Vectric Customer

I need help with which font to use. I want the letter size about .3 inches and raised .125 inches high. I have a 1 mm end mil and also a 1/16 inch end mill. I'm trying to carve "Product of Aaron's Woodshed". I've been able to get the letters to work by using a 1/64 inch bit in the tool path. However, I don't have that size bit. Right now I'm using Arial Block for the font. Any ideas?

Aaron

It sounds like you're trying to pocket cut with too large a bit.
If you put a boundary vector around the text you can V-carve using just about any font. Set flat depth to .125".

I agree, a V-Carve toolpath will provide better results. The nice thing about the preview is you can play around with different bits to see which ones will work best for you.

I'd suggest starting with a 60° bit and see how that looks.

The problem with any font at that size is going to be the centres, especially if you want to use sentence case. Even using all caps the centres of letters will be very small which as you have discovered means using an extremely small bit for it to fit.
I wouldn't have thought about Mike's solution of Vcarving it but will remember it from now on

As Randall has memtioned using the preview screen will allow you to play about & see what looks best, the preview screen has become one of my best friends, saves you a lot of time & wasted material

Not sure what I'm doing wrong. I have never been able to v-carve outside the letters correctly. I've attached a test file. I've cut a lot out to get it down below 2 meg. I want to letters .125 above the base.

Is this what you are looking for?

That is close. I put the vector around the letters so it would clear everything up to the letters. The example you sent still has a raised area. How can I get the letters flush with what is outside the vector?

Like this?

That is it. How did you do it?

OK, let me work on getting the file down with out loosing the info you need.

highpockets wrote:OK, let me work on getting the file down with out loosing the info you need.

You dah man John. I was thinking of posting on this but we seem to always stomp on each others post.
(hows those edgelits coming?)

Small text is fun to work with and can cause issues. That being said here's the basics for your problem.

First I played with the text spacing until I could get a 1/16" bit around each letter. Once I was satisfied I converted the text to curves. I then node edited the "e" to get a bit to cut the bottom of the "e" correctly.

Instead of a 1/16" end mill I used a 1/16" ball end, seemed to work better.
Instead of a 60° V-bit I used a 30° V-bit, this reduced the angle of the sides a bit.
See attached file.

Hope this all makes since and helps some.

Hey Dwayne,

Your input is always welcome, you know I don't always get it right

If I ever quit traveling I'm hoping to get to some edgelit stuff.... I have several projects ready to go....

Get on it brother always a pleasure to see your work. Been cranking em out here. But Im not traveling so that is a plus. Damn shame I still have to work the day job though.

Retirement is the best job I've ever had highly recommend it.