THE ENGRAVERS JOURNAL/JUNE 07 www.engraversjournal.com
3
Vision’s own engraving program, you
can also run the MAX Pro using other
software, including CorelDRAW. For
those of you who want to take your en-
graving skills to the next level, you can
utilize the system’s 2
1
/2D and 3D en-
graving capabilities by pairing it with a
3D engraving program like CASmate’s
EnRoute, for example.
Workholding Options
One of the best features of this ma-
chine is the multiple workholding op-
tions that are built right into it. There’s
a T-slot table for flat work, a dowel
pin vise that accepts a variety of jigs
for odd-shaped items, a cylindrical at-
tachment for engraving roundwork and
even a ring engraver (although the lat-
ter is optional). It’s not just the multi-
ple workholding options that make the
MAX Pro so versatile, however. It’s
the fact that you can switch from one
method to another with extreme ease.
Are you finished with that name badge
job? Remove the T-slot table and slip
on the holding cones for a champagne
bottle and glasses. Finished with that?
Remove the cones and attach the ring
engraver to personalize a set of wed
-
ding rings. Obviously, there is time in-
volved in setting up each job, but the
hardware changeover between jobs is
really easy.
Each holding option has its own
driver installed in the software, so
you simply select the driver based on
the type of work you are engraving.
That’s where some of the Vision Pro
software’s “wizardry” comes in. By
selecting the appropriate driver, the
software communicates to the engrav-
ing machine the proper home position
(upper left corner for the T-slot table,
center for the vise) and engraving ori-
entation. You can also add up to nine of
your own drivers and save them for fu
-
ture use, e.g. for quick setup for certain
styles of pens or other items that you
frequently engrave.
Here’s a more detailed look at the
MAX Pro’s workholding options:
T-Slot Table
The MAX Pro’s aluminum T-slot
table is used for holding and engraving
flat items, such as trophy and plaque
plates, name badges, luggage tags, etc.
The table has an 8" x 12" engraving
area and will handle items measuring
14" wide x 3" thick x any length since
the material can extend beyond the ta-
ble’s limits. Four Allen screws secure
the table to the vise, so removing or
installing it is a matter of removing or
installing the screws. Materials can be
held to the table using Vision’s quick-
lock vise fixture (included) or their
“Multi Mat” material, a self-adhesive
material that can be placed directly
on the table to provide a rubber-coat
-
ed gripping surface. Vision also sells
other clamping accessories, such as an
edge clamp that clamps down on top of
the material, wedge clamps and corner
clamps.
The Workholding Vise
When the T-slot table is removed,
you have access to the unit’s vise for
holding various odd-shaped items ei-
ther directly in the vise or in conjunc-
tion with a variety of holding jigs.
The self-centering dowel pin vise on
this unit is modeled after the timeless
“SC-3" workholder, which originated
on the highly versatile GTX series pan-
tograph engraving machines that many
long-time engravers still own. The
great advantage here is interchange
-
ability—you can use any of the indus-
try standard holding jigs you may al-
ready have on this machine in addition
to Vision’s own line of holding jigs.
Vision holding jigs for this vise in-
clude a pen/medallion fixture, a seal
fixture and their universal pin jig. The
universal pin jig features a series of
holes that you insert pins into to secure
items. This is a particularly good ac-
cessory to have on hand since these jigs
can handle many small, odd-shaped
items like ornaments, jewelry, letter
The Measure Wizard allows you to define the engraving area using a red pointer and
then preview that engraving area.
With the Measure Wizard, you can use
the system’s red pointer to define the
engraving area on odd-shaped items.
The self-centering dowel pin vise
on the MAX Pro accepts a variety of
interchangeable holding jigs, such
as this Universal Pin Jig, for holding
odd-shaped jewelry and gift items.
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