Engraving, performed with special tools and electrical equipment, as which use the engraver, dremel or dental drill, for many years belongs to the popular types of decorative finishing products made of different materials. The quality and efficiency of such processing are largely determined by, which electric engraver was chosen to perform it. Buying such equipment for use at home or for professional activities, a number of its technical parameters should be taken into account.
In addition to engraving, The power tools considered here cope perfectly with other tasks
Design features and main characteristics
Before deciding on that, how to choose an engraver, should be well versed in the design and principle of operation of such a device. Structurally, the engraver is a modified drill, all components of which are placed in a compact housing, held with one hand.
The electric engravers, working on the principle of a dental drill, there is an electric motor, reducer and spindle, placed in an extremely compact and easy to hold housing. The spindle can be used to fix the tool, and to install a flexible shaft, at the end of which the working nozzle with the tool is fixed. Cooling of the engraver's electric motor during operation is provided by a special fan, which cools the drive mechanism through air intakes in the plastic case.
It is much easier to work with a flexible shaft, except for some miniature models
Serial devices, by means of which such technological operation is performed, as engraving, work on the principle of an ordinary electric drill. The weight of their body, usually, does not exceed one kilogram, which allows you to easily hold them even with one hand. Choosing an engraver, pay attention to the following characteristics:
- supply voltage;
- spindle speed;
- the presence of a flexible shaft and its length;
- the ability to adjust the speed of the working tool;
- number of working nozzles, complete with equipment.
Choosing your first engraver, many prefer kits with lots of nozzles
Areas of application
The electric engraver is a fairly versatile device, which can be successfully used to perform various technological operations. It is suitable for home, and for professional work, when the use of conventional power tools is not possible. By means of an engraving installation, example, you can carefully and accurately drill holes, whose diameter is 0.2-0.4 mm, as well as perform grinding, polishing, milling and cutting of small details. To the most common areas, which use engraving equipment, include:
- performing engraving on the surface of products made of almost any material;
- production and decorative design of models;
- repair, manufacture and decoration of watch movements;
- manufacture and design improvement of devices, used for fishing;
- performing various household chores with small items and devices;
- polishing and cleaning of hard-to-reach areas on the surface of products.
Various devices for specific work, included or purchased later, allow you to expand the functionality of the tool
Versatility of electric engravers and a wide range of working tools, complete with which they can be used, allow you to successfully use them to solve a variety of technological problems.
Selection criteria
Choosing an electric engraver, buyers are guided by different criteria. Some people focus on the reviews of more experienced users or on the rating of a particular model among professionals, and for some an important indicator is the cost of the device or brand, under which it is made. Meanwhile, to choose a certain model of such equipment should be based on that, how intensively and for which technological tasks it will be used. The answers to these questions will determine the necessary technical characteristics and equipment of the purchased electric engraver. Naturally, for intensive daily use and for use several times a week you need to buy different models of electric engravers.
When buying a budget engraver, inspect and feel the spindle and flexible shaft for backlash, turn on the tool and check the vibration
There is a wide variety of electric engravers on the market today, which differ in their technical characteristics and functionality and, in accordance, cost. This allows you to select the device, which will cope with those tasks, which you are going to solve with its help. Focus on the power of the purchased device. So, engravers are quite suitable for household purposes and hobbies, whose power is in the range 100-200 W, and to solve professional problems it is better to choose more serious units with a capacity of 250 W.
Evaluating electric engravers by their functionality, should be guided by common sense and the real need for certain parameters, which endowed the considered equipment. For numerous functions of the professional apparatus, most of which you may not need, will have to seriously overpay.
Ergonomic equipment
Choosing an electric engraver, with which you have to work independently, should not rely on reviews of a particular model. It is important to understand, how convenient such equipment is for you, so before you buy an engraver, you need to take it in hand, assess its weight and ergonomics. It should be borne in mind, that you will have to work with an engraver for a long time, therefore, it should be comfortable and not cause fatigue with prolonged use.
Removable handle provides the most comfortable grip
Evaluating an electric engraver on ergonomic parameters, pay attention to the following characteristics:
- the quality of the material of manufacture and assembly;
- convenient location of switches and other controls;
- convenience and efficiency of change of working nozzles;
- reliability and convenience of installation of a flexible shaft, if it is provided in the design;
- smooth operation and noise level, which creates an engraver.
Plastic thread for fixing a flexible shaft is not the best design solution
Naturally, do not choose equipment, which works with jerks, extraneous squeaks and clicks. Design, in which the case of the electric engraver is executed, is also important. Work with the device, which looks beautiful, much nicer, than with unattractive equipment.
Modern models of engravers, especially those of them, which are made under reputable brands, emit a very small amount of noise during operation and have a low level of vibration. Work with such equipment, which is in good technical condition, does not tire and does not cause any discomfort.
Which brands to prefer
The products of many manufacturers of electric engravers are presented on the modern market. However, professionals advise to choose devices of the following brands:
- Defort;
- Bosch;
- Makita;
- Dremel;
- DWT.
Einhell produces high-quality equipment with more modest technical characteristics, Skill і Sturm. Among the electric engravers from domestic manufacturers you can choose the products of companies "Zubr", "Whirlwind" and "Energomash".
Features of some engravers from well-known manufacturers
The cost of a particular engraver model is influenced by the brand, under which it is made, and its functionality. Because the cost of professional models of engravers from the price of the simplest devices for the home can vary many times, you need to think carefully, whether you are willing to overpay for the functionality of such a device, if you don't need it. Engravers should also be chosen very carefully, whose cost is very low. Produced by little-known companies, they, usually, do not differ in good quality and reliability.
You can choose an engraver to solve certain technological problems using the following algorithm:
- study the reviews and recommendations of those, who is constantly working with such devices;
- evaluate the selected device for its functionality and technical characteristics;
- evaluate the design of the case, build quality and ease of use of the engraver.
Choosing one or another model of electric engraver, the complete set of such device should be estimated also, which should include a convenient case for storing and carrying equipment, as well as replaceable working nozzles and flexible drive shaft. The presence of such a case, made of durable plastic, which will allow you to keep your engraver in working order longer and provide him with appropriate storage conditions.