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Mike1
10-26-2018, 07:16 PM
Hi all, just wondering how to set the depth for lettering for a 1/4" litho with a 3/4" sled. I would like no more than 1/8" but I believe that it is pre set to 1/4". I know I can trick the CW but would prefer to learn how to do it another way. Kinda under the gun here.Thank you.

mtylerfl
10-26-2018, 07:45 PM
Have you tried typing in various Depth and Height values for your text to see what the preview looks like? (Do you have Designer Pro with the Litho Preview capability?)

Mike1
10-26-2018, 07:53 PM
1.187 only, thank you

henry1
10-26-2018, 08:27 PM
1.187 only, thank you
will call you tomorrow and will show you how its ok

mtylerfl
10-26-2018, 08:39 PM
1.187 only, thank you

Ok. Just select the text then type in numerical values in either the Depth or Height boxes until you get the text “look” you want. For example, the default height is “100”. Type in “50” to reduce the text height by half. Type in “25” to reduce by 1/4, etc

Mike1
10-26-2018, 08:58 PM
will not allow me to do that

mtylerfl
10-26-2018, 10:02 PM
You have "actual" text, right? (not some imported graphic!) ...and you are selecting the text so that the Depth and Height boxes are active?

Please post your MPC here, or at least a screenshot so we can see exactly what you are doing.

fwharris
10-26-2018, 10:04 PM
If you are doing the text as centerline you can verify the depth of cut by zooming on the text and holding your cursor of the deepest part of the text. On the bottom left of the designer screen the depth will show up as the last number. Also make sure you set your design board thickness to 1/4".

mtylerfl
10-26-2018, 10:10 PM
Never occurred to me that it might be Centerline Text! If that is the case, Mike1 owes us each a dime apiece for being the umpteenth person to ask how to change depth on Centerline text! :D

Mike1, please post a screenshot or the MPC so we can help you! (We just need a bit more info to know how to advise. The file or screenshot should be enough to fill in the blanks.)

Proctorw
10-27-2018, 11:54 AM
Everyone may know this, but always check the "Litho" material thickness. I bought 1/4" and my first 2 literally exploded. When I checked the thickness, it was .20. I was carving to point .19. once I accounted for thickness everything came out fine.

Mike1
10-27-2018, 02:20 PM
Here it is, I am using 1.187. Thank you.

fwharris
10-27-2018, 03:28 PM
Here it is, I am using 1.187. Thank you.Your text carves to deep.

You could change it to outline text so that you can control the depth of cut.

Mike1
10-27-2018, 04:28 PM
Thank you , in 1.187 is there a way to set the depth of a v bit carve

fwharris
10-27-2018, 06:18 PM
Thank you , in 1.187 is there a way to set the depth of a v bit carve

The only ways to set the depth is to do the text as "outline" or create the text as a DXF and import it. With centerline you do not have direct control of the depth of cut.

mtylerfl
10-27-2018, 06:29 PM
Ok. Even though you haven’t sent me my dime yet, I’ll answer this for you. ;)

Short answer - no, you do not have direct control of depth of VCarve of closed shapes (like text).

Longer answer...

Depth of a closed-shape VCarve is determined by two things:

1) The total angle of Bit used (60 or 90 degree for Designer software)

2) The inside distance between the lines that make up the closed shape

Example...Type some text and choose Centerline style. Use the 60-degree bit. The side angle of the Bit will not go any deeper than the outlines of the text will allow. They are the “stops” for how far down the Bit will travel.

Another Example...Use a 90-degree Bit on that same text. Since the Bit angle is greater, the Bit hits the “stops” sooner than the 60-degree Bit. Thus, the carve will be shallower

All of this is calculated automatically so that the lettering is carved properly and without distortion. In other words, you Do Not want to manually change the depth anyway. If you did, the lettering will not look correct and you would have introduced distortion.

Mike1
10-27-2018, 09:13 PM
I now understand, the best money I have ever spent ;). It is amazing how much I have learned on this one carve by changing it in every direction you could think of. Thank you so much to all for the experience and patience.

mtylerfl
10-28-2018, 05:42 AM
Excellent! We are all on a learning journey (and having fun all the while!).
I’m looking forward to seeing photos of your completed projects. I see a rising star in you, Mike1!

Mike1
10-28-2018, 04:01 PM
Thank you all, for the education, and the kind words. Talk about a love/hate for this machine ;-).