Rick,
When you say "a new method," do you mean new compared to the mirror-image-on-clear-plastic that you described earlier, or are you also including new as compared to the standard machinist route using a dividing head and number stamps?
I understand that you want to try an etching method, and if you succeed I will be interested in seeing your results. My suspicion is that it will not be as clear and crisp as the dividing head look ... but of course, I may be proved wrong.
A year or so ago, a participant on the Practical Machinist forum described his rebuild of a large bandsaw (over a span of many, many posts); IIRC, one segment detailed his re-creation of some machine plates using an etching process. These were flat, however, rather than cylindrical -- a much easier proposition. Still, might be worth looking at for ideas, if you haven't already seen it.
--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Rick Sparber" <rgsparber@...> wrote:
>
> Mitch,
>
> There are many ways to engrave and/or stamp dials. I'm looking for a way to do it with etching. My goal is not the dial but rather a new method.
>
> Rick
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Mitch Davis
> Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2013 7:50 AM
> To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: etching the OD of a cylinder to create a graduated dial
>
> On Tue, Mar 19, 2013 at 10:51 AM, Rick Sparber <rgsparber@...> wrote:
> >
> > How would the stepper fit into my plan to etch the dial?
>
> Maybe the stepper could rotate the cylinder and a tool could carve the graduations. Etch, carve, as long as you end up with the graduations
> :-)
>
> Mitch.
>