Multi-stylus orbital engraving tool

A selectable symbol engraving tool for use with a CNC machine, comprising:

• a housing;
• an array of styluses supported in the housing, each stylus moveable between a retracted position and an extended position;
• and
• a pattern disk rotatably supported in the housing and connectable to a spindle of the CNC machine, wherein the pattern disk includes a plurality of hole patterns, each selectable via rotation of the spindle and including one or more clearance holes corresponding to a symbol;
• wherein the array of styluses is positioned to confront a selected one of the plurality of hole patterns such that styluses corresponding to the clearance holes are retracted and the remaining styluses are extended and operative to engrave the symbol corresponding to the selected hole pattern in a work piece;
• an anti-rotation post radially offset from the pattern disk and attached to the housing, wherein the anti-rotation post is connectable to a spindle-nose of the CNC machine;
• wherein each stylus is rotatably supported in the housing and operative to drill into a work piece via orbiting about a virtual axis of rotation when the selectable character engraving tool is moved in a circular motion by the CNC machine.

A method for engraving a selected symbol into a work piece with a CNC machine, the method comprising:

• supporting an array of styluses on the spindle-nose of the CNC machine;
• selecting a plurality of active styluses corresponding to the selected symbol from the array of styluses;
• extending the plurality of active styluses;
• moving the spindle-nose toward the work piece causing the plurality of active styluses to contact the work piece;
• and
• moving the spindle-nose in a circular motion thereby causing the plurality of active styluses to orbit about a virtual axis of rotation.