Raised versus sunk
Raised art is steel that is cut away. Sunk art is steel that stands up. They release differently.
Lettering and engraving
Molded Lettering and Engraving: Draft, Fill, and Parting
Send logo art with pull direction. DFM review comments on draft, fill, and parting. This page does not publish a letter height.
Design guideline
The art has to leave the steel
Lettering and engraving are molded features. Raised art and sunk engraving release differently. Small reverse text fills poorly on thin walls. Logos near the parting line need shutoff so flash does not cut the art.
Molded lettering and engraving must release from steel like any other feature. Raised lettering on a textured face can polish differently than the grain. Draft angle owns release. Parting line owns the seam through the art. Laser etching is a post-mold mark, not this spoke. DFM review needs the artwork and pull.
This spoke owns molded text and logos. Texture draft owns extra draft on grain. The design guide hub lists every topic.
Roles
Which page answers which marking question
Stay here for molded art. Open a sibling for laser, texture, gate, or the CAD check.
| Page | Use it for |
|---|---|
| Lettering and engraving (this page) | Raised or sunk molded art |
| Laser etching | A post-mold mark |
| Secondary operations | Pad print, hot stamp, laser marking |
| Draft angle | Release of the art |
| Texture draft | Grain around the art |
| Gate location | Fill into small reverse text |
| Wall thickness | Tiny text on a thin skin fills poorly |
| DFM review | CAD and artwork check |
Checks
What DFM review looks for on lettering
Qualitative checks. No figure on this page is a NetProto specification.
No letter-height table
This page does not publish a minimum height. Upload art and CAD.
Parting through art
A split through a logo flashes the letters. Move the line or the art.
Post-mold marks
Laser, pad print, and hot stamp are other pages, not molded engraving.
Decision
A raised logo versus sunk engraving
Wrong: drop tiny reverse text on a thin wall at the parting line. Right: pick raised or sunk with draft and shutoff in mind.
What goes wrong
- Tiny reverse text on a thin wall
- A logo sitting on the parting line
- Treat laser etching as molded engraving
What to try first
- Send vector art and pull direction
- Keep the split off the letters
- Open laser etching if the mark is after the shot
RFQ
Mark these on CAD before uploading for DFM review
The quote can start from CAD alone. These notes make the DFM pass specific.
Vector logo or text artwork
Raised or sunk intent
Pull direction on that face
Parting-line intent near the art
Texture around the letters
Whether a post-mold mark is an alternative
Related
Related design guidelines
Stay on this spoke for its question. Open a sibling for the neighbor topic or the CAD check.
Laser etching
A mark after the shot.
Laser etchingSecondary operations
Pad print, hot stamp, laser marking.
Secondary operationsDFM review
How NetProto reads artwork with CAD.
DFM reviewFAQ
Lettering and engraving FAQ
What letter height is moldable?
It depends on stroke, resin, and whether the art is raised or sunk. NetProto does not publish a height on this page. Upload the art.
Can logos be laser etched after molding?
Yes as a secondary mark. Open laser etching and secondary operations. That is not molded engraving.
Does engraving affect IP?
Artwork and brand use are the customer's legal review. Send the art you want molded. This page does not give legal advice.
Raised or sunk: which releases better?
It depends on the face and the grain. Raised art on texture can polish differently. DFM review comments on your CAD.
Can lettering sit on the parting line?
It can flash through the letters. Move the line or the art.
How is this page different from laser etching or texture?
This spoke owns molded art. Laser is after the shot. Texture draft owns grain. DFM review checks CAD.
What file format should I send for the logo?
Vector formats (AI, EPS, SVG) scale cleanly for steel cutting. Raster art may need conversion. Upload vector art with CAD so DFM review can check release before quoting.
Next step
Upload CAD and artwork for a lettering review
Share vector art, raised or sunk intent, and pull direction so review can check release before quoting.