Centerline carvings is too faint.

[robboz4]

I'm working on a sign for our local vineyard and tried a small mock up version first, see attached image. I used Centerline for the text and it is barley visible. I had followed the street sign tutorial and carved that sign without any issues. Yet my attempt of text did not carve deep enough. I believe I had the settings correct ( conform on as, I'm carving to a region) and used the 90° bit. The font is Snell RoundHand Black. Board size is 12 x 6 x .75.
Any idea what I got wrong and if I carve the full size sign which is 18 x 11 will I have the same issue with the font?

[DianMayfield]

You may want to apply the 60v bit to the smaller font. The font engine uses the width of the font to determine how deep the 90v goes. If the strokes are thin, the bit doesn't have to go very deep the get that fat bit to fill the stroke. The preview should show you the difference pretty well, switch back and forth. if you zoom in, the curser will tell you how deep each bit goes.

[robboz4]

Ok Thanks for the info. I actually used the 60° bit on an earlier mock up and the text was non existent - perhaps a faint scratch, that's when I went back to the forum and tutorial and realized that I needed the 90° bit. But I'll check out the preview mode to see if I can see a difference.

Cheers

[DianMayfield]

I didn't have the bold snell, but this is a good example. These are the different depths of the two fonts... the top in the image is the 90v, bottom is the 60

90v .055in
60v .094

[DickB]

I would say most of the issue is with the font itself. It has a mix of thick and very thin strokes. The very thin strokes are not a good choice for Centerline. The 60 degree bit will go deeper, and with the larger-size sign and text the bit will also go deeper. But those very thin strokes on the font will never be cut very deep. You might consider a font without the thin strokes. For example, compare the A of your font to that of another script font. Notice that the latter font has thicker thin strokes. That font will carve deeper and yield better contrast.

[Digitalwoodshop]

Will that font let you make it Bold. Some do and some don't...

I would do a 2 project version.

Make the 2nd project just the V60 text and let the bit touch inside the carve region.

Watch the bit touch on the bit plate especially with the V bits as a dirty rail can prevent the bit from actually touching the plate and make for a shallow text. Because the truck normally does not go down that far and getting into dirty rails can cause enough resistance to make the truck think it had hit the bit plate.

AL

[Proctorw]

When did you buy your machine. I had a problem with mine and it turned out there was a bad "Batch" that needed an update. My machine would "Aircarve" so you might want to check with Connie on when your machine was built.

[robboz4]

Thanks!


I'll look into a different font. I'm trying to keep it in a Provencal style to match the other community designs. I think as long as I can get an italic with a thicker stroke I should be fine. I might try a test carve on some scrap wood with different fonts and methods and choose the best one. I'll use the size of the final sign so it matches.

Cheers

[robboz4]

Thanks for the reply. I had just cleaned all the rails as I was experiencing Z axis stall, but the turned out to be the ribbon cable. So mechanically everything should be clean and run smoothly. I watched the bit hit the plate and it is hitting in the middle, the plate is swinging out all the way. I have had trouble with that in the past.

Cheers

[robboz4]

My machine is a very very old one. Model A sold under the name CompuServe at Sears. As long as I keep it clean and new sharp bits it seems to perform great. I think the smaller version of the sign and font choice may be the problem.


Cheers


DAve