"Jewelry Engraving"    Published by GraphicsPro

Jewelry Engraving maybe one of the most feared areas of the Recognition World; The thought of having to tell a Grandmother you screwed up a family heirloom or misspelled a name on a $10,000 dollar watch will cause many engravers to reject the job. But with the right Machine and proper technique, there is very little risk, especially when we look at the financial benefits.

The secret to success in Engraving Jewelry falls into several categories, But first let me say most Jewelry engraving does NOT involve Heirlooms or top dollar items, like Rolex, it just pieces that if a error occurs can be buffed out on Jewelry wheel or is so cheap it can just be replaced easily. 

Now to start a list of items that you need to complete the Technical side of putting Images on Jewelry items is of course the engraver itself.  The classic Rotary engravers use a diamond bit and can ride the curvatures of the variable depths and variety of surfaces that you will run into.   The engraver is the center of all areas of any engravers world, but the specificity of bracelet causes many us to find our unit just will not ride these uneven surfaces.  Your engraver must have been designed with a Z-axis,( that axis controls the motion of the diamond bit to and from the material surface) to gave good quality on these types of pieces. The older systems designed for our process, has enough flexibility in the z-axis assembly to ride the surface within a small range, sometimes that is enough.  Today, we have Proximity sensors that receive positioning data that is feed back to the Controller .  Many of these units can even handle repositioning of the z-axis position within letter as they engrave, their fonts have been optimized to keep the bit on the material, thus cutting production time, most of these new units are very fast about 5-10 IPS.  This is important many clients need fast turn-around to meet events like birthdays and Anniversaries or are impulse purchases like in Malls and Fairs.

So now that we have established that you have a engravers that will get the letter and logos onto the Jewelry piece.  Now let us speak of the accessories needed, You need a 120/130 & 90 degree top-loading diamonds, these give fast change out of bits with reset of the Z-axis surface set, if have a interactive Proximity sensor. We will also need a diamond adapted to screws onto the bottom of the spindle, this will gave you cheaper bit replacement for stainless steel items, and works better on softer surfaces like pewter.  The next item is the center of your convenience level when job in this unique corner of industry.  It is a PEN DEVICE , this device looks like a normal cutter, but has inserted into its hollow center and ball-point pen that is spring load, so it rides well. They are little expensive, but the pen insert replacements are only $10.00.  Needed to work in coronation with the Pen Device is APP Tape, this is the tape vinyl folks use to apply Vinyl letters to the Glass and Banners.  This Tape leaves no residue and the Pen Device will write on it easily. Very important is a vise and jigs to hold the jewelry pieces, it is important that vise and it’s jigs can hold the piece firmly, but without scratching or denting the item.  Also it is critical that when you replace the jewelry with new piece in the jig it can go in the same spot and the vise itself can be placed and replaced on the table the same way every time. Remember many of the engraving programs have the ability to remember the Position data, so all you have to do the next you wish to do that job or similar job is just recall the job and run it. So once you setup a job it can be recalled and repeat easily, just change the name and collect the check.    Last Accessories needed is just a polish cloth, to finalize the process when the engraving done

Well I guess we ready to do a job.  The client comes in with their Bracelet; first inspect the piece to make sure the items will not chip, if the bracelet is too cheap it will be badly coated.  This knowledge is just common sense or experience. Sometimes you just have to try it.  Many Jewelry engravers have disclaimer on their signed order sheet or invoice to cover them incase the process or a mistake ruins the piece.  As you talk to the client look at where they want the engraving, have them fill out the order form, especially the text data, this way you can not be responsible for their errors, like the wrong date or even name.  Next get a approval for the fee, charge for setup, logo conversion (if needed),

And the lettering;  Most shops at the speed of the engravers do not charge by the letter, but by the line, not only does the customer feel they getting a deal, but makes the ordering process much faster.  These engravers do limited the number letters per line, by piece and look, and is at the digression of the operator.  Setup charges can range for $10-$35, Logo conversion $40-$60), and engraving fee of $5-$15 a line, based on fonts styles or logo complexity.  But if you want to charge by the .45 cents to .75 cents a letter,  Remember usually you are just dealing with names and dates, sometimes logos, in small area.  If you get a multiple piece run you can give discount for quantities but not more than 10% and get the client to provide with a TEXT file from the notepad of Windows.  A good Engraving Program can input these names right into your layout with no typing.  These types of runs, I always printout a copy of the layout to get written approval of positioning, sizing, look of fonts and logos; Try to sale the client True-type fonts they look better and you can charge more especially if they opt to hatch fill the font.  This will set you apart from the Panagrapher, (manual engraver only use Standard engraving fonts like 3-line Roman).

Once we have a approved layout and price, we are ready to go the engraver, and make magic.  Measure the area where the engraving will go, not the whole unit, with the use of X-Y offset or starting position of top of the first letter of the layout. Now size the work are in the software and add the text and//or logos and change the font styles of the text lines. Of Course this process assumes if you have a logo you have already prep it for engraving by digitizing it.     Once you sized and position the lines and logos of your layout save it and get the client to sign off.  Next mount the vise and it jewelry to the table and put you Bracelet in the jig, rub on the piece with your fingers to verify that the piece will not move while engraving, this is critical.  The success of you technique assumes that the piece will not move so double this.  Now use the area of your program that allows you offset the starting position of the top of the first letter.  Usually we just jog the table out to the reference point desired, for example, a square piece you can use top left corner of the piece, but a Medallion you use center/center of the item.  Make sure you teel your software what reference point you are using.  If you setup the engraving with a offset of center/center but the software is set for top/left the travel out point of the job will always be off.  This alignment phase of the process is only half over next we test the layout and offset correctness.  This is where our APP tape and Pen Device comes in.

Put the APP tape onto the Bracelet, and insert the Pen Device into the spindle. Now turn-off your Z-axis or cutter motor and send the job out to do a dry run, by letting the engraver stroke over the top of the piece to insure that your in the ballpark.  If your really off do another table offset using the jogs features of your software, but you probably only make adjustment for the Engraving setup screen this where the offset positioning number where sent and you can fine tune easily here.  Now send the job again, BUT this time do manual cutter set or, manually lower the pen device to the APP tape and set the Z-position, remember the Pen devices are not strong enough to use the Proximity sensor. Once the z is set just let the pen device draw onto the App tale, and make your Fine tune adjustments   In your engraver’s Setup Screen.  Note here if you hatchfilling a true-type turn off the fill, so you do not waste time of ink.  When you happy with the position and layout.  You are ready for showtime!