Advanced Vcarve ignoring vectors

[KATYVG (Katy)]

Hey all! Hoping someone can help me troubleshoot this quick. I’m making a stacked word sign and have an issue with the first advanced vcarve pass ignoring (missing) some vectors. Which results in multiple missing letters.

The first image is with just the initial pass created so the gray vectors that it’s pocketing over are a part of that tool path. Which is why I’m stumped.

I’m not sure what’s going on as I’ve created a few similar designs and have not encountered this before. Any insight is appreciated! Thanks!

[WillAdams (William Adams (Carbide 3D))]

Could there be doubled-up geometry?

Upload the file?

[KATYVG (Katy)]

dannel wedding sign #3.c2d (680 KB)

[WillAdams (William Adams (Carbide 3D))]

It is best to decompose things and re-work geometry so that there are no intersections and only necessary overlapping:

Ungroup

Select the text:

Use the Text tool:

to Convert to Curves:

Use Trim Vectors to remove overlapping geometry:

until one arrives at:

OK

OK

Join Vectors

Yes

For other sections, if Trim Vectors is not an option, use Node Editing:

If need be, repeat until one arrives at:

Re-select any dangling geometry:

Or, just delete it:

It may help to hide the original geometry on a separate layer:

Repeat editing until one arrives at:

Select all the open geometry:

and Join Vectors:

Yes

One concern here is that only V carving toolpaths are being used:

And the geometry has not been offset for the lower level — to see how much this needs to be offset, either do the trigonometry, or draw things up in profile.

Given the stock thickness:

it would probably be best to use slightly deeper V carving toolpaths than the 0.05 and 0.01" of the original file.

[KATYVG (Katy)]

thank you so much for taking the time to work through this. Its definitely interesting to me because I have used this font before and have never needed to clean it up to such a level to get it to carve cohesively.

Definitely hear you on the depth of cut, I will revise that for sure

[WillAdams (William Adams (Carbide 3D))]

Stock thickness:

V tool:

Boolean Intersection:

Width == 0.0722":

Selecting the original geometry:

Offset it to the outside by the Width measured above:

Use Trim Vectors to eliminate what is not wanted:

OK

Use Join Vectors to close things:

Yes

If need be, close again.

Clean up the unneeded geometry:

and if need be, resolve geometry:

Then review,

and if need be, offset again, or remove unneeded geometry:

OK

OK

Join Vectors

Yes

Note that it will also be necessary to inset the inside rectangle:

Apply

Select everything for the second layer:

and Group

Then adjust the toolpaths:

Note that it will be necessary to slightly adjust the positioning/size of the lower text.

Attached as a v7 file:

dannel wedding sign #3_v7.c2d (756 KB)

[KATYVG (Katy)]

Dang! Thank you so much! You brought up a lot of good points that I didn’t consider and can see now how it would have created a awful result (regardless of the missing letters)

I’m learning a ton with this project and I really appreciate you taking the time to break it down!

[jtclose (Jim Close)]

Carbide3d is VERY lucky to have you onboard.
The level of detail and effort you expend is incredible.