Engraving Numbers On A Dial

[old toolmaker]

I have a 360 degree dial I have turned from 303 stainless for my Quorn Tool Grinder that is in need of number engraving. I have made several others using a CNC mill but I sold the mill when I retired. I am thinking of stamping the numbers using steel number stamps. I am not sure that that stamping will work well on 303 stainless as it does not knurl well. Any suggestions?

Dick

 

[Ulma Doctor]

a couple thoughts,
if you have a dividing head, you may be able to hold the part between centers and grind or purchase a bit to suit the graduation
it could be done on a vertical mill.

it's possible even on a lathe if you had or made some kind of indexing plate.
you'd use the carriage to cut the index lines

 

[old toolmaker]

I don't have any issues with engraving the lines as I have a headstock dividing attachment for my lathe that I just recently finished building. I know how to stamp the numbers also but i was concerened with stamping 303 stainless. I suppose I could try a sample and see how it goes. I am looking also for alternative methods of numbering.

Dick

 

[Inflight]

You might have luck by contacting a local trophy shop. They can engrave the numbers on your dial. I have no idea about the cost, but the amount of time involved in building the Quorn, it would be a shame to have ugly or crooked numbers on your dial.

 

[old toolmaker]

You might have luck by contacting a local trophy shop. They can engrave the numbers on your dial. I have no idea about the cost, but the amount of time involved in building the Quorn, it would be a shame to have ugly or crooked numbers on your dial.

You are right about all my time invested in the Quorn and that is why I want to do it right. I have seen some nice dials done with metal stamps, but they were done in a jig that holds the dial and also aligns the number stamp. I am not sure what to do yet but I do know some excellent engravers in town who do this kind of work. I just didn't want to spend the money to have it done by a professional and besides then it is not all my work. So far I have done every last piece myself and have done a first rate job. I'd kind of like to keep it that way and that is why I asked the question here in case I ran across a good idea.

Dick

 

[jpfabricator]

Electric etching may be the ticket for this application. Look it up on YouTube

Sent from somwhere in east Texas by Jake!

 

[old toolmaker]

Electric etching may be the ticket for this application. Look it up on YouTube

Sent from somwhere in east Texas by Jake!

I checked it out and it is an option for me, although I would need to farm it out to someone with the equipment and expertise. I have quite a bit of time invested in the piece so far and would not entrust this job to just anyone. It has a circular T slot going all around the periphery that was not easy to produce.

Dick