Warning

 

Close
Confirm Action

Are you sure you wish to do this?

Cancel Confirm
AR15.COM
Armory Sponsor
11/17/2006 9:21:21 PM EDT
Got a local engraver who is willing to engrave an AR for me for an SBR configuration.....



Any suggestions on what to tell/suggest to the guy as he tries to engrave the lower?  Wasn't sure if there were some commonly acceptable settings for AR's
11/18/2006 3:51:03 AM EDT
[#1]
Just make sure his laser can do the legal minimum depth of .003". Preferably .005" Have him run a test on a scrap of aluminum before he does your lower.
11/18/2006 7:12:26 PM EDT
[#2]
A laser won't be able to go .003 deep, but they won't try and do it with a laser so you're OK.

Don't bother going any deeper than .003, there's no reason to.  By my understanding there is not a height requirement for SBR markings, only the depth.

Who's going to engrave it, if I may ask?

Thanks..
11/18/2006 9:24:08 PM EDT
[#3]

Quoted:
A laser won't be able to go .003 deep, but they won't try and do it with a laser so you're OK.

Don't bother going any deeper than .003, there's no reason to.  By my understanding there is not a height requirement for SBR markings, only the depth.

Who's going to engrave it, if I may ask?

Thanks..



I had a trophy shop close to my house do it --


This is not a alum lower, this is a polymer lower by Cav Arms -- lot easier to engrave.



They do NOT have the proper tools to engrave a metal lower.
11/19/2006 8:28:54 AM EDT
[#4]
I saw a laser engraved Carbon 15 the other day, looked really good, and plenty deep.

I assumed you were doing a metal lower.  Engraving lasers can't go too deep, and often they have to coat the metal in order for the laser to be able to etch it.
11/19/2006 8:34:42 AM EDT
[#5]

Quoted:
A laser won't be able to go .003 deep, but they won't try and do it with a laser so you're OK.

Don't bother going any deeper than .003, there's no reason to.  By my understanding there is not a height requirement for SBR markings, only the depth.

Who's going to engrave it, if I may ask?

Thanks..


Wrong, the spec is "1/16" high 0.003" deep in a conspicious area" meaning it can't be covered by a grip or stock.

There are lazers that can engrave that deep, but they are not as common as other less powerful units.
11/19/2006 10:11:01 AM EDT
[#6]
There are also engraving lasers that when the power is applied, could burn straight through an alum lower




What it comes down to, is you need to have someone who knows how to operate their equipment.
11/19/2006 5:04:38 PM EDT
[#7]

Quoted:
There are also engraving lasers that when the power is applied, could burn straight through an alum lower




What it comes down to, is you need to have someone who knows how to operate their equipment.


The lasers I have seen work by repeatedly passing over the same area, so if it will cut, you just keep passing over and over the same area until it is as deep as you want.  Mine took 6 passes.
11/19/2006 5:24:36 PM EDT
[#8]

Quoted:

Quoted:
There are also engraving lasers that when the power is applied, could burn straight through an alum lower




What it comes down to, is you need to have someone who knows how to operate their equipment.


The lasers I have seen work by repeatedly passing over the same area, so if it will cut, you just keep passing over and over the same area until it is as deep as you want.  Mine took 6 passes.



They are probably being carefull or are very weak

The hotter the engraving, the more prone it is to melting which will look like shit.


The engraver I went to used a 25 watt laser at less then 20% of it's potential power.


There is also an engraver in town with a 75 watt laser that is capable of cutting into stainless steel.
11/19/2006 9:41:35 PM EDT
[#9]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Quoted:
There are also engraving lasers that when the power is applied, could burn straight through an alum lower




What it comes down to, is you need to have someone who knows how to operate their equipment.


The lasers I have seen work by repeatedly passing over the same area, so if it will cut, you just keep passing over and over the same area until it is as deep as you want.  Mine took 6 passes.



They are probably being carefull or are very weak

The hotter the engraving, the more prone it is to melting which will look like shit.


The engraver I went to used a 25 watt laser at less then 20% of it's potential power.


There is also an engraver in town with a 75 watt laser that is capable of cutting into stainless steel.


The engraver Ken is talking about is powerful enough to cook a reciever, he dials down the power and makes several passes to keep the heat down. He also does engraving on commercial grade machine parts. I would not hesitate to recomend him but I don't think he is licensed to recieve firearms through the mail. He happens to be local and we just walked them in and were present while he did the work
11/19/2006 10:37:16 PM EDT
[#10]
This thread is laser misinformation at its finest.
11/19/2006 11:54:41 PM EDT
[#11]

Quoted:
This thread is laser misinformation at its finest.


Well then, enlighten us. When I stated that the engraver made several passes at lower power I was merely passing on what he told me. Is this incorrect?
11/22/2006 9:17:54 PM EDT
[#12]
I was just reading the Machinegun Dealers Bible, 4th Edition and it states that a 2002 ATF ruling specified .005 depth and height of 3/32.

Does anybody know if this ruling was deemed unnecessary and abandoned?

thanks,
Ron
11/23/2006 5:19:07 AM EDT
[#13]
According to 27 CFR 479.102, it's .003 and 1/16.
11/23/2006 7:02:24 AM EDT
[#14]

Quoted:

Quoted:
This thread is laser misinformation at its finest.


Well then, enlighten us.


Yes, please do, I was hoping you could shed some light on this topic...
11/26/2006 7:06:59 PM EDT
[#15]
The height requirement is in the section describing the serial number.

The additional information section, that includes SBR markings, lists a depth requirement, but not a height requirement.
Armory Sponsor