Professional Engraving Systems

Touch-Off Block Rotary Engraving Accessory Provides Alternative to Metal Engraving
October 15, 2008

The spindle nosecone must not be used in some engraving applications. The nosecone can trap metal shavings and cause scratches to the material surface. To get a precise engraving depth without using a nosecone, the cutter must be zeroed to the material surface. During this process, the cutter can be pulled up off the material surface by the tightening of the collet inside the spindle. If this happens, your engraving depth will not be accurate. Our new touch off block solves this problem. It can be used with the cutter already tightened inside the spindle.

How does it work?

An aluminum block that is wired to your table is placed on the material surface. A second wire is clipped to the top of the cutter or the front spindle block. Once the cutter touches the block a circuit is completed, and the Viper Electronics records the precise position of the material surface.

The Touch Off Block Feature must be turned on under Machine Parameters in the Viper Communications Suite.

Also, a switch must be turned on at the Z-axis terminal cover.

Step by Step

1. Turn on the switch located on the Z-axis terminal cover.
   
   
2. In the Xenetech Engraver Setup, the user will select Manual Cutter Set and the desired depth will be set in the Multiple Pass Setup.
   
   
   
   
3. The user will send the job to the engraver.When this mode is turned on instructions will be displayed on your touch screen. Jog the Z-axis and cutter tip to within approximately ¼” (6mm) from the top of the touch off block.
   
   
4. The spindle motor will need to be turned off.
   
   
5. Connect the second wire to the top of the cutter or the front spindle block. Make sure that the block is located directly under the cutter tip.
   
   
6. Next, you will press the “Use Touch-Off Block” button on the touch screen. The Z-axis will move down until the cutter touches the block and completes the circuit.
   
   
   
   
7. The touch off block is removed, and the second wire is disconnected before the spindle motor is turned back on.
   
   
8. The machine will start engraving after the check box is pressed. The system will engrave to the depth recorded in the Multiple Pass Setup.

This new accessory should help improve your accuracy in finding the surface of your engraving material.