Brass Nameplates: The Perfect Addition to Your Projects
Brass nameplates are both elegant and durable, making them the perfect addition to any project. Whether you’re labeling a museum picture frame or a machine that weighs several tons, brass nameplates are just the thing to add a touch of sophistication.
Creating your own brass nameplates is easier than you might think. Make editor Johannes Börnsen demonstrates just how it’s done in a video tutorial, using a CNC milling machine to replicate the labeling plates. A brass rod from the hardware store is processed with an engraving cutter, resulting in a beautiful and professional-looking finished product.
To begin, Johannes creates the milling file using InDesign. First, he imports the logo and then draws a frame with rounded corners around it. He adds screw holes on the left and right, setting circles and intersecting them with the outer frame accordingly. The file is then exported as an SVG file and imported into Estlcam – CAM software used to prepare milling data for a CNC machine.
Johannes mills the brass nameplate with the “carve function”, using an engraving tool that has a point at the front. This tool allows him to cut into fine corners, such as the armpits of the “M”, unlike a cylindrical milling cutter. The brass strip, which is 2 mm thick and 20 mm wide, is then attached to the CNC milling machine with double-sided adhesive tape.
The milling process takes about 20 minutes and is done in two passes. After milling, the brass nameplate is sawed to the final width and filed to make the cut edges nicer on the short sides. To achieve the typical contrast, Johannes paints the nameplate black and then sands it down using 600 grade paper. The final product is a beautiful brass nameplate with a black background and clean, professional lines.
Creating your own brass nameplates is not only a fun and rewarding project, but it also adds a unique touch to your work. Whether you’re labeling a treasured piece of art or a massive piece of machinery, a brass nameplate is just the thing to give it that special touch of class and sophistication.
