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: How to make a magnesium hot-foil stamping die?
: How to make a magnesium hot-foil stamping die? -- scottpage	Post Reply	Top of thread	Engineering Forum

Posted by: TAFKADaz ® 04/20/2010, 08:54:24 Author Profile eMail author Edit

Hi, Where about are you located? I have a number of people i can put you onto to explain chemical etching, most dies nowadays are made on a CNC machine normally using Brass or Aluminium.

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: How to make a magnesium hot-foil stamping die?
: How to make a magnesium hot-foil stamping die? -- scottpage	Post Reply	Top of thread	Engineering Forum

Posted by: Pinkerton ® 04/04/2010, 11:10:13 Author Profile eMail author Edit

Hi Scott, Why do you want to use Magnesium? Hot stamping dies can be made using a high temp Silicone rubber that comes bonded to an aluminum backing sheet. The pattern is then laser cut by a normal CO2 engraving laser. Any sign or trophy shop that has a laser can do rubber stamps. The advantage of the Silicone over the Magnesium is that it will take up any surface imperfections where as the Magnesium will just not bond the foil in those spots. If the material to stamp is perfectly smooth and flat then the magnesium will work fine too. Dave ( Who, by the way has a 25 Watt CO2 laser engraver in the garage) Modified by Pinkerton at Sun, Apr 04, 2010, 11:10:42

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: : How to make a magnesium hot-foil stamping die?
: : How to make a magnesium hot-foil stamping die? -- Pinkerton	Post Reply	Top of thread	Engineering Forum

Posted by: scottpage ® 04/04/2010, 17:55:38 Author Profile eMail author Edit

Hello Dave, Thanks for the input. It helps me understand this better. I say magnesium because that is what is being used now and I want to mimic what is currently being done. And I expect it isn't too difficult to do this. Only I don't know. Other reason is because the quality doesn't need to be perfect. The hot-foil stamp is being applied to plastic crate and doesn't need to be perfect. Where can I get this high temp silicone rubber? Does it come with the aluminum backing? Again, I'm looking to learn how to make dies for hot-foil stamping machine. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

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: : : How to make a magnesium hot-foil stamping die?
: : : How to make a magnesium hot-foil stamping die? -- scottpage	Post Reply	Top of thread	Engineering Forum

Posted by: Pinkerton ® 04/04/2010, 18:46:50 Author Profile eMail author Edit

Hi Scott, To do the Magnesium yourself you will need to be able to create a photomask and apply it then etch. With the Silicone rubber you just create the art work and hand that to the laser engraver. They will invert it and cut away all but what you need to foil. I have never done a foil stamp but have done quite a few rubber stamps for ink-pads but I know the Silicone material exists and the laser process for it is identical, albeit it slower as the Silicone is much harder. I have been told that the aluminum is already bonded to the Silicone. You could try a company called laserbits but I think they have a 75-buck minimum. I have never used them as they are a bit on the pricey side for the stuff I do use. If you can't find it anywhere else then they become the preferred dealers. I get my rubber stamp material from another company (can't recall the name right now, I'd have to search invoices) but they don't do the hi temp Silicone stuff. Dave

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: : : : How to make a magnesium hot-foil stamping die? -- Pinkerton	Post Reply	Top of thread	Engineering Forum

Posted by: scottpage ® 04/05/2010, 10:47:14 Author Profile eMail author Edit

Hello Dave, Something came to mind. That is the temperatures we are talking about. What is the temperature used in hot-foil stamping? I know the machines can be regulated a bit apply different temps. But what temps does the high temp silicone rubber stand-up to? On laserbits.com they don't have a temp range. On rubberrolledsheets.com they say up to 500 degrees F. With hot-foil stamping, the metal die gets hot and sets an imprint into the material being stamped. Will this high temp silicone rubber hold heat? I do see that laserbits.com sells the rubber with aluminum backing for this purpose so someone is using it. Thanks again.

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: : : : How to make a magnesium hot-foil stamping die?
: : : : How to make a magnesium hot-foil stamping die? -- Pinkerton	Post Reply	Top of thread	Engineering Forum

Posted by: scottpage ® 04/05/2010, 10:37:14 Author Profile eMail author Edit

I've been able to find some of the high temp silicone rubber. Yes laserbits has it online. I'm able to find others without the aluminum backing. Maybe I could apply the aluminum myself. For example, rubbersheetroll.com sells it with adhesive. But I still want to understand how to make the magnesium based hot foil dies. The cost maybe less. The dies I make will used for only 1, 2 or 3 thousand stamps. Cost is an issue with this little of stamping. Thanks.

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: : : : : How to make a magnesium hot-foil stamping die?
: : : : : How to make a magnesium hot-foil stamping die? -- scottpage	Post Reply	Top of thread	Engineering Forum

Posted by: Pinkerton ® 04/05/2010, 11:03:04 Author Profile eMail author Edit

Hi Scott, I know nothing about the use of the dies so I have no idea on temps. I have made the dies with the rubber material provided to me. I have seen videos of stuff being stamped but that's it. Same goes for the adhesive, rubber and aluminum information, no help to you at all. I have no experience with making the magnesium dies. I was assuming it was similar to making printed circuit boards where you make a photo-mask that transfers to the copper and everything else is etched away with Ferric Chloride or similar chemicals. Those I have done. I only got to know about the silicone version when asked to engrave some with my laser. I was told then it was a much less costly method for dies, plus they liked the uneven surface benefits I mentioned before. Dave

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