Here are the common types of cutters:
- Diamond Drag – Produces a traditional, clean, and detailed engraving into a variety of metals for the jewelry, awards, gift, and industrial markets. They work best with silver, gold, pewter, aluminum, anodized aluminum, colored aluminum, trophy brass, painted and clear premium brass, colored steel, stainless steel, and titanium.
- Diamond Graver – Used for engraving in many of the same applications as diamond drag; however, the rotating diamond gives a slightly wider scratch and can be rotated for more depth and durability of mark. This cutter is common for engraving harder metals like stainless steel or in applications where a more durable diamond cutter is required.
- Sintered and Faceted Diamond Cutters for Glass – Available in a variety of line widths, these provide bright frosted lines or frosted filled areas in glass. Faceted diamonds reveal etched lines with enough depth to accommodate elegant color fills using Rub-n-Buff.
- Carbide Cutter – Conical tipped cutters designed for clean, efficient cutting of brittle materials such as plexiglass, acrylic, and soft metals like brass, aluminum, silver, or gold.
- Burnishing Cutters for Metal – Efficient at polishing colored coatings (paint) off of colored brass, trophy brass, colored aluminum, and colored steel.
- Carbide Cutters for Ferrous Metal – These cutters have a durable edge capable of engraving and cutting into harder metals like steel or stainless steel.
- Parallel Cutters – Designed for drilling holes into softer plastics and cutting shapes with 90-degree edges.
- End Mill – Designed for drilling holes into harder plastics and cutting shapes out with 90-degree edges.
- Combo Cutter – Most commonly used when an edge is desired that has a bevel on the top reveal and a 90-degree angle completing the cut. Ideal application includes cutting plates and name badges.
- Ball Point Pen Cutters – Great tool for training new employees, as it offers security and comfort when engraving difficult, one-of-a-kind, or high-value items. Apply matte finish tape, insert the ball point cutter, and run the job. Safely see exactly what will be engraved. If you like what was written on the tape, you can install the diamond cutter and run the actual engraving.
-Anthony Harris, Gravotech
