Small Text, custom art

[mtylerfl]

It looks to me that the patterns you used were low resolution and a little jagged. Also the wood you use will play a role in the quality of the carve. The best results in small text would come from a harder wood like walnut or cherry. Softer woods usually are more fuzzy.

I don't see any patterns on that...it's just text.

I made a slight modification (simply changed Bit Optimization from "Best" to High"). Also deleted a stray vector that was throwing an error upon file opening. The preview is normally very accurate. However, it is not always going to give you a true preview of the actual outcome on text. You will need to actually carve this to see what it will really look like. (for example, Centerline Text preview seems to always look very "jagged" but will come out nice despite the preview.)

Depending upon the wood, you will likely get a little chipping at locations of the rastered lettering where there is a sharp point. It depends whether the bit is traveling in a conventional or climb direction and how the grain is in the wood itself. So, run a test carve and see if this modified version comes out any better and please let us know the result.

[PCent]

Hi Terry, thanks for the reply. I simply used the text tool in this case. Understand about the wood...still would like to try to get a bit better accuracy. Thanks.

[PCent]

I will try this tonight, mtylerfl.

In the meantime, I have been very interested in learning more about centerline and the 60degree bit. It seems this will give me the speed and accuracy i'm looking for.

Before i purchase the bit, I have some questions for you pros. If i used this same bit with vector art i import, is it possible to get the same speed/quality results as centerline?

[Digitalwoodshop]

PC,

Like posted above, the choice of your wood is very important... Pine is a very stringy large grain wood as in 2 x 4 pine. This lets the wood Tear easily.... A harder wood like Maple will result in better resolution. I use a Clear Hard Pine that I get at my local lumber yard that comes from New Zealand of all places.... Long Leaf Hard Pine. It cuts nice....


Next, small text is best done in Centerline Text Mode and that is a Add On Software package. Well worth it... You will need a V60 and V90 bit to do this.


Next, is Homework... You have many questions and we are here to help. But taking the time to read the Tips and Tricks on the LHR site is going to give you a big boost of info you will need to know. Many of the Pilot Errors that will happen are all addressed in the Tips and Tricks. Scaling and the 7 inch rule of wood is 2 things you will need to understand before moving forward.

Another Add on is Conform and that will let you put Centerline Text in a Recess Area. For example this carved Maltese Cross has a plate to add text. Normally Centerline will be too light as the bit won't reach the carved area as it it slightly lower than the board surface. In the past we would do 2 projects, the first to carve the cross then the 2nd to put the text into or on the recess area by letting the bit touch the plate area. Contour will let you put that text in place all in one project.

And there will be a limit to how SMALL you can make the text and it still look good... It's called Resolution... To do smaller text you are better off with something like a Rotary Engraver designed to do small text like name tags.

And for the small text, you may want to look a Single Stroke Fonts like "Modern" Font.

That taped on board is another trick from Tips and Tricks... Use a 4 inch block of wood taped to the end of the board and using place on END or Corner to cut the board. Putting a 4 inch blank area on the right side of Designer to STAY UNDER the ROLLERS without selecting stay under rollers. And leaving the board long and cutting the project off the long board when done like the 2nd one. Better FrugAL use of wood... And when a board comes out from under 1 roller the board can TIP UP and loose contact with the brass roller OR leave a Carved Line in the Wood 3.5 inches from the end of the physical board. LOTS to LEARN... But you are off to a GREAT START.... WE were all new once.... WELCOME !!!!

Good Luck,

AL

[TerryT]

Sorry, thats what I get for just skipping throught, I saw the comment about importing from Adobe Illustrator and just assumed.

[mtylerfl]

...
Another Add on is Contour and that will let you put Centerline Text in a Recess Area.... ...Contour will let you put that text in place all in one project.
AL

Just a slight correction in case he goes looking for a "Contour" add-on. It's actually called Conform

[dcalvin4]

Michael T
Just curious why would you change bit Optimization from "Best" to High").
just wondering
denny

[mtylerfl]

Michael T
Just curious why would you change bit Optimization from "Best" to High").
just wondering
denny

Hi Denny,

Download that MPC and select "Best". You will see that the lettering becomes thinner...too thin, I think. By choosing a lower optimization, it changes the amount of material "protected" and allowed to be "taken away" by the carving bit. This is a rare case where "Best" may not be the 'best' choice.

[badbert]

I agree with Michael T. Best is not always the best choice. especially when using text. Some fonts will make an outline around each letter when using best.

[Digitalwoodshop]

Just a slight correction in case he goes looking for a "Contour" add-on. It's actually called Conform

Thanks MT, another "Senior Moment... CRS..." Can't Remember Stuff....

AL