I completely get what you mean by "For this, we need to adjust the actual geometry of the font/letters and then determine what you want to call "depth"."
So if I were to use Moi3d, choose the Bookman Old Style font from 'Draw Solid', and I use say a 20 degree V bit, how would I go about creating the geometry?
Also, "But anyway, an easy way to achieve the centerline path,"
Could you please explain how to create a centerline path from text in Moi3d?
Hi Gunter,
I'll try to explain here, as a video may be too involved.
So I started by taking the text you posted then vcarving it.... (With no worries of depth)
Here is what it looks like from a top view:
And here in a 3d view: (Note the depth is all over the place)
Then I post the gcode for that toolpath. I run it through a system to create a dxf out of the gcode toolpath, then bring that dxf into MoI:
I did some cleanup. Rebuilding and joining etc.... (The dxf comes out as line segments, so I rebuild them into smoother splines. Maybe somemore time could be spent here)
In this file, I left the dxf line segments in as other colored styles, for reference
So why do this?
I can now use "Engrave" on the path. Engrave allows me to set a depth at the spline level.
I can also use MoI's Edit Frame and "Flatten" the geometry. An just do a flat engrave at a single depth with a Vbit...
Note,
If you are going to "Flatten" the toolpath geometry, you will want to EXCLUDE the little "V" tails on all the letters... Those are Z level entries and exits per a "VCarve" toolpath. They wont translate into a flat engrave (Unless you are doing the "3D Spline Engrave" I mentioned first. Then you want to use those...
"""""""""""I completely get what you mean by "For this, we need to adjust the actual geometry of the font/letters and then determine what you want to call "depth"."
So if I were to use Moi3d, choose the Bookman Old Style font from 'Draw Solid', and I use say a 20 degree V bit, how would I go about creating the geometry?"""""""""""
You want to model the font to control the depth "You want"...
I would model my tool (You said 20 degree, but didn't include the diameter of the tool)
With the model of the tool, you can determine the width at the various depths of the VCutter. Then you would go to each letter in your font text, and do the modeling to constrain your desired depth.
A combination of separation, offsetting\drawing and rejoining things at the proper widths to stop the VBit at the depths you want
We can get into this if you want\need to. It would probably be a great exercise for me and others to see various techniques to do this.
Also, Still want to see Grendel's Input here..... Monster!
Another fast way to set the fonts offset, is to use the extrude command, with the tapered option... This can shrink the font face down uniformly with the desired angles..
MoI's geometry library just wont allow you to go to "Stick font"...
But you can go pretty close. And that would make it pretty easy to just draw the final centerlines by hand...
I'll look and see if i can make a video doing this...
Here is a quick video off using the extrude-tapered command to generate an offset for the font to be Vcarved..
In this video though, I "eyeballed" the distance. I have to think about how to get a snap point to generate an "Exact distance" to get an "Exact depth" from the bit.
Also to note with this method, I picked a place on the font to use as my "get depth from here" value... Any other areas where the walls are wider, or narrower, would do the VCarve Variation. But the variable depth is what makes "Vcarve" look so cool...
I guess you just have to determine if any of this works for what you want...
So I made a mistake in the video. When I created a new "Depth" line on my vurtual tool geometry, I then used that for the offset value. I was supposed to create a new "CROSS SECTION" at the depth line, then use that value...
You should be able to see the error and figure that part out. I'll look at generating a new video in a bit to correct that.
I also was confused thinking the file was MM and saw it was inches... So the numbers for "Tool size" may seem odd... And I am not a MM guy. But the theory is presented I think...
@BurrMan - Just wow, thank you very much indeed for all your input!
I followed your videos and tried to wrap my head around your advice. In the videos,
the bottom of the vcarve is still flat though.
Following your Youtube tutorial, I tried extruding to a tapered point but
wasn't able to do that. I created a profile of my tool - 3.175 diameter, 20 degrees (in yellow)
Is it possible to extrude the text following the tapered yellow triangle?
I really appreciate the time you've spent on this!
Gunter
@blowlamp - thank you for your advice. So in Estlcam, if I were to use
a true font, would the software automatically calculate the vcarve based
on the centreline of the font?
Yes it will calculate on the center line but the depth will be different, the wider between the edges of the curves the deeper the milling.
What you are asking for will be longer, harder and more expensive. I attached a screenshot of the milling on your design.
Unfortunately, you can't do it any other way because the slope of the walls is different.
Ja, die Berechnung erfolgt entlang der Mittellinie, aber die Tiefe ist unterschiedlich: Je breiter der Abstand zwischen den Kanten der Kurven, desto tiefer die Fräsung.
Was Sie verlangen, wird sein länger, härter und teurer. Ich habe einen Screenshot des Fräsens an Ihren Entwurf angehängt.
Leider gibt es keine andere Möglichkeit, denn die Steigung der Wände ist unterschiedlich.
What you created (presumably in moi3D) is exactly what I'm after. I'm afraid what I don't understand
is how you created the v-carved text. Would it be possible for you to explain this to me step by step?
Hey Gunter,
I can look at your file later. But from your screenshot, let me say this.
First, you wont be able to taoer extrude to a single point (its a limitation)
But you don't want to either.
In your image you have your drawn tool sitting all the way down in the text geometry. At full depth. And it looks lile you are wantimg to extrude the text "DOWN"...
You want to move the tool UP in that file, untill the tip is at the depth you want. Then, taper extrude the text UP untill the side walls intersect or clash with the tool. This is what will limit the depth of the tool.
Then you delete the original text and use that new top face of the tapered extruded text to vcarve. When the tooling is constrained by the new, offset text edges, the depth will be shallower.
Not sure about the flat bottom. I saw it mentioned that vectric has this option. Be sure you untick that option.
Here is a brief list:
1 Check the curves of the letters for defects, correct if any.
2 Create a midline.
3 Build a three-dimensional skeleton.
4 Using the skeleton, create surfaces.
5 Construct the rest of the form and merge everything into a solid body.
That's it.
Hier ist eine kurze Liste:
1 Prüfen Sie die Kurven der Buchstaben auf Fehler und korrigieren Sie sie gegebenenfalls.
2 Ich erstelle eine Mittellinie.
3 Erstellen Sie ein 3D-Drahtgitter.
4 Anhand des Drahtmodells erstelle ich Flächen.
5 Ich baue den Rest der Form und füge alles zu einem Solid zusammen.
Das war's.
For example, I use the letters "JAC" from your file.
1 Let's remove everything unnecessary and zoom in, it's more convenient for me.
2 Let's block the oval, it will come in handy later.
__1__
1 Since we have to change the points on the curves, for more precise control of the shape, create a copy of the letters and lock them.
Select all font curves, copy, block and paste by pressing the appropriate command buttons.
2 Let's leave the letter "C" selected and turn on the control points on it with the "Show pts" command.
__2__
This curve has three disadvantages: a large number of points, their uneven distribution, and the presence of corner points.
__3 - 3_2___
First, let's prepare the necessary parts.
1 Separate the curve.
2 Deselect the straight lines.
3 Combine the remaining parts.
4 Let's fix it with the help of the 'Rebuild' tool.
__4__
1 At your choice, use "Refit" or "#Points" mode.
2 If necessary, correct the curve with the help of control points or by pressing the line with the cursor in the desired location. The blocked copy will serve as a reference.
3 Correct the inner part in the same way.
4 Hide the control points.
__5 - 5_2___
Cufflink_vcarve path.zip