Metal etching artwork questions

[Scottl]

I just learned another secret.  Parts for bridges always come in twos, or multiples of two...  I'm missing 12 parts for the pillars.

The good news is that I can make them with my next etch for the walkways and railings.  I'll put a few other things on the sheet as well, including some plates for the main arch and a test of some locomotive front hand rails.    Despite this minor setback, I'm really enjoying the etching work.  I will probably be doing the CPR Cisco bridges this way as well- it is about the same cost as styrene and commercial parts, but much better scaling and detail.

 

[timgill]

The more I read about etching, and seeing projects like this, the more I want to try it out. What is this PPD you all speak of? Is this a service that will etch parts for you from drawings you supply?

[GaryHinshaw]

Yes.  There are many other vendors too, but PPD is one that many of us have used, so they are used to 's.

[timgill]

That's really cool. Thanks for the link. Seems like there are so many possibilities with this technique.

I won't hijack this thread, but does anyone have a link or recommendations on where to find more info on the guidelines for creating the artwork? I'm comfortable in Corel, Inkscape, etc., but I'd like to discover more about how the artwork needs to be set up to etch properly.

[Scottl]

I just went with PPD's instructions and used layers in Inkscape.  The suggestions earlier in this thread in terms of layout were very helpful too.

[timgill]

How do the different colors factor into etching different layers of "depth" into each piece? i.e., I noticed that you have etched in rivets, surface detail, etc.

[Scottl]

I used red for half etch on the front, which gave rivet relief and layered on the beam lacing.  You can also do it on the back but I did not try it.  Red is the half etch and black is the no-etch layer.

You have to oversize slots a bit and undersize tabs if you are doing those, given the etching is not perfect.  My slots and tabs worked when I scaled them +-10% of what I wanted in the end. 

If you want to look at an Inkscape file, send me your email via PM.

[garethashenden]

I have a few questions on etching things. I want to etch an RPO, or at least the sides, in N scale. I have a HO drawing of the prototype and a few pictures. Do I scan it, scale it, and trace it? Or do I measure everything and redraw it? Something else? I'm using Inkscape if it matters.

[Scottl]

I would scan it, import it into Inkscape as a background image, and then trace over it with Inkscape shapes.  This will get the proportions correct and then you can scale it to the final size at the end by grouping all the objects. 

Think about the layers you might have before you go too far, and start with the most basic shapes first, and then refine it as you proceed. That works well.

Also, even though you can undo with programs, I save a working file periodically (after a major session) so if I do something catastrophic, it can be recovered from.

Send me a PM with your email if you want my inkscape example.  It might help you visuallize it better.