The engraver in its functionality is very similar to an ordinary drill or grinder, but its main purpose is the processing of parts, differing in miniature size. Using such equipment and special working nozzles for the engraver, you can effectively perform various technological operations, which include drilling, milling, grinding, engraving, etc..
Cutting of a steel pipe by a cutting disk for the drill
List of materials, which can be processed by an engraver, also quite large. It is a soft and malleable wood, solid steel, brittle glass or ceramics, different types of plastic and even bone. Naturally, different working nozzles are used for processing by means of an engraver of various materials, differing in design as a design, and material of manufacture.
What are the nozzles for the engraver
Work attachments or tools, used to work with the engraver, presented in the modern market in a great variety. Their design includes two main elements:
- shank, by means of which the tool is fixed in the cartridge of the used equipment;
- working part, which performs the main functions, interacting with the processed material.
The working part of these nozzles is intended for processing of metal surfaces
The choice of working attachments for the engraver is influenced by the following factors: characteristics of the processed material and the list of technological tasks, which must be performed. Those of home builders and professionals, who work with the engraving machine on a regular basis, try to buy a set of nozzles for the engraver at once, includes tools of various sizes and purposes. Depending on the needs and financial capabilities of a particular engraver, this may be a more modest kit, which includes several dozen necessary tools, or professional set, in which nozzles for performance of various works on metal are presented, on wood and other materials.
Choosing working tools for the engraver, should be considered, that collet chucks can be installed on individual models, suitable for nozzles only of a certain brand. To use such equipment complete with any types of nozzles, will have to buy universal collets for the engraver, which are also sold in whole sets.
Diamond burs for engraving
To the most popular types of working nozzles, used to complete engraving machines, include diamond drills for the engraver. The base of such a tool is made of tool steel, and diamond powder is applied only to their working part. The mechanical characteristics of diamond powder allow you to successfully use the nozzle for processing such hard materials, like steel, ceramics, glass, artificial and natural stones.
Expensive dental diamond burs have a long service life
Diamond burs (or cones) are used mainly for finishing of figured openings. Usually, diamond materials for the engraver are sold in whole sets 10-20 tools of different shapes and sizes. Working with them, the rules of their operation should be strictly followed, so as not to damage the diamond coating. In the standard version, the diameter of the shank of the diamond-type engraving nozzles is 3 mm.
Abrasive tools
The most affordable option for use with a drill or engraver are nozzles, the working part of which is made of rubber and abrasive material. Their shank diameter is 2,3 mm, and they are used mainly for metal work, including stainless steel. Abrasive tools, usually, sold in sets by 6 pieces and have a different configuration of the working part.
Abrasive Cones (alumina) for processing steel and non-ferrous metals
Individual manufacturers (in particular, Fit Company) produce abrasive engraving nozzles in different colors, allowing the user to easily determine the category of the tool. So, abrasive cones of red color, are intended for works on metal, are made of alumina, and green, made of silicon carbide, are used for processing of stone products, glass and ceramics. For convenience of performance of various technological operations diamond cones are made with various form of a working part, but their shanks always have the same diameter.
The following operations are performed with the help of abrasive nozzles for the engraver, as boring holes, surface grinding, etc.. These attachments are best suited for home use, for a professional their capabilities will not be enough.
Nozzles can be in the form of removable working heads, fixed on the corresponding shank
Working nozzles for grinding and polishing
Engraving machine, as mentioned above, can be successfully used for fine grinding and polishing of products from different materials. A cone is used as a working nozzle to perform such technological operations, made of felt. Because felt does not have outstanding abrasive qualities, then use such tool only together with special polishing pastes.
Polishing discs can be used for roughing or finishing, as well as to prove irregularly shaped surfaces
Choice of polishing pastes of a certain type, which differ in their characteristics and chemical composition from each other, depends primarily on the properties of the material, which will be processed with their help. So, grinding of hard metal surfaces is performed using pastes, which are based on paraffin and polishing powder. For works on a tree and glass special polishing pastes on the basis of diamond powder of various fraction are intended.. With their help, you can not only effectively remove scratches from the surface of wood and glass, but also bring the product to a perfectly smooth condition. Experts recommend to prefer those of them, in which the diamond powder has a fraction size 3/2 and 5/3.
Such accessories, as felt grinding nozzles for wood work, metal, glass and other materials, successfully used not only in conjunction with a specialized engraving machine: they can be equipped with a dental drill and the simplest hand-held devices.
Replaceable grinding nozzles
Work attachments for professional engravers
A separate category of working nozzles, which equip engravers, are the tools of the professional series. Specialists, for which work on an engraving machine is the main activity, usually, have a whole set of different nozzles, differing in material of manufacture, design and shape of the working part. If we talk about the most typical composition of such a set, then it must be included:
- cutters for the engraver of various forms, sizes and designs;
- drills, turn the engraving installation into an efficient drill;
- diamond, abrasive and felt cones;
- wire nozzles, by means of which carry out cleaning of the processed surfaces of traces of corrosion and other pollution;
- cutting discs for the engraver, which are quite difficult to buy individually.
For professionals, each nozzle is designed for a specific operation
Availability of a specialist, which is used by the engraver in his professional activity, such a capacious set of tools is explained very simply. Often to carry out qualitative and accurate processing of the smallest details on a surface of the processed product only the mill does not allow, cutting disc for engraver and other tools of the same size. That is why even within the processing of one product, tools often have to be changed, choosing nozzles, suitable for performing a certain technological operation.
in addition, the specialist has a set of tools, in which drills are present, cutters, cutting wheels for engravers and cones of many other types, is an indicator of professionalism and shows, that in front of you is an experienced person, who is well versed in his business. Masters, who constantly work with engraving devices, choose expensive sets of tools of a professional series also for that reason, what to buy individually individual tools from such sets (in particular, cutting wheel for the engraver) quite difficult.
Special holders allow you to quickly change the necessary attachments
A brief overview of brands
Today, finding engravers and working attachments for their equipment on the domestic market is not a problem. At the same time, the variety of equipment and tools presented in free sale allows you to choose them for your needs and financial capabilities.
Professional level nozzles
To those masters, engaged in wood engraving, metal and other materials at a professional level and already have the appropriate equipment, it is necessary to pay attention to working nozzles, produced under the trademarks "Dremel" and "Dexter". The high cost of such equipment for the engraver is fully justified by its exceptional reliability and durability.. Another important advantage, which differ cutter, cutting wheel, bur, as well as any other trademark data tool, there is a high accuracy of processing.
Quality consumables are acquired as professionals, and home builders, respect their craft
Having stopped the choice on working nozzles "Dremel" or "Dexter", keep in mind, that one such tool can last the same amount of time, How many 10 nozzles made in China. In favor of the purchase is quite expensive, but the fact that quality products from well-known manufacturers speaks for itself, that in the range of these companies you can find nozzles for different purposes and sizes. So, these can be different cutters for a drill or engraver, drills of different diameters, disk tool, as well as cones of any other types, are intended for performance of works on a tree, metal, ceramics, glass.
Budget models
Cheap, but worthy of the quality of the nozzle offers a domestic manufacturer - the company "Zubr". You can buy sets of nozzles at affordable prices, including to 180 tools of the most popular types, structures, sizes and shapes. Such kits have tools for drilling, cutting discs for drill or engraver, milling nozzles, cones of diamond and abrasive type, as well as much more.
All nozzles, included in the set of the Zubr trademark, placed in a plastic case, which provides convenience as storage, and transfer to the place of work.
Nozzles from Chinese manufacturers
There is a double opinion about Chinese-made nozzles. On the one hand, their quality and reliability are in great question, on the other hand, they cost much less than branded equipment. Chinese milling nozzle for engraver, the cutting disc or drill bit will not last long, but also throw them away, given their cost, will not be so sorry. If the engraver is a professional, then even a cheap Chinese cutter will not prevent him from doing the job well (truth, he will have to change such a tool more often).
Chinese attachments for drills or engravers can be recommended to novice engravers, who can use them to gain their first skills in this matter.
Affordable Chinese nozzles allow novice gamers to buy large sets "on trial"
Homemade nozzles for engraving machines and drills
For simple engraving work in the home workshop of the cutter, cutting disc, grinding and polishing cones can be made with your own hands. As the simplest cutter for equipment of the engraver or the drill it is possible to use a corrugated wheel from a usual lighter or the expansion bolt shield, on a hat which working teeth are cut out. The working nozzle for grinding or polishing is also quite easy to make: you can use a wooden drum with a shank, on the side surface of which is glued sandpaper.
Many homemade nozzles for engraving installation (if they are used to perform not very complex work) show themselves well, while the cost of their manufacture is minimal.