A micro drill, called an engraver, is often used to process small items. Using an engraver you can perform the same operations as a regular drill as well as grinding and milling various materials. The frequency of use and demand for a tool is determined by the quantity and quality of attachments available for it. Some of them are included with the main tool, but many have to be purchased additionally. Today, we will try to learn everything we can about engraver attachments.
Types of attachments for engravers
Nozzles for the engraver are selected depending on whether wood or metal is intended to be processed with their help. For example, for woodworking you will need:
- Polishing attachments - from sandpaper or felt.
- Ball-shaped attachments designed for tongue and groove applications.
- Smooth attachments for final sanding of wood surfaces.
- Cutting discs (can also be used for cutting plastic).
- Wood drills (usually small diameters, up to 3.2 mm).
- Milling cutters (necessary to perform work at a professional level).
Engraver attachments designed for metal work include the same varieties as those described above. The fundamental difference lies only in the material of the working surfaces. For example, for grinding metal, attachments made of more abrasive-resistant materials are needed - corundum or hard rubber. The same applies to cutting discs, only in this case, high-strength tool steel is used as a material (sometimes even diamond-coated work surface). However, there are also specific types:
- Diamond cutters, which are used to refine holes and cavities of complex configurations.
- Coarse sanding attachments. They are equipped with serrations and can, in addition to metals, also process chipboard.
- Cone-shaped nozzles designed to produce grooves. Usually offered as a set, with different sizes the width of its working part.
- Brush-shaped attachments that are used to remove scale from the surface of steel products.
- Carbide nozzles, with the help of which it is possible to obtain sufficiently deep cavities in hardened steel workpieces.
The value of attachments is determined by their versatility (many manufacturers offer similar products in sets), as well as by the manufacturer. It should be noted here that, as a rule, the company that produces engravers equips them with attachments that are suitable for their products, and not necessarily those for competitors’ products.
Purpose and capabilities
First of all, it is worth emphasizing that, due to its low power, a microdrill is incapable of performing any large-scale operations on metal or wood. Therefore, the dimensions of the tool, regardless of where it is produced, will not be large.
The determining point is the diameter of the landing part. For example, the diameter of the drill (like an attachment for an engraver) that can be used depends on the diameter of the jaw chuck. In this case, the profile of the clamping part is important. Manufacturers often implement the principle of point clamping, which simplifies the production and finishing of the microdrill chuck itself, but degrades the performance of the attachment, especially if the processing process takes a long time. In this case, the drill will run out, and since the number of revolutions of the engraver is high, the breakage of the nozzle will follow very quickly.
The second circumstance is the functionality of the size of the nozzles. For example, for grinding work there are various attachments with a diameter of up to 7.8 mm (for woodworking) and up to 3.2 mm for metal work. Diameter cutting wheels can reach 19...20 mm, but this corresponds to work with soft materials(plastic, aluminum, wood), and when working with steel, a drop in the speed of the microdrill motor will lead to its failure.
It is important to pay attention to the material of the tool. In particular, engraver attachments that are made of tungsten carbide-based hard alloys (VK8, VK15 and their foreign analogues) are capable of working on heat-treated metal. They can also process glass, stone, and mineral ceramics.
Finishing is the main area where industrial diamond engraver attachments are used effectively. Since their cost is very high, they go on sale in small sets (up to 10...20 standard sizes). Diamond cutters should be used only for their intended purpose, otherwise the sprayed layer will quickly become damaged, which will immediately lead to intense wear.
The most diverse class of abrasive and engraving attachments. Their selection is usually made according to the color of the landing part. If it is red, then the nozzle is designed for working with metals, and the material used is highly resistant aluminum dioxide. Engraver attachments Green colour effective for engraving work with fragile materials - glass, stone, marble, etc. Sets for such work include up to 10 sizes of nozzles.
It was already mentioned above about the possible incompatibility of the diameters of the nozzles for the engraver with the diameter of the chuck of the tool itself. In addition, it is necessary to distinguish between professional and household sets. The former are often produced by the German company Dremel, they are distinguished by high quality and price (experts note that the quality of the attachments that come with a microdrill is higher than those from the same company, but purchased separately). Domestic attachments for engravers from trademark“Zubr” is not much inferior in quality to German ones, but is significantly less expensive. For comparison, the price of an attachment from Dremel is 350...400 rubles. per piece, and a set of more than 150 standard sizes from Zubr - only 1800...2000 rubles.
Separately, it is worth mentioning the attachments for the Chinese-made engraver. The attractiveness of the price in this case is completely offset by the low quality of the metal of the nozzles. This can only be permissible in cases where the tool is rarely used, or the task is to learn how to work with attachments of a certain type.
The basic rules for working and choosing attachments for an engraver relate, first of all, to tools in the middle and budget price category and are as follows:
- The choice of the diameter of nozzles from a specific set should be made in accordance with their subsequent use;
- For engraving, you can also use nozzles made in China; they work especially well with diamond nozzles with a spherical head;
- DIY nozzles - great option for experienced home craftsmen. You can use plywood as a material (it is superior to rubber in its durability), as well as felt, emery, etc. In particular, a homemade roller cutter using high-quality polishing paste will ultimately give a result that is not inferior in quality to that achieved with using an industrial nozzle. For polishing, diamond paste with a grain size of 3/2 or 5/3 is most suitable;
- In any case, when using attachments, you should use a respirator, otherwise the dust generated during work will completely get into your lungs.
What a wonderful invention the Dremel is. How many different attachments and attachments have been developed for it. But there was only one thing I really missed - miniature circular saw. There is, of course, a circular nozzle, but that’s not it.
I made the final decision to make such an attachment after purchasing a Dremel Speed Clic attachment. The disc designed for wood is simply perfect. Plywood and thin planks are cut without a single burr.
You need to cut a thread on the shank of the nozzle.
Next, you will need a magnetic head holder from an old hard drive. Of the three disassembled disks, only one with the required thread suited me. If you don’t find the same one, you can take any one and drill a hole for the required thread.
This detail removes everything unnecessary. All that remains is the outer housing with bearings.
I didn't make any drawings of this thing. Everything was done by eye and designed as production progressed. The main parts are a plywood rectangle and two bars.
A cut is made in the plywood for the saw and a cavity is milled for the bearing block.
The bearing block mount is made separately from wood.
A 3 mm hole is drilled in the center of one of the bars at an angle of approximately 5 degrees. This is done to ensure that the tool does not protrude above the saw table. If this is not important, then you can greatly simplify production and not make a flexible or crankshaft.
Two feather drills, of different diameters and holes are made on both sides. First big, then smaller.
A large hole is milled for the nut.
It is better to secure the nut with sealant. This will reduce vibration.
For better fastening of the bearing block, it is wrapped with double-sided tape with a polyethylene foam base.
Everything is attached together to a plywood table.
Everything is almost ready. If you choose a design with a protruding tool, then you can stop there. All that remains is to make an extension cord. For example, from a welding electrode or a long nail.
In my case, I had to make a flexible shaft. You can use a metal cable for it. The one in the photo is not very good. It is twisted to the left, that is, counterclockwise. Therefore, when the tool is used, the cable will unwind. You need to look for a cable with a right-hand twist.
An aluminum rivet body can be used to hold the cable.
A thread is cut inside each rivet. For reliability, the cable inside the rivet is crimped and soldered. A screw is screwed into one of the rivets.
This screw is ground square for a standard extension socket.
The flexible shaft is ready.
Ready console. View from above.
And from below.
You can attach guides and all kinds of accessories to this table using a clamp.
An engraver, or bur machine, is a very necessary and useful thing for those who like to carve wood, stone, metal and so on. But the engraver is good for more than just carving. It can also be very helpful when assembling or repairing something miniature to cut out of metal or plastic the required part, which cannot be cut with scissors. You can also use it to polish minerals or just beautiful stones. There are a huge variety of attachments for an engraver: saw blades, grinding discs, stones of various grain sizes, brushes (both simple and metal), felt discs, various cutters for wood and glass, and also, of course, drills.
Buying such an expensive thing as an engraver is only half the battle (however, making it yourself is also not a tricky matter). During the entire period of use, it is also advisable to update and replenish existing stocks of drills, cutters and other attachments, which are also not cheap. In any case, they (for some reason!) cost more than consumables and attachments for the same standard-sized tool. But you don’t have to buy them all - some attachments can be made quite easily yourself. Of course they are complex instruments, like a wood cutter, a drill or a diamond gimlet for engraving on glass, is unlikely to be made, but, for example, small saws for cutting wood and plastic, grinding and felt discs can be easily made with your own hands.
Even if you have no skills. I think that anyone can cut out the correct circle drawn with a compass on a workpiece with scissors. In addition, some Consumables You won’t find them in regular stores selling this kind of goods. You have to order and wait a long time for them to arrive, and whether they will come at all... And even if they do come, it is not a fact that they will be of high quality and reliable. The sanding discs I recently received in the mail were so fragile that one of them broke with a little pressure... In general, if you want something done well, do it yourself! Today we will look at several options for making a more durable tool yourself.
Saw blades for wood and plastic
You will need:- Metal circle or piece sheet metal, no more than a millimeter thick.
- Compass and pencil.
- Scissors.
- Drill and drill bits.
- Emery machine with cutting disc.
- Metal bolt with nut from children's construction set, or from a prefabricated electrical plug.
Next, you need to cut the teeth of the disk.
We make oblique cuts along the entire edge of the disk, 3-4 mm deep, and in increments of 2 mm. You can use it.
We do the disk for cutting plastic in exactly the same way, repeating the procedures described above, with the exception of sharpening the teeth. Here the cuts should be made at right angles, two mm deep, and also in increments of two mm.
The teeth should be short and wide. This disc can cut plastics of different densities, as well as plexiglass and textolites.
Sanding and felt discs
You will need:- A thin grinding disc (can be used, or even a piece of debris, but not thicker than a millimeter).
- A piece of felt, 7-10 mm thick (from a felt boot - just right).
- Compass and pencil
- Metal scissors.
- Emery machine.
- Thin bolt with nut.
But it’s probably better to cut the felt with a sharp knife, since it’s quite thick, and I crushed all my fingers with scissors. It is better to cut the grinding wheel either with metal scissors or on an emery machine with the same cutting wheel. Next, we make holes in the centers of the circles, and tighten them on both sides with bolts and nuts.
There are just a huge number of them on sale. various instruments, which can be used for machining parts. An example would be an engraver. In many ways, this tool is similar in its operating principle to a drill or grinder, but designed for working with workpieces small sizes. By purchasing and installing various attachments for the engraver, you can carry out grinding, milling or engraving, as well as drilling. It is important to choose the most suitable options execution of nozzles, since they are characterized by different performance qualities and areas of application.
Features of nozzles
Attachments for wood drills can be classified according to a fairly large number of different characteristics. There is a wide variety on the market. Almost all equipment for an engraver is characterized by the presence of two structural elements:
- The shank is a part of the engraver attachment, due to which it is mounted in the chuck of the equipment used.
- The working part is responsible for directly removing the metal layer at the time of processing.
Metal engraving paste is used to significantly increase the efficiency of the processing, especially if the engraving tool is intended for surface grinding. Descriptions of attachments may be provided by manufacturers, since the cutting edge of some versions may have complex geometry.
Equipment for an engraver can have simply a huge amount distinctive features. Drill burs and other types of equipment can be classified according to the following criteria:
- Type of material being processed.
- Purpose of the drill and the engraver attachment used.
- Areas of use.
An example is diamond cutters for engravers, which can be used to process the end surface and obtain a surface of complex shape.
The use of hard spraying can significantly extend the service life of the cutting edge, as well as provide higher cutting conditions. A mini drill bit for a drill is used to obtain blind or through holes with a minimum diameter. The main classification can be called the purpose for which technological task the engraver attachment is purchased. By providing diversity in this indicator, the scope of application of the engraver is significantly expanded.
By type of material processed
When choosing the most suitable set, attention is paid to what materials it is intended to work with. The classification of tools in this case is as follows:
- Most of the options are designed for working with wood. As an example, the wood engraving cutter has become widespread. It can be used to obtain various patterns. If necessary, ensures high processing accuracy.
- An engraver with appropriate attachments for working with metal is used. In this case, when making a cutting edge, more wear-resistant and hard alloys are tried on. When choosing tooling, it is important to pay attention to what kind of alloy will be processed. An example is the ratio of the hardness of aluminum and hardened steel.
- Glass equipment is purchased quite often. This type of material is difficult to process. That is why the cutting part is often made of wear-resistant alloys or diamond chips.
- There are attachments for engravers that are designed for working with stone. The diamond cutter for stone has become quite widespread. The high hardness of the processed surface determines that special requirements are placed on the cutting edge.
The purpose of the type of material being processed largely determines the cost of the equipment. The most affordable offer is considered to be wood cutters, which have become very widespread. There are also often versions designed for working with metals.
By purpose
A tool for engraving on metal or wood can be intended for a variety of operations. Based on this feature, the following execution options are distinguished:
- For engraving work. Very often it is necessary to apply some kind of drawing or inscription on the surface. If the work is carried out in a home workshop, then more suitable tool can be considered an engraver. There is an engraving cutter for metal or wood, artificial or natural stone, glass and other materials. Diamond burs (cutters) are often sold as a set, since complex designs and inscriptions may require attachments with different cutting edge geometries.
- Tools whose attachments are a combination of a solid metal rod and an abrasive tip. In some cases, it is necessary to improve the quality of the roughness of recesses or other complex surfaces. In such cases, this type of equipment is used. Its purpose is to rough and finish the surface, it all depends on the grain size of the abrasive material used.
- For grinding and polishing work. On sale you can find a huge range of engraver grinding attachments. Various materials can be used in their manufacture. An example is classic abrasive or felt.
When choosing, it is worth considering that there are a variety of pastes for engraving and other engraver attachments intended for grinding surfaces. Their use can significantly increase the efficiency of the operation. The selection of paste is carried out in accordance with the specific tool used for processing and what material the part was made from. Before using any paste, you should pay attention to the instructions for use.
When considering the classification, we will also pay attention to the fact that there are working attachments for professional engravers. They are intended to be a multi-functional tool that can be used to perform a wide variety of operations. The most common set of such equipment is represented by the following combination:
- Cutters that have different shapes and sizes.
- Cones made of abrasive, felt or diamond coating.
- Drills that can be used to transform a conventional engraving machine into an efficient drill for precise drilling work.
- Wire nozzles, which can be used to clean the surface.
- Cutting discs designed to remove part of a product.
If desired, the set can be assembled by purchasing all the attachments separately. However, some versions are extremely rare on sale, which makes it difficult to purchase them separately. Let's take cutting discs as an example.
A set of attachments for the engraver is produced under various brands. As previously noted, when frequently processing workpieces with the tool in question, a fairly large set of attachments is required. The following factors may influence your choice:
- What specific technological tasks will have to be performed. As previously noted, a drill can be used to carry out simply a huge number of technological tasks: engraving, surface grinding, cutting, drilling and others. The choice is made in accordance with what kind of work will be carried out. There are universal sets available for sale, represented by a combination of nozzles of various types.
- Characteristics, geometric features of the workpiece and the type of material used in manufacturing.
- Estimated dimensions of workpieces. Tools that are too small are not convenient for processing workpieces bigger size. However, achieving your goals may take much longer.
The set of cutters and other attachments can be minimal or include several dozen units. In this case, the choice depends on the budget allocated for the purchase of equipment and how often the work will be carried out.
When choosing, attention is also paid to the classification according to the purpose of the sets:
- Professional level. The high cost of such an offer is primarily due to long term service and exceptional performance. In addition, the cutting part retains its shape over a long period, which ensures precision processing. It is advisable to choose such equipment only when the relevant work is carried out frequently.
- Budget proposals. This group can be divided into simply a huge number of categories. The most accessible tool there will be an offer from Chinese manufacturers, but it will not last long and often does not correspond to the declared characteristics. Some well-known manufacturers also produce instruments of this class, but at the same time they withstand quite high level quality. That is why, when work is carried out infrequently, attention should be paid to such a proposal.
When purchasing a tool, you can inspect it. There should be no obvious mechanical defects on the surface. In addition, a lot of attention is paid to symmetry, which is quite difficult to check without special equipment.
Making your own nozzles
For some surfaces, it is difficult to find a more suitable nozzle on sale. That is why many are considering the possibility of making them themselves. An example is Dremel cutters for wood, which have also become quite widespread today.
You can make a cutting disc or grinding head in your home workshop. A primitive cutter is represented by a grooved cylinder from a regular lighter. The grinding attachment is made from wooden drum, to which sandpaper with the required grit value is attached.
Do-it-yourself engraver attachments are made because they can replace completely purchased versions. However, it is very difficult to make wood carving attachments with your own hands. This is due to the fact that the working part of such a tool has a complex geometry, which can only be replicated by a real professional using special equipment.
At self-production equipment, attention should be paid to the fastening features. The corresponding element from a broken tool can be used as a shank.
An engraver, also called a mini-drill, dremel, straight grinder or drill, is a multifunctional tool. With its help, not only engraving is applied, but also drilling, grinding and performing other operations for processing various materials, for example, wood, metal, glass, stone. The device is widely used both in everyday life and in various industries, in jewelry, and in the creation of advertising and souvenir products. All the variety of functionality of the equipment is due to the fact that there are different attachments for the engraver.
Attachments for frequently performed types of work are supplied complete with the tool. Milling cutters for more specific operations must be purchased separately. In order to work correctly and efficiently with a Dremel, while achieving high quality processing of parts, you need to know existing varieties equipment, as well as for what work each type is used.
Exists a large number of varieties of equipment for working with a mini-drill. The wide range on the market allows you to select attachments for wood and many other materials that engraving equipment can work with. Also, individual craftsmen make them themselves.
Structurally, the attachments (burs) consist of two parts;
- tail, clamped in the tool chuck (diameter from 0.8 to 8 mm);
- worker who processes materials.
Equipment is classified according to two main criteria:
- by the type of material from which they are made;
- by area of use (purpose).
By type of material processed
Based on the material, engraver cutters are of the following types.
There are also combination burs that have a steel shank and a carbide working part. Their area of application corresponds to the material of the head.
Carbide equipment is of high quality, durable and is one of the most expensive consumables for Dremels. The shape of the tips determines the features of its application. With the help of such peak burs, it is good to process bone, plastic, and make tracing (indicate the contours of the picture). Diamond bits They are also distinguished by their quality, even if the kit they are included in is classified as cheap consumables.
On the market you can find a set of burrs, all the elements of which marked with any color– it indicates the level of sharpening. Those marked black are the most productive burs, while the sharpness of green or blue ones is worse. Labeled yellow nozzles are optimal choice by doing finishing blanks
By purpose
You can use an engraver with attachments not only for engraving, but also for performing other work operations. The breakdown of consumables used in the operation of straight grinders is presented in the table below.
| Work performed | Nozzles used |
| engraving | the varieties discussed above are suitable |
| drilling | performed using steel or carbide drills |
| polishing | circles made of felt, cotton, felt, sandpaper, leather, as well as special devices (holders) that you can wrap yourself (for example, with felt) |
| grinding | grinding stones ( various shapes and from different materials) and circles (from sandpaper), diamond rings, rubber cylinders |
| tongue and groove | burs with a spherical working part |
| cutting | cutting discs |
| milling | cutters |
| cleaning surfaces (for example, from rust, scale) | wire (steel), thread, fabric brushes |
| finishing of holes or cavities | diamond cutters |
| creating grooves | cone burs |
Consumables from each group can be used when processing various materials. Wherein milling equipment used mainly by professionals.
Dremels, which have a flexible shaft installed, are equipped with any types of consumables that fit the diameter of the tool chuck.
Review of the most popular attachments for working on wood and metal
Wood is one of the most commonly processed materials for engraving, along with glass, metal, and stone. Dremels are often used for carving wood, drilling miniature holes in it, and applying images to surfaces. of this material, grinding, and creating small grooves or tongues. Therefore, popular types of attachments for woodworking are:
- wood cutters;
- drill;
- cutting circles;
- polishing, grinding wheels and cylinders;
- spherical and cone-shaped burs;
- diamond and carbide bits of various shapes;
- felt balls.
There are also specific types of wood cutters, but they are used very rarely even by specialists. Purchase consumables to process wood different breeds using directly grinding machine, recommended as a set. Thus, everything that may be needed when performing work manipulations will be collected immediately in one case.
Review of professional attachments for engravers
Professional tools constitute a separate (high-quality and expensive) category of equipment that can withstand significant operating loads without negative consequences. Such devices are usually equipped with appropriate consumables.
Professionals do quality work the smallest details blanks That's why they need such a wide variety of consumables to get the job done.
Experts who engrave various materials professionally recommend purchasing sets of attachments from well-known brands, such as "Dremel" or "Dexter". The significant cost of the products of these companies is fully justified by the fact that their products are reliable, high quality and durable. The use of burrs for wood, metal and other materials produced by these companies increases the accuracy of workpiece processing.
Often, specialists have several sets of equipment designed to process different materials and perform various operations. Also individual elements, included in their composition, have their own design features. Typically these sets include:
- cutters for metal, wood and other materials, of various designs;
- drill;
- felt, diamond, and abrasive cutters;
- wire brushes for cleaning surfaces;
- engraving rods;
- cutting discs.
The kits also include a straight edge cutter.
Straight edge cutter Topfix
Replacement equipment of the Dremel and Dexter brands can be used not only by workshop specialists, but also by home craftsmen who want to improve in the art of engraving.
According to professionals, one such tool can last as long as 10 low-quality attachments from an unknown manufacturer.
Some engraving artists recommend products "Zubr" company, lower quality than Dremel or Dexter, but cheaper. The set can include up to 180 units of consumables of popular varieties. But products from Zubr, in general, fall into the semi-professional and household categories.
Typically, a milling attachment for an engraver is included with the purchased tool. But with constant use, it wears out over time. Also, cutters may be needed for specific operations - then you need to buy new burs in order to continue working with the Dremel.
The ideal option is to purchase products recommended by the engraver manufacturer. In such cases, the warranty from the companies for the device in use is retained. But it happens that original consumables cannot be obtained for some reason, or they will be very expensive given the small volume of upcoming work operations. Then you will need to purchase analogues or even use homemade ones. In this case, the main rules of choice are as follows.
- You should focus on a Dremel chuck that fits shank diameter: most often it is 2.4 or 3.2 mm.
- You need to purchase attachments for metal and other materials depending on the type of work you plan to perform.
- To engrave, you can use inexpensive sets, for example, Chinese or Russian production.
- During constant, prolonged work with a mini-drill (especially with hard materials) it is recommended to purchase high-quality, professional sets, and for occasional engraving, household ones are sufficient.
When learning various Dremel operations, inexpensive products are suitable. Over time, they should be abandoned in favor of better quality equipment.
Homemade attachments for the engraver
You can buy attachments for the engraver not only factory-made, but also make them yourself. Workshop specialists and home craftsmen have come up with many options that are suitable for performing various operations with different materials.
To make your own polishing, grinding, milling, drilling consumables for a Dremel, as well as cutting devices, use the following materials and parts:
- plywood;
- sandpaper;
- leftovers abrasive wheels different thicknesses from an angle grinder (grinder);
- felt;
- felt;
- various fabrics and rubber;
- steel wire;
- a wheel from a cheap lighter;
- old burs and drills (they are sharpened);
- electric razor knives;
- hacksaw blades;
- metal caps, for example, from beer bottles;
- champagne corks;
- an ordinary dowel (its head has teeth) and others.
The photos below show some ready-to-go practical application homemade devices to a milling type engraving device.
Additionally used with homemade products special (for example, diamond) pastes. At the same time, specialists achieve the result of finishing processing of workpieces of different densities, comparable in quality to the use of factory analogue burs.
Homemade attachments suitable for engravers to perform a variety of jobs in domestic conditions. They will also save you money cash through the use of available, cheap materials and parts from improvised or broken (unnecessary, old) mechanisms.
A wide variety of different attachments allows you to perform a wide range of tasks using a Dremel various works with different materials. It is better to select consumables that comply with the recommendations of equipment manufacturers. Professional kits- This is a guarantee of product quality, but they are expensive. To save money, you can make the necessary devices yourself. Just keep in mind that in this case the warranty service for the mini-drill is lost, and during operation the load on the tool may increase.
