Recommendations for mechanical engraving service?

[E. Bryant]

I've got a couple Form 1 suppressor projects in the works, and I'm not about to subject a titanium part to the laser engraving process because I don't want to potentially make an expensive paperweight at some point down the road. So that seems to rule out the vast majority of engraving services that I've found (both local and via the internet). Does anyone have a recommendation for vendors that utilize mechanical methods?

 

[Lone star Shooter]

I have used Ident Mark Marking Services. They are top notch.

Laser engraving | Ident Marking Services | United States

Ident Marking Services, SBR Engraving, Firearm engraving, Laser Engraving night vision repair laser services, mechanical services, electro-optics systems.

www.identmarking.com

 

[respiegel]

I’ve used Orion Arms before, they had a very fast turn around and use a rotary engraver.

Account Suspended

 

[Jamesr1]

I've got a couple Form 1 suppressor projects in the works, and I'm not about to subject a titanium part to the laser engraving process because I don't want to potentially make an expensive paperweight at some point down the road. So that seems to rule out the vast majority of engraving services that I've found (both local and via the internet). Does anyone have a recommendation for vendors that utilize mechanical

I had my end cap done I used https://www.customardustcover.com/S...r-Making-an-NFA-Firearm-on-a-Form-1_p_70.html

 

[E. Bryant]

I’ve used Orion Arms before, they had a very fast turn around and use a rotary engraver.

Account Suspended

Update: I went with Orion, and am very satisfied with the communication, quality of work, and turnaround time. Would highly recommend!

 

[Jscb1b]

Update: I went with Orion, and am very satisfied with the communication, quality of work, and turnaround time. Would highly recommend!

Why don't you want to laser engrave titanium?

 

[...]

Why don't you want to laser engrave titanium?

Titanium dust/ shavings are technically combustible

There is also the belief that the heat from the laser damages the heat treat on the suppressor

I've never laser engraved titanium so I can't say for certain.....but I'm going to assume that the small amount of localized heat is not enough to damage the suppressor in any way.

 

[Waorani]

There have been some instances of F1 titanium tubes cracking after laser engraving.

 

[E. Bryant]

Titanium dust/ shavings are technically combustible

There is also the belief that the heat from the laser damages the heat treat on the suppressor

I've never laser engraved titanium so I can't say for certain.....but I'm going to assume that the small amount of localized heat is not enough to damage the suppressor in any way.

I don't care about the potential for combustion - that's someone else's problem But heating Ti in the presence of oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen is not ideal if we want to retain ductility.

 

[acudaowner]

maybe this guy

good luck and what ever you decide to have done please post pics .

 

[Tyler Kemp]

I'm curious of those laser engraving are going way too hard and too few passes or???

I just got a fiber laser and doing light passes on steel doesn't heat it up very fast...interesting to hear engraving on a titanium tube could cause damage. With light passes not trying to go deep, I can touch the metal immediately after engraving.

 

[E. Bryant]

The issue isn't the bulk temperature of the metal, it's the temperature in the area that is being ablated. If it's hot enough to cause a phase transition, it's hot enough to potentially allow the introduction of contamination. So now you've got an area where the cross-section has been reduced which potentially leads to a stress riser, and it just so happens that the properties of material in the area of concern has potentially been altered for the worse. So, yeah, not a big fan.

I have no similar issues with engraving aluminum using similar techniques. And I could probably be convinced that laser engraving of Ti is OK if performed in an inert environment. Does anyone do engraving in a purged enclosure? I haven't yet seen that, but it doesn't seem impossible - just a bit of a PITA.

 

[Choid]

My ffl is a hand engraver by trade. I don't know if he could measure engraving depth to the degree necessary for the ATF to be happy.

 

[theLBC]

i wonder if a local trophy shop could do it.

 

[newguy2k3v2]

The issue isn't the bulk temperature of the metal, it's the temperature in the area that is being ablated. If it's hot enough to cause a phase transition, it's hot enough to potentially allow the introduction of contamination. So now you've got an area where the cross-section has been reduced which potentially leads to a stress riser, and it just so happens that the properties of material in the area of concern has potentially been altered for the worse. So, yeah, not a big fan.

I have no similar issues with engraving aluminum using similar techniques. And I could probably be convinced that laser engraving of Ti is OK if performed in an inert environment. Does anyone do engraving in a purged enclosure? I haven't yet seen that, but it doesn't seem impossible - just a bit of a PITA.

I haven't messed with ti but I do have some experience with welding including Tig. Doesn't seem like you'd need a fully purged enclosure, just about nozzle pushing shielding gas over the work area and either purging and sealing internals or a similar steady flow. Just like welding.

 

[E. Bryant]

i wonder if a local trophy shop could do it.

Quite possibly. I couldn't find anyone locally that was willing to try, and as stated above, Orion did a great job with minimal hassle