Acrylic embossing plates from Russia or Ukraine

[Northmount]

1 hour ago, Cumberland Highpower said:

While it might be bad for Russian exporters, it's probably a good thing for your Country?  Looks like Canada will be part of the supply solution.

Yes, the mines in northern Saskatchewan should be coming back to life and ramping up production with the world wide demand increasing.  During the latter part of WWII, yellow cake was shipped by barge from Uranium City across Lake Athabasca and upstream on the Athabasca river to Fort McMurray AB where it was transferred to rail box cars.  The yellow cake was in burlap bags that were handled manually so dust was dropped at all the transfer points, inhaled by the Cree and Metis workers.  Many of them died of lung cancer.  Once loaded into the box cars, it found its way through cracks in the floor and was distributed along the rail line.  In the early to mid 70s, they had to clean up the contamination at these transfer points and along the rail bed.  We can only hope that there are safer procedures in place today than back then.  (Fort McMurray was home for us from 71 through 79.)

[BDAZ]

On 4/25/2024 at 2:48 PM, fredk said:

 

That narrows it down to about 30 possible places in 7 miles 

I think we were using the same chap though ebay. I was in touch with him and he was going to make some plates for me. Shortly after the Russian attack he was taken off ebay, as many more in Russia and then his website and email were taken off the system. I tried a few times to contact him but with no success.

That's why I love Ireland! Spoiled for choice, both North and South!

 

On 4/25/2024 at 2:48 PM, fredk said:

 

 

 

[BDAZ]

Thanks everyone for the response. I have no problem creating quite detailed embossing plates on my 3D printers but I can't get the super fine detail of these Russian ones. Also I am not sure I can recreated the line art from the plates I have, one unused. I may try, I have laboriously copied fine engravings in the past on Photoshop. My Avatar, which is a pearl engraving from a 1909 banjo peg head, took weeks of meticulous work to produce a T-shirt sized graphic. Anything is possible. If I can then I'll purchase a CO2 laser for engraving lucite.

Thanks again,

Bob

[RockyAussie]

1 hour ago, BDAZ said:

Thanks everyone for the response. I have no problem creating quite detailed embossing plates on my 3D printers but I can't get the super fine detail of these Russian ones. Also I am not sure I can recreated the line art from the plates I have, one unused. I may try, I have laboriously copied fine engravings in the past on Photoshop. My Avatar, which is a pearl engraving from a 1909 banjo peg head, took weeks of meticulous work to produce a T-shirt sized graphic. Anything is possible. If I can then I'll purchase a CO2 laser for engraving lucite.

Thanks again,

Bob

For what its worth Bob you can get pretty good results with a diode laser. The one i used in this picture is a 2.5 watt done onto 10mm black acrylic about 2mm deep. Black and white artwork needed.

[BDAZ]

Actually Rocky, it's probably 

1 hour ago, RockyAussie said:

For what its worth Bob you can get pretty good results with a diode laser. The one i used in this picture is a 2.5 watt done onto 10mm black acrylic about 2mm deep. Black and white artwork needed.

Brilliant!

Actually Rocky, it's worth the price of a CO2 Laser! I was planning on testing black acrylic. I had a small piece of 2mm black and my laser punched right through it. I have a 24 watt extended bed that I have been transitioning to for all my cutting. I am reducing production times by 75%. I can go as large as 850 x 650.  

Those acrylic cuts look fantastic! The plates from Russia were made by a CO2 laser but I'll bet I can do as well with my diode, I'm going to order some black acrylic tonight!

Thanks! 

Bob

[KYCat]

12 hours ago, RockyAussie said:

For what its worth Bob you can get pretty good results with a diode laser. The one i used in this picture is a 2.5 watt done onto 10mm black acrylic about 2mm deep. Black and white artwork needed.

I've got a 10w diode and have been wanting to attempt this (without buying a 3D printer). Were you able to cut it out with the laser or did you bandsaw it?

Love this, BTW--- very nicely done!

 

[BDAZ]

50 minutes ago, KYCat said:

I've got a 10w diode and have been wanting to attempt this (without buying a 3D printer). Were you able to cut it out with the laser or did you bandsaw it?

Love this, BTW--- very nicely done!

 

You can do very well with a 3D printer with the right resin but for fine detail, the resin doesn't hold up. I use a 6 ton press and have no issues with the Russian lucite plates, but the same design in resin would pulverise. Rocky's design would be marginal but the signature would not hold up unless twice the size.

 

Where inKY? I used to work in Nicholasville.
Bob

[RockyAussie]

On 5/10/2024 at 1:21 AM, KYCat said:

I've got a 10w diode and have been wanting to attempt this (without buying a 3D printer). Were you able to cut it out with the laser or did you bandsaw it?

Love this, BTW--- very nicely done!

I cut the outer part with a bandsaw as my diode is only a 2.5watt. You may have a better chance with a 10 watt though.

[RockyAussie]

On 5/9/2024 at 2:20 PM, BDAZ said:

Actually Rocky, it's worth the price of a CO2 Laser! I was planning on testing black acrylic. I had a small piece of 2mm black and my laser punched right through it. I have a 24 watt extended bed that I have been transitioning to for all my cutting. I am reducing production times by 75%. I can go as large as 850 x 650.

That size sounds about the same I extended mine to as well. First test on cutting 3mm acrylic I had the same problem cutting right through as well. I will have to try running a higher wattage diode soon as that would shave a lot of time on most jobs I think unless the beam gets too much broader.

[BDAZ]

3 hours ago, RockyAussie said:

That size sounds about the same I extended mine to as well. First test on cutting 3mm acrylic I had the same problem cutting right through as well. I will have to try running a higher wattage diode soon as that would shave a lot of time on most jobs I think unless the beam gets too much broader.

The beam doesn't significantly increase with power. Wouldn't be noticeable for cutting. I also engrave all my stitch lines and no longer use a groover. I engrave glue pads for belt loops using a crosshatch fill and holes for my snaps and other decorations all at the same time. Magic! The only leather I would like to have more power with, is heavy bison. It takes multiple passes. I also apply water directly to the edge after cutting and run the cocobolo burnisher, which seems to solidify the carbon and produces a hard, glaze.

I did a test with the remains of my 2mm chip and made a tiny Celtic knot and it worked a champ on the black Perspex. I have a few sheets arriving tomorrow.

Bob