584,879 active members*
5,197 visitors online*
Register for free
Login
IndustryArena Forum > SignMaking > Signmaking Topics > Is it my software, machine, bit or ignorance keeping me from engraving sign letters?
Results 1 to 3 of 3
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Posts
    25

    Is it my software, machine, bit or ignorance keeping me from engraving sign letters?

    I have worked on and off with CNC machines for 20 years. I THOUGHT I knew enough to be dangerous (perhaps that’s a good description for my hubris). I am making a simple whiskey tasting serving board for my son in law and found a font called Blacksword on dafont.com that someone on the CNC one had mentioned. It looks great until I try to mill it out. I’m making letters about .75 of an inch tall, with a 1/4” (6mm) v-carve bit, and it’s making numerous passes and no matter how “deep” I make the cut it’s not looking right. Perhaps I need a fatter bit, but even with the 6mm bit the letters look run together and muddy. Too fat. So I backed off a bit on depth and I then I get ridges in the bottom of the font grooves on the fattest parts of the letters.

    I KNOW I’ve seen signs carved like this with similar fonts that look right. But I’m stumped at this point as to what I might be doing wrong.

    I’m using GrblGru as my CAM, my home built machine, and a HobbyCNC driver board. Designing in Inkscape, and 6mm v-carve bits from Amazon.

    In a nut shell, if I set the depth too deep it muddies the font and it looks all mashed together. Not deep enough and I get partially grooved letters that don’t look proper. I spent all day yesterday messing with settings and bits and didn’t get it worth a dime. Finally switched to a Hershey font and called it good. But I want to figure out the problem if I can.

    Looking for some advice from the intelligencia here

    Thanks!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Posts
    1723

    Re: Is it my software, machine, bit or ignorance keeping me from engraving sign lette

    You did not share any photos of your results. My guess is this is CAM related

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Posts
    25

    Re: Is it my software, machine, bit or ignorance keeping me from engraving sign lette

    Good idea to share the files. I will post them with a picture of the results. I DID find a problem I didn't know about until engraving some small stars on a wooden plaque gift. The 5 pointed stars were horribly shaped and not at all even as they should be. Problem: the set screw on the x-axis motor holding the lead screw had loosened and was slipping. A little twist with the screwdriver and some loc-tite to hold it and all was perfect. I will share the project and fonts. That might make it a whole lot easier to navigate!

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 1
    Last Post: 01-26-2020, 10:58 AM
  2. Track lines between letters letters when laser engraving
    By notselrach in forum Laser Engraving / Cutting Machine General Topics
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 11-02-2015, 12:38 AM
  3. Replies: 3
    Last Post: 06-09-2012, 05:28 PM
  4. CNC faceting and engraving bit machine idea.
    By twistedfuse in forum DIY CNC Router Table Machines
    Replies: 23
    Last Post: 05-03-2009, 09:23 AM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •