CNC Milling 

CNC craving is a unique way to enhance the creativity and style of many arts and crafts products.   Some projects are simple, such as engraving a name on a pen or signing a turned bowl.  Some projects involve cleaning up a complex logo and engraving or marking it on a new material.   Some projects are complicated, such as designing a custom award plaque using unique woods and gold leaf or starting with a concept for a product and developing the entire piece.  This sounds like it might be expensive, time-consuming, and risky. Still, most CNC craving projects are straightforward, relatively inexpensive, and quick with a predictable outcome.

  • Materials we can use:  wood, plastics, stone, glass, mirrors, solid surface materials, acrylic, anodized aluminum, and more
  • Maximum size of piece:  flat and rectangular objects – 24″ x 24″ x 7″; cylindrical object (e.g. bottles, drinking glasses, etc.) 3.5″ in diameter x 15″ long

             Projects that we can do?

We will be happy to discuss projects that will fit in our CNC.   A partial list of items we can do:

  • Name tags and other signs made from wood or multi-layer plastics
  • Signs of all sorts made from wood, plastic, metal, and other materials
  • Wooden plaques
  • Photos on wood plaques
  • Wooden boxes (lids, signatures on the bottom, etc.)
  • Wooden bowls (signatures on the bottom and corporate logos on the inside and rim)
  • Wooden business cards, including standard size and custom designs
  • Wooden crosses
  • Wooden bookmarkers
  • Wooden spheres
  • Wooden placemats
  • Wooden coasters

                      What are the steps?

These are the formal steps in planning a project. We typically follow all these steps, even though one or more may seem insignificant.

  • Contact us with details on your project.
  • We come to a joint understanding of the scope of the project.
  • You accept a project quotation and approve the project.
  • Artwork for the CNC engraving is created and presented for approval if necessary.
  • Your project pieces are delivered to us, or we create them to your specifications.
  • Proof/test samples and/or pictures are returned for approval if necessary.
  • Production of the project.

                    Fees and payments?

  • Any significant setup fees must be paid upfront, but our setup fees are typically minimal.
  • Large projects may require a 50% partial up-front payment
  • Project fees will be due after the project.
  • Payment options include cash, check (U.S. bank, U.S. funds), and credit cards.
  • For custom products that we provide, an up-front payment will be necessary for materials.

                   Anything go wrong?

The CNC engraver is a tool, and tools can break.  So, however unlikely it is, it is possible for things to go wrong.   We understand that many of the things we are hired to engrave are unique items.  For this reason, we may request a sample of the material for testing before the production engraving.   If your piece is unique and/or irreplaceable, we will be hesitant to work on it.  Wine bottles typically engrave nicely, but we will not be responsible if a bottle breaks during engraving.   The same is true for any glass objects.

We always try our very best to be careful and responsible, anticipate problems, and use test pieces when prudent. But if getting your piece engraved scares you, then it scares us, too.