your stencil printer. Create the design you want in a size just a bit bigger than the letters you have, stick the stencil on a brass plate and cut it out with a fret saw. Use needle files and fine sandpaper to finish all the details and then use it on the engraving machine. Thanks again for the video! Take care my friend. Dimitris

Can i ask.. Where to buying letter this Machine

Do anybody know the angle of the engraving tracing tip...is it 30 60 or 90deg?

I need this machine where can I buy it from

good morning may i ask you where i can buy IM3 BELT, my gravograph belt was totally cut off, please help me where i can buy this belt, my machine is not working for about 6 months. thank you and GOD BLESS.

the letters are all the same for the im3. have you tried scrubbing the channels of the holder or even silicone lubricant as they are a very snug fit

Hawmats desmont the engriving mashen ser

I really need it anyone selling it should inbox me