Project Guns,
I built my own engraving machine. Accuracy of the z axis was very, very important to me.
When using a small radiused cutter, it dosen't take much to screw up an engraving, so repeatability,
absolute min backlash, etc needs to be delt with.
The thing about CNC engraving a firearm is you only get one shot at it. When manualy done a mistake can
sometimes be covered up by the engraver.
"Fix or modify" the machine to bring it to the resolution and accuracy you want. No shortcuts.
It only takes .002" with a .020 dia ball cutter to turn a fine line into a road marker. Should you actualy use a point
, you'll bust off the point of the tool in a heart beat if it goes in that silly little extra thou.
Attached is a pic of a small target with some small lettering which was cut into the back silver plating of a mirror.
60,000 rpm / .004 flat tipped carbide point tool, the letter width is .005" ( about .025 high ) as shown by the microscope pic.
The camera shot didn't come out to well with reflections onn the lettering. Just making my point about accuracy of the machine
compared to what you may want to engrave.
RICH