2021-11-19
How CNC machines help to work with metals?
Metals are popular materials to create jewelry with, and masters know how to make a plain sheet of metal more attractive. Giving metal a texture can be a small prefabricating step or the main decorative decision. The general idea is to create something special and interesting from a flat sheet of metal by giving it a certain pattern – holes, drawings, scratches, imprints.
Typically, metals are textured by using the hammering method or an embossing die but the ways are limitless if an idea is really out of the box. CNC machines can texture metals as well by all the same technologies that jewelers do manually. Patterns can vary according to a CAD drawing and machine’s specifications. Also, some CNC types like laser or plasma cutters can produce more possibilities than manual tools by creating color changes on metals. Despite the fact that there are lots of mass-produced embossing dies for jewelers on the market, a CNC machine can help making custom dies for pressing it into the metal later.
After metal is textured, it should be cut. If many similar pieces are needed, usually a pancake die is used. Compared to cutting with tools, a pancake die works great if you need many small pieces of simple forms with accurate edges. Pancake dies can be created in various ways but manufacturing with plasma cutters is generally cheaper.
How CNC machines help to work with different materials?
A huge variety of CNC tools is available on the market – almost every type of CNC machine can be different in power and axis capabilities, which allows working with many materials without damaging them. As an advantage, CNC machines can cut flexible, rubbery materials, leather and really tough and strong metals as well, which are difficult to carve by hand. Some jewelers go crazy with these machines and make jewelry from unexpected materials such as meteorites, carbon fiber, super-conductors and even old smartphones.
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