Do you have a Dictionary Definition of Engine Turning?
Yes! Everything you need if you are compiling a dictionary, encyclopædea or company training manual or a list of businesses and what they do, is on our META page. If you need more comprehensive information go to The Illustrated Engine Turning Reference™, and please don't forget to put a reference to it for further reading in your work.
As an admirer of antique cars from the 1930's I am familiar with the term of engine-turned as it applies to the design of many dashboards of that era.
In my opinion the use of the term "Engine Turning" when referring to these metal dashboards is a misnomer. In fact they are unlikely to have ever been anywhere near an engine turning machine. I refer to that process as "Spotting". The Dashboards are not a simulation of, nor do they resemble conventional engine turning, but by temporarily attaching extra parts to an engine turning machine, including a rotating disc or pad charged with abrasive, we are able to simulate or copy it, and we can also do versions of spotting not possible using the original methods because of our ability to include wavy motions, linear and curved - circular or elliptical, and on 3D surfaces. Another similar technique used on flat watch and clock movement plates I think is called "Damascening", mostly done in straight lines, possibly using a milling machine. There are numerous ways to generate these effects.
I have always wondered how the term "engine-turned" was derived. I could find nothing on your site which addresses the etymology of the term. Can you tell me?
Engine Turning is a development of the lathe and probably began to arise circa 1700, along with, (and strictly is really a kind of) complex or "Ornamental Turning". Thus the word "Turning" is used even when referring to Straight line cutting. The metal is removed in a more or less continuous chip by a fixed tool. The word "Engine" comes from a period when the English word was closer in meaning to it's latin origin, "genesis", to make or create. The lathe used to be referred to as the "Engine Lathe", hence the "Rose Engine", and Engine Turning. In French and German the emphasis is historically "Cutting", thus "guilloché" and "guillocheren".
Why is Engine Turning so expensive?
It isn't! However, it takes a long time to do. There are various ways to make it cheaper such as reproducing the pattern by rolling, stamping or casting. Cutting multiple items on automatic machinery also reduces costs for production work. We supply all market levels.
Do you have a minimum charge?
Yes; from March 2007 this increases to £25.00, to be reviewed again in 12 months. It can take more than half an hour to set up a machine, grind tools etc. to cut even a single cufflink blank, plus the admin of writing the invoice, plus in most cases packing and posting it. The unit price for a trim line around such a blank is just 98p as at April 2006, to be reviewed in March 2007. That's why we have a minimum charge.
We also have a standard setup charge which applies to short runs of hand cut items. This is currently £13.50 ukp, to be reviewed March 2007.
Where can I see what you do?
If you are happy with images and text, then The Illustrated Engine Turning Reference™ has the largest collection of information on the subject; but if you want to see it in action, then please arrange an appointment to see our workshop in Surrey, England.