I’ve had my Shapeoko XXL for a little while but still feel I am very much a novice. I’ve done some work for friends and have had good success using Carbide Create for basic signs and engraving. My first challenge has arrived. I’ve been given the image of this stall name plate. The barn owner needs another thirty or so but wants them to have the same border. The person that made the originals for him is long gone. I offered to help… get paid for work… all that jazz.
The border is proving difficult to replicate in Carbide Create. I was thinking v-carve it with my 90 degree bit and the simulation looks close. However, the edges in the original are almost more mellon baller like. The vee bit puts in to uniform of an angle.
I’ve ordered a couple ball end mills (#202) to try, but thought I’d try the brain trust here in the forums first.
Ideas? I’ve included my c2d file for a horse named Bubbles.
use a ball-nosed endmill with a sufficient radius to cut this (looks like you’d need a 1/2" or larger)
model it in 3D using the new Pro modeling features
For the latter I have a tutorial for a similar shape which addresses this sort of thing at:
In CC406 Carbide Create adds the option of 3D features in a new “Pro” license. Currently available as an open beta for testing at: Carbide Create CAD/CAM Software for CNC Routers (see: Carbide Create 400 for the initial announcement and consider checking out a beta if available)
I’ll look down the Pro path you mention. That seems like a good long term strategy.
I was also looking at the Amana Tool 45924. It’s 1/2", but they have 3/4" and 1" as well. That seems to fall to the #1 option you mention. Cost of the end mill isn’t so bad compared to potential (and repeatable) business opportunities.
On your scalloped edge, you’re going to have to do a little math to figure out how to make those corner scallops come out just right. That will be an improvement over the manual routing that the original was done with.
Have you found that exact font? I think I’ve run across it … somewhere.
In my short career with the Shapeoko, I’ve already run across an individual that didn’t like my “improvements” to the sign they wanted duplicated / updated. The improvements were that the sign came out mathematically correct!
These samples kind of indicate where the matching problem will be.
You may have to “roll yer own” font by coming back over a font you find, and put those little “bubbles” on top of them at strategic points to mimic that router font.
I had to buy a larger radius ball nose for a texture I was trying to do a while back. I wasn’t sure of the exact radius I wanted so I end up buying these:
Handtools?! You mean like a caveman? Not to say I don’t have a selection of rasps in various radii… I may have completely forgotten about them. Sometimes five minutes with a rasp is what a project needs.
About the precision… I was thinking about that. I’ll have to go back and see how other name plates look. I only have the one picture. I’ll have to grab photos of all the existing name plates as well.