Punch making how to...

I think the best most intricate ones are made by using a piece of carbon which has the pattern cut into it them (I think in reverse) and then it is pressed to the tool steel and when charged with electricity it arcs away the unwanted metal, leaving your pattern in relief. My cousin works in a very high end shop and was telling me a bit about it.
 
That's called EDM [electro discharge machining ] .Would be a good way to do it .In the past it would have been made with engraving tools.
 
I've machined them directly, but it would certainly be easier to engrave an electrode and burn it (EDM), but I don't have EDM.

The first stamp I ever made I forgot to reverse it. And didn't realize my mistake until I stamped a part with it. Yup, felt dumb on that one... Fortunately the guy I made it for (who was standing right there) thought it was funny.

Basically, I scan in the design and extrude it in CAD .005 thick and .010" tall and surface mill it with a tiny ball mill. The radius (about .015") left behind by the cutter serves to support the design. This is a male part which make a female depression.

I, however, don't stamp my knives, I simply engrave them.

http://nathan.broadtime.com/NTM_knife.jpg
NTM_knife.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top