Small Text (again?)

[ljdm]

Small text discussion time, again....... anybody having any decent results with text in the 1" - 1-1/4" high 1/2"-3/4" wide range. Even using a thin font like modern (not bold) and only going .035 - .062 deep, it still comes out too wide, causing too many chips where they are cles together, or in certain letters like a small "e" or any letters with little lines. Also, Designer shows render to be a lot cleaner than finished result. Machine seems to hiccup or something on some patrs of a letter, causing a dimple or erratic carving - little jog outside of the lines kind of thing. Tried bit optimization off, high, etc. Even tried to cheat and used a 60 degree vbit when it asked for the 1/16 carving bit, still not great. Any tips? Pattern carving otherwise is pretty good. Carving plaques in the 8"w x 10"l size and I need smallish text to fit more than 1 or 2 words on the project. All else fails, if someone could post some centerline fonts in different styles, along with small (not Caps) versions. There is some Edwardian posted, that doesn't really carve well in small sizes. Oh well............time to make more sawdust.

[SpiffyDog]

I've had the same results. Understand that the carving bit is tapered. If you have a small font that is raised, the tapered part of the bit will "eat" into to lettering. A couple of ways to avoid this it to keep the raised lettering to a minimum. The higher the letters, the more problems you'll likely encounter.

If you need the letters to be high, use a paint program (Corel, Photoshop, etc) and add a graduated contour. This will create a tapered edge on the lettering which will keep the bit away from the lettering.

Sample1 show a simple box that is carved at .25, but the lettering is set at .325.

SampleM is the letter "M" that I added a graduated contour. You can see in the screenprint of SampleM2 how that technique bevels the edge of the letters.

Hope this helps.

[ljdm]

Oops...didn't mention in the post - I was talking about carved text, not raised text. I've used the contour feature in Corel, but for small text, it still is a pain. Recessed text doesn't need as much space between letters, so you can get more text in a smaller area.

[SpiffyDog]

First, I must give a :D BIG THANK YOU :D to Greybeard. He was quite generous with his time in converting some text to centerline for me. And believe me, it takes significant time in doing one letter at a time. I'm am happy to share. I have a couple of others if interested, but they are similar to these. I've also included the Edwardian posted previously.

[jrooth6577]

I have a problem carving small lettering. The lettering is built into designs. I have used Photoshop to erase the wording and added my own. Still no joy. I have added "Text" to the file after uploading the picture but still, have problems with the text. I have tried all settings of bit optimizing and still no joy. I am carving with a 1/32" bit to help with the size. I am running out of time. I leave for Washington DC Saturday and really wanted to take a completed plaque to my son. Any ideas out there. I have attached a copy of what I am carving with the latest settings.86036. The lettering is in the outfit's patch.

[DianMayfield]

Do you have centerline & conforming? This begs for that fine of detail. I am not sure if it is just how it opened on mine, but the keyhole goes all the way through the board.

[Digitalwoodshop]

I would try the MODERN font and use outline text mode. It will go around the text. But here is the trick. Assign the 1/4 inch round nose bit but install the V60. I use this modern font to make 2 inch high text that looks like the plastic template hand router version. In a mini text version you might find it will work for you.

The large text is Modern with a 3/8 end mill cutter. As you scale the text up you use a bigger end mill and smaller like you are wanting, a smaller bit. Trial and error to test.

Just another WAG. Wild AL Guess.

AL

[DianMayfield]

The text is also creating tall spikes, rotate the board and you will see the peaks and valleys. It would certainly chip. In the graphic, make the lettering just a slightly different color than the ribbon before importing it. Like a dark and medium gray. using too dramatic a difference in gray shades will cause those peaks.

[jrooth6577]

My bad. I changed board thickness and forgot about the keyhole.

[SteveNelson46]

Instead of raised text (raster) try centerline with the Conform box checked, a 60 degree bit, and Arial Bold font. Not the same but legible.

[jrooth6577]

Thanks to all. I am trying out your suggestions right now. I am truly the sawdust king on my block...

[Digitalwoodshop]

Much better to be a Sawdust King than a pretty firewood king.... With failed projects.... :)

[jrooth6577]

Well, piffle! Still no joy. I have tried using the modern and arial fonts, changing text to centerline and even holding my right ear with my left hand and my left foot in the air... Everything comes out beautiful except for the text in the logo. Is there any way I can change the depth on it?86039

[jrooth6577]

My storage capacity pales to the capacity needed to store my "creationary" offerings...

[Digitalwoodshop]

Small text IS a real problem for this machine in MY opinion. I have dealt with it also and it has been mostly a fail...

It comes down to RESOLUTION of the 3 Servo Axis in MY opinion. Think of it as a FAT Lead Pencil... trying to do fine text....

It comes down to the lines on the SERVO ENCODERS.... The Thinner the lines the finer the RESOLUTION. The THICKER the lines on the Encoder Disk the bigger the text must be to work.

I have kept my old 912 Rotary Engraver for just such a project. as it can do very small text very well. Like small name tags.

AL

[DianMayfield]

Hi JR, you didn't say whether you have conforming vectors. Combined with Center line, Arial black should do the trick:

[SteveNelson46]

In your last example the small text isn't set for "Arial Black", and Centerline.

[jrooth6577]

Yes, I have conforming text. After trying it and Arial Black, I can't get the desired effect. Sorry it took me so long to answer. I am more than a little frustrated over this and I took the afternoon off. I leave for DC in the morning but will try one more time. Maybe making the pattern larger will give me the desired results.