[justCNCit]

Hi years ago I believe someone here helped me to find software to do this for wood signs. Does anyone know what it is? I try use Solidworks, Rhino 3D, and Mastercam but none of the programs are able to put a large deep draft angle onto text to make it appear to be coming out of the wood. Maybe very simple fonts, but tight angles like those in Times New Roman isn't working.

It would need to come out as STL or Parasolid so it would be usable in CAD. Any ideas? Thanks.

[jalessi]

Hi years ago I believe someone here helped me to find software to do this for wood signs. Does anyone know what it is? I try use Solidworks, Rhino 3D, and Mastercam but none of the programs are able to put a large deep draft angle onto text to make it appear to be coming out of the wood. Maybe very simple fonts, but tight angles like those in Times New Roman isn't working.

It would need to come out as STL or Parasolid so it would be usable in CAD. Any ideas? Thanks.

Maybe VCarvePro or Aspire would be the solution.

See attached link for video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-l28mM1NeFw

Jeff...

[justCNCit]

Thanks for that, Vcarve does seem like a good option and has been around a while. Not sure if it exports the geometry as STL IGS or Parasolid so it can be incorporated into a 3D model from MasterCAM or Rhino. That would be good to know, however when I was making text like this years ago it seems there was an easier or free way to do it. Might have been that I was just working hard in Rhino to repair extruded text, can't remember.

[squirrel_41]

Mastercam art is real good for this

[ger21]

Aspire can export an .stl, but not V Carve Pro.

Can you import a .dxf? How about Elefont, Elefont - The ultimate tool to create 3D text objects for BRYCE

[Jon.N.CNC]

Thanks for that, Vcarve does seem like a good option and has been around a while. Not sure if it exports the geometry as STL IGS or Parasolid so it can be incorporated into a 3D model from MasterCAM or Rhino. That would be good to know, however when I was making text like this years ago it seems there was an easier or free way to do it. Might have been that I was just working hard in Rhino to repair extruded text, can't remember.

No vcarve does not output 3d but cant rhino not add draft to lettering? If not its very simple with fusion 360, just add fillet or subtract chamfer.

Or you can do it in cam with chamfer tooling without modelling it with an offset tool path.

[Dennis Bohlke]

I use CorelDraw to make raised letters signs a lot because of the different fonts.

Dennis
Super Tech & Associates Main Web Home Page


Attachment 307938

How To Relief Engrave Letters in Aluminum Plate

[victorofga]

check fusion 360...
rhino also capable to extruding with draft angle..

mastercam also capable for the drafted letters toolpath.. I remember there was a post someone tried to make letter stamps..
he said mastercam has the capability for..

[RCaffin]

He he he
CHEAT!

Use anything you like to create a 2D version of the g-code for the letters. It would help if you had something which could do tool-diameter compensation o focurse.
Then use a thin TAPERED end mill, such as is used for mold-making. They are available with all sorts of different angles.

Cheers
Roger

[justCNCit]

Can't cheat. Signs need to be perfect. Will not settle for cheap draft angle given by machine tool especially when working with curved surfaces top and bottom. All geometry is 3 dimensional and totally under artistic control. Some good suggestions here, exploring Corel Draw right now, there are some very good looking signs out there and I aim to compete with the best. Not hard to make awesome looking signs, but streamlining the design process is essential, which means need some way of producing fast letters on demand with a heavy draft angle (20 degrees typically) but will work with Rhino till this is resolved.

[RCaffin]

Oh, how you do it is up to you. I am not fussed at all.

But for the record, I do not think that using a tapered end mill would produce a 'cheap draft angle' when making a flat sign. I think it would produce a rather elegant and highly polished result. Remember: those tapered end mills are used for mold-making, where thousands of moldings (tens of thousands?) are made and have to be 'perfect'. It's a very professional method.

Yes, I am sure you can get 20 degree tapered cutters. You can get ball-ended ones too. They are all made on a programmable CNC grinder after all. You want 17.63 degrees? Hang on while I enter that parameter into the program.

Cheers
Roger

[louieatienza]

Oh, how you do it is up to you. I am not fussed at all.

But for the record, I do not think that using a tapered end mill would produce a 'cheap draft angle' when making a flat sign. I think it would produce a rather elegant and highly polished result. Remember: those tapered end mills are used for mold-making, where thousands of moldings (tens of thousands?) are made and have to be 'perfect'. It's a very professional method.

Yes, I am sure you can get 20 degree tapered cutters. You can get ball-ended ones too. They are all made on a programmable CNC grinder after all. You want 17.63 degrees? Hang on while I enter that parameter into the program.

Cheers
Roger

While that "works" to some degree it is not the same look.

I create drafts with OneCNC XR4 Mill Expert and with SpaceClaim. I'most 3D modeling software should do this easy. But if not, you can turn the text into surfaces, then copy and offset in Z, create an outline with sharp corners on the lower part, then "fill" between each surface. You'd have to calculate the angle that you want by the depth of the offset and width of outline.

What CAM are you using BTW?