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___
1 Remove the blocked pattern below the letter.
2 Draw tangent circles and a line through their centers as in figure "II_1". Delete the circles.
3 Select the inner curve and use the "Offset" command to draw a new curve through the point as in figure "II_2".
4 Cut it and connect the remaining short part to the outer curve.
___II_2_2___
5 Draw circles tangent to the inner and outer curves starting from the upper end of the "C".
___II_2_3___
6 Use the "Freeform / Through points" command to draw a center line through the centers of these circles. Remove the circles.
___II_2_4___
7 Trim and remove the unnecessary from the intersection of the center lines.
___II_2_5___
8 Extend the segment to the inner curve as in figure "II_3".
9 The construction of the middle and auxiliary lines is finished.
Hi Gunter,
Here is the text, modeled with the extrusion angle you pointed out in your last file.
I used the centerline from the original file I posted that i got by converting a Vcarve toolpath into geometry. I flattened it and then set it at the depth of the tool you posted. Then just hand modeled the sidewalls to simulate an extrusion...They are solids. But they won't help you in Vectric..
1 Select the center lines and from the front or right view move them to the desired distance.
2 From the '3D' view, use the 'Lines/Line' command to draw lines as in figure "III_1".
Surfaces.
1 Select the triangles and apply the "Planar" command to them
2 Select 4 lines as in the "III_4" image and apply the "Network" command to them.
3 Using the "Sweep" command build a surface like in the image "III_5".
4 Select the 2 surfaces, image "III_6", and apply the command "Boolean/Merge" to them.
5 Remove the unnecessary parts.
6 Build the remaining surfaces with the command "Network" as in image "III_7, III_7_2".
7 Combine the constructed surfaces with the "Boolean/Union" command.
8 Unblock the oval and apply the "Plamar" command to it.
9 Select the resulting surface and apply the "Boolean/Diff" command, select the constructed surfaces and complete the command.
10 Hide the plane of the oval.
11 Select the oval and apply the "Extrude" command to the desired height.
12 Remove the top part.
13 Return the hidden part and use the "Boolean/Union" command to merge the desired surfaces.
Cufflink.3dm