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Thread: Fixing 90* V Carve Font Serifs

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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Eastern Virginia
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    82

    Default Fixing 90* V Carve Font Serifs

    I wanted to carve this with a 90* bit and wasn't sure it would work. Looking at the preview in V Care Pro looked like it "might". So I took a shot. It's really marginal, and after painting and sanding I'm not sure that what is there of the serifs will still be there. Probably not likely. I was debating going back over it with a 60* bit. I need to do that with the "fire" anyway as the "points" at the tops of the flames didn't come out at all. Anyone have any other suggestions as to how to make the serifs just a little deeper/wider while keeping the 90* text before I redo it all with a 60?

    The attached is the preview. I couldn't get a good picture showing the outcome since my phone refused to focous on it up close.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    ShopBot Desktop 24x18
    Spindle
    VCarve Pro 8.5xx
    ScottP Super Deluxe Spoilboard

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Kennebunkport, Maine
    Posts
    4,419

    Default

    Walt,
    Maybe go off workpiece and MZ,-.005 and zero Z there...and if a little more is needed LIE a little more?
    I'd probably do only 1 letter with the smallest interior "island" and test first to see if it gives you what you want. .005" really shouldn't be too noticeable if it doesn't.
    scott P.
    2013 Desktop/spindle/VCP 11.5**
    Maine

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Eastern Virginia
    Posts
    82

    Default

    Thanks Scott, I had thought about something like that, but I was thinking of just changing the toolpath start depth to something like .005 or so and then going from there. I don't want to make the rest of the letter too much wider/deeper though, they look really good as they are. So I'm not sure .005 would be enough to make a difference in the serifs and then much more might mess up the look of the rest of the letter. I knew when I picked this font it would be tricky. Now I'm rethinking myself, again.
    ShopBot Desktop 24x18
    Spindle
    VCarve Pro 8.5xx
    ScottP Super Deluxe Spoilboard

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2000
    Location
    Thorp, WI
    Posts
    2,845

    Default

    I keep harpin' on this one, but people just can't seem to come to understand it. MN (Move Nudge) and click the down arrow (for negative or down) on the Z axis, to the desired amount (-0.005 in Scott's example), hit enter, done, re-run the file.

    Another option that I use often is to apply a slight offset to the font. Group it and use that for the new toolpath. How much depends on the font and size, but start at 0.008 - 0.01.
    Scott




  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Norman, Ok
    Posts
    3,251

    Default

    V Carving is one of the most delicate techniques and sometimes not that well understood.

    While this technique can quickly produce a beautiful carving, it's tricky. In order to be successful one needs to get started with clean vectors. You want to avoid drawings with lots of nodes. Scanned images can have tones of these and will seldom render properly. Cheap fonts can be a real heart break since they don't have intelligent nodes. For example, a circle or oval shouldn't have but four.

    Bit depth is critical.
    The crispness and sharp corners need to be maintained. If the bit is too deep the image looks sloppy and crude. Getting those beautiful delicate lines can be a challenge. For that reason I often make the first pass a little too shallow. Then place a business card under the corners of the substrate. It's a fast way to keep going. I've even lifted one side of a panel that's cutting a bit too shallow.

    Everyone needs a 120 degree v bit. The drawing below was done with one of those.

    Joe Crumley


    Last edited by joe; 02-16-2017 at 05:40 PM. Reason: Photo didn't convert

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    gleason, wi 54435
    Posts
    449

    Default

    You need a good flat spoilboard, and a parallel blank. In my opinion painting the sign and then sanding away at the sign face doesn't give great results especially on fine detail. Better to mask the blank, paint through the carved mask, and then peel.

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