New M20 X: your solution for high-quality engraving and cutting
Discover how to achieve the highest quality engravings on the market with Gravotech's new M20 X.
Are you looking for a machine capable of engraving and cutting with impeccable results?
Gravotech's new M20 X is your solution for the most demanding engraving projects, offering high-precision performance and speed of execution adapted to every material (plastics, metals, glass...). This machine is ideal for many sectors such as cosmetics, gifts or knives...
The M20 X Jewel suits every engraving needs for jewelers. Thanks to its rotary device, it is possible to engrave inside and outside of rings. Moreover it is possible to do flat engravings on bracelets, watches or pendants, as well as cut precious metals to create unique pieces.
Speed control for high-quality engraving
To engrave each material efficiently, it is essential to control the speed of tool travel and spindle rotation according to tool truncature and type of material. Each material has its own optimum chip size, guaranteeing a smooth groove and superior engraving quality.
A chip size too fine clusters at the groove bottom, degrading engraving quality. Conversely, too thick a chip can exert excessive stress on the tool, risking breakage.
Optimizing chip size is based on adjusting spindle speed and tool movement speed: increasing spindle speed and/or reducing tool speed improves engraving quality.
The effect of speed on different materials
In the case of harder metallic materials, such as aluminum and precious metals, to stainless steel or softer metals such as brass, high speeds can cause the tool to overheat and reduce its efficiency, even leading to damage.
Conversely, for plastics, although maximum speed may seem appropriate, it can sometimes cause partial merging of the material due to overheating. This degrades the quality of the engraving, making the result less aesthetic.
Adapting spindle speed and tool travel speed to each material is essential for quality results. Moreover, extending tool life, limiting the cost of replacing damaged tools, guarantees good engraving quality.
New M20 X: optimum engraving quality on 99% of materials
The new M20 X provides digital control of spindle speed and travel speed, to optimize the parameters of each material according to the tools used, to obtain the best result. Gravotech also provides you with pre-set parameters, saving you time and ensuring superior engraving quality right from the outset.
When choosing a mechanical engraving machine, the ability to adjust spindle speed according to the material to be engraved is an essential feature. It's also important to be able to check that the maximum speed is sufficient to meet your needs. Both have a direct impact on engraving quality and productivity.
The M20 X's spindle offers a speed range from 4 to 19,200 rpm, enabling it to engrave 99% of the most common materials with optimum quality.
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Please note that the diamond tool is not suitable for soft materials such as leather, films and certain plastics. |
How to get the best cutting and engraving results with the new M20 X?
Spindle speed must be adjusted according to the material to be engraved or cut.
Thus, Gravotech created this table to help you find the best engraving quality when using the M20 X.
| Gravotech offers ideal spindle speed presets for each type of material, to optimize results. |
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Glass and metal engraving: specific features and tips
Glass engraving
For glass engraving, it is necessary to use a diamond tool and, for optimum results, it is essential to rotate the tool.
This rotation keeps the engraving on the glass surface, while maintaining the fineness of the engraving and avoiding material build-up.
The diamond tool also give this smooth engraving rendering, particularly appreciated for its handmade look.
Using engraving gel limits the appearance of glass splinters and extends the tool longevity.
Engraving and cutting hard metals
When engraving or cutting metals such as aluminum, stainless steel or precious metals, the use of a lubricant is strongly recommended for two main reasons:
- To prevent tool overheating to extend tool life.
- To reduce friction which facilitates chip evacuation and improves finishing quality.
Focus on the chip extractor
The chip extractor has no direct impact on engraving quality. However, its benefits are considerable, as it optimizes the working environment by efficiently containing chips, thus reducing post-engraving cleaning time. The chip extractor also reduces the risk of chips getting caught between the nose and the workpiece, which can lead to scratches.
Engraving quality and Gravotech fonts
High quality engraving with Gravotech fonts
Gravotech is the only player to offer its own wire fonts specially designed for mechanical engraving. These hand-drawn fonts are perfectly adapted to Gravotech's mechanical engraving machines. They offer exceptional legibility and faithful respect for design, even on small characters, ensuring remarkable precision and sharpness.
These fonts have been designed taking into account the constraints of rotary technology, in particular to minimize tool entry and exit in the material (if possible, only one per character), smooth curves to avoid abrupt changes in tool direction, and reduce crossing points.
Gravotech fonts
Gravotech fonts represent an immense and unrivalled benefit, because in addition to being more aesthetically pleasing, these fonts are on average 40% faster than TTF fonts.
They also make it possible to engrave very small text (one or two millimeters) in very high quality, where general fonts will go through an algorithm that will approximate and blur the result.
For more details on the importance of fonts, please refer to our guide.
The balance between engraving quality and productivity
The new M20 X has been designed to engrave high-quality objects faster than the competition. The machine's robust assembly is essential to maintain high engraving quality, even at high speeds. The mechanical design of the M20 X machine prevents vibration, guaranteeing clean engraving along the letters, and delivers quality engravings at high speeds. As a result, the machine ensures high productivity in the workshop and reduces downtime in the store.
It is even possible to further improve productivity by increasing the speed of the tool, thus boosting the number of objects produced per hour. This raise in speed above a certain threshold will inevitably lead to a reduction in engraving quality, which may or may not be acceptable. It is important to find the right balance between quality and productivity, depending on the specific needs of each project.