I’m still a newbie after a year. When cutting sentences, I have found that CC goes all over the board cutting parts of letters here and there. Spending more time moving than cutting. Any script is worse than block.
2 questions
Whats a safe Retract height when using top of board? Some of my clamps are ontop of board edges, but not in cutting area.
** Does the machine always move all way up after a cut - before leaving the board area?
-if i change retract height from 0.397in to 0.100 my cut time drops from 129 to 37min. - is this safe?
How can I get machine to Cut the letters in order to avoid all the rapid movements?
Using 60 degree V / advanced VCarve and setting a deep max depth, it still takes multiple movements to cut the round “flourishes” ends on scripts.
Converting lettering to curves and editing some area’s helps, but this is a pain as moving a node can alter the whole letter. Friendship3.c2d (900 KB)
How large are the letters you are carving? If they don’t need to be pocketed/AVC’d you could change the font to a single line font and just contour the text (with no offset) as an alternative?
I wouldn’t set the retract height any lower than the clamp that is highest above your stock - plus some margin for error. If you want a lower retract than that you may want to consider using double-sided tape (or painters tape and adhesive).
I can use the tape method and some side clamps that are below/next to board, but still worry about the nuts sticking up, though off the board area, i am always nervous the spindle isn’t all the way up before leaving the workspace?
Single line font will give you a constant width letter stroke with round ends.
Arial MT Bold Round, et.al…
For a script type font with tapering ends you want a regular font.
If you cut each text line as a separate AVC path, it will finish each line before moving to the next, saving a little time.
You could also combine the lower parts (moon, boat, birds) into a single AVC path. I think it looks really nice with a 0.040" - 0.050" depth, and it closely matches the depth of your text.
I frequently set retract to 0.010" - 0.050". You just have to make sure the path isn’t interfering with any work hold downs. You can see the path in the simulation, and if it’s close you can draw in the clamps.
Thanks Tod, will give it a try with just some tape and side clamps. Seems crazy to spend 120 mines, when 90 minutes isn’t even cutting, but don’t want to brake bit’s either
I have an SO3 XXL and you are correct about the constant movement around. @WillAdams calls it the traveling salesman that you get the constant movement around. I have a tee nut threaded spoilboard and use cam clamps and have a large L bracket that I use at the lower left corner. So I generally use .125" for retract height. Over the years CM has changed and generally when the Z makes a major move like for a tool change the Z retracts to its highest height to move. However you can clip tall clamps if not careful. If I am not using my cam clamps I generally still use the L bracket and use painters tape and super glue. Then no clamps can get in the way. It is a lot of tape and super glue for large projects but I have done it on some larger projects to eleminate removing tabs after cutting.
Just change the spacing to fit your spoilboard and try the L bracket. It eleminates the need for as many clamps and gives you a square place to place a project.
My SO3 XXL has a spoilboard that is smaller than the maximum cutting area so I can surface the whole spoilboard without leaving a line at the back that would interfere with tiling.
Guy great reference doc’s, I wish I read your spoil board info before I replaced my board. My unit has the added T-Slots feature. They are installed before you put the machine together, and it will be difficult to remove since the screws are under the Y rails. I added in 3 new rails with new 3/4 mdf. When I surfaced the new board I ran into the issues you talked about and I now have a slight lip along the back and one side. all my projects so far are within the flat area. but I will have to fix this.
Tod, what is AVC Text? Something in CCpro? i’m still running basic. Breaking lines up didn’t really help much. I probably won’t get Pro till after the summer ( summer time is plenty busy outside )
thanks Will, that’s what i been using, but he shows a 1/16 endmill, and i cant put an endmill in a vcarve. no bother, making a few changes with everyones help, I got this down to an hour, from 2.
Another option for Stick Fonts, other than using Inkscape with the Hershey Text Plug-in, is Cam Bam Stick Fonts. There are a few collections available on the net but the only one I’ve found that has all nine variations is linked here.
