Airgraver - pneumatic engraving

thingiverse

A very simple air powered engraving handle... but it works! Shaun Hughes on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/user/express375 pioneered making really simple air-powered engravers using an electric tyre pump as the pneumatic engery source. You should look at his videos of how to adapt a tyre pump: Or just search for 'air engraver handpiece diy '. Shaun shows that the simplest of devices works, and works reliably, for a long time. This is a simple 3D print for the handle. To complete this design you will need: Adapted tyre pump: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QovUFu7OLNc 8mm silver steel rod - 100mm should do A weak spring of some sort. A GRS Quick Change tool adaptor e.g. https://www.hswalsh.com/product/grs-qc-tool-holder-180mm-single-004-852 Something to make the actual graver tool out of. For the above adaptor I bought some carbide 1.8mm rods: https://www.hswalsh.com/product/grs-c-max-round-blank-gravers-18mm-x-2-pack-10-022-780 You could adapt this design to use a 2mm sq HSS steel blank or even plain O1 for the graver. Or print a GRS QC holder! I printed round handle at 30% infill, no support; body was 100% infill, no support with brim. The thread should just work - I added extra clearance. The hole for the hammer will need drilling to 8mm then reaming to take the hammer. Simple to make a reamer, just cut a slot in the end of hte 8mm silver steel bar and the burr that results automatically might just be prefect but if not you can raise or lower the burr with a screwdriver. You need to use a slow speed when drilling and reaming otherwise the tool/reamer melts rather than cuts. The air tube goes in hole in back of handle. Poke it all the way through, use a lighter to slightly melt the end and 'blob it up a bit' so when you pull it back it forms a perfect seal. For the hammer, just cut off about 18mm of the 8mm rod and tidy up the ends. You want the hammer to slide easily. I have two versions of sharpening jigs in my 'things' to sharpen your gravers. Take a look at this for making an air graver https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5EBerfd4AA