Shadowing is a "halo" effect that frequently occurs around the engraved character when the depth nose is used. It's one of the more common problems faced by engravers, but once the specific cause is identified it's usually easy to correct.
The three most common causes of shadowing are; (1) too much spindle pressure, (2) a dirty, defective or improperly seated depth nose and (3) a misaligned spindle.
If the shadowing occurs around the entire character (Figure 1), the problem may just be too much pressure by the depth nose against the plate. The proper procedure is to set the pressure so there is a positive but gentle pressure against the plate. Any more than this will tend to crush finish on the surface of the material causing the shadow or halo effect.
Another probable cause of uniform shadowing is a dirty or defective depth nose. Dirt, corrosion, or pitting on the surface of the nose will be transferred directly to the surface of the material. The nose should be cleaned or replaced. One thing to consider is the use of large plastic nose. |
