I want to put text on some staves I have been saving. Is it all trial and error or a specific method to go about this? I have plenty and don’t mind messing up a few but would rather succeed sooner rather than later.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Brian
Previous discussion:
I read that one and understand the pocket theory but thought text would be different.
Wouldn’t that need to be done one letter at a time?
Yes, or you would need to model the geometry of the stave and then cut along that surface.
I don’t even know where to start with that process. Possibly too far beyond my skill level.
Here are a few pics, as requested.
If more measurements re needed, let me know.
Thanks
Brian
My mistake, apex is 2 11/16. I can get more accurate if needed. Material is white oak.
I made the assumption it was a constant curve (arc) through the cross section. It’s more like 2 lines, or 2 very large arcs, with a smaller arc in the middle. I took a guess & made this cross section using your dimensions. This could be refined by taking a few more measurements along the cross section.
To build the model you need to make the workpiece much larger than the actual finished part.
I made my workpiece 34 x 42 so I’d have room for the model plus the cross section.
Create a large rectangle for the angled portion, and a smaller rectangle for the curved portion
Now add your profile just to use as a guideline to place the text. And add your text.
Now build the model.
Select the outer rectangle & make a Angled component, 45° is OK, Scale height: 2", Merge type: Add, Base Height: 1"
Then select the inner rectangle and make a round component. Scale Height: 0.348", Merge Type: Equal, Base Height: 2.353"
Now subtract the text. My text is about 0.160 wide, so I’ll use a 1/8" tool & cut 0.0625 deep.
Select the text, create a flat component, height: 0.0625, Merge type: subtract.
Now Toolpaths. I’m going to use the 4 x 34 rectangle to cut the curvature of the stave just for display purposes. I won’t use this path on the machine. It’s just for the simulation.
Now select the text & create a 3D finish path. I’m using a 1/8" ball.
Disable the first path, and output your g-code or save the CC file to send to the machine
For reference:
Brian_Hubbard_Stave.c2d (452 KB)
That’s awesome! You make it sound so simple but looks so complicated. See if I understand. You’re making it think it carved the arch from a large piece by creating simulated 3D paths then just skipping to the finish path?
I appreciate the patience you’ve shown by creating that for me. I’m going to play around with it soon and that has given me a great place to start. I just completed my first 3D project the other day so this will be a challenge for me but that’s the point, right?
Thanks
Brian
Yes, even though I modeled the shape 34" tall, I’m only using the 2 5/8 width of the stave, and that just as a guide for the text. The trick is getting the 3D shape as close to the actual stave as possible.
But otherwise, I’m just building that shape, then cutting the text into it.
Finally got around to trying the model I made with Tod1d’s help. Made several air cut passes and everything looked pretty close, so I taped a pencil to my router and tried it that way just to get a closer view.
The first plunge dislodged the pencil, figured I had it set up too rigid. Tried again with a looser mount and seemed ok. I decided to try with a cutter next. The first plunge dove to a .5" depth and I stopped cut. I have something wrong and don’t know how to go back into the 3d model to double check my numbers.
Which measurement is dictating the depth of cut for the text? I had set my Z zero at the apex of the arc, should I have zeroed it at another location?
Thanks
Brian
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