Engraving Alphanumerics

Submit any comments, issues or requests relating to the use of VR Milling Version 5 and 2

Moderators: Martin, Steve, Mr Magoo

Post Reply
derekb
Posts: 6
Joined: Thu 11 Feb , 2016 22:37 pm
Hardware/Software: Denford Micro Router
Bridgeport Miller
Colchester 2500
Colchester 1600
Location: Leicester
Contact:

Engraving Alphanumerics

Post by derekb » Thu 11 Feb , 2016 22:55 pm

We have been Engraving (Routing) name plaques using VRMilling v5

Each time we try to produce words which are small with a 1mm bit the words come out ok but the tool seems to keep taking small shortcuts where the letters are close together which ruins the effect.

I saw a setting "\auto Join Entities" but that didn't help

We have used various versions up to the latest


Has anyone seen this or have some tips on how to avoid the problem
Never hold discussions with the monkey when the organ grinder is in the room.

User avatar
Steve
CNC Guru
CNC Guru
Posts: 1432
Joined: Tue 21 Feb , 2006 16:15 pm
Location: Denford UK

Re: Engraving Alphanumerics

Post by Steve » Fri 19 Feb , 2016 11:40 am

What Cad package are you using?

If you are using a 1mm tool and the inside and outside of a letter are less than 1mm apart then the tool thinks it does not need to retract.

If you are using a ball cutter and engraving shallow (so the line width is only say .5mm tell the tool library you have a .5mm cutter and this may help.

If using QuickCAM 2D there are also other settings you can change.

I have done a simple design of a letter O and a short line using a o.5mm engraving cutter and a 3.2mm ball cutter.

The engraving cutter retracts as the gap from the inner to the outer lines of the letter o are more than 0.5mm (screen1) apart but the two lines are linked when using the 3.2mm cutter (Screen 2).

To cure this change to tool width to match the line width you are trying to cut.
Attachments
screen2.jpg
screen2.jpg (74.72 KiB) Viewed 10731 times
screen1.jpg
screen1.jpg (79.87 KiB) Viewed 10731 times

derekb
Posts: 6
Joined: Thu 11 Feb , 2016 22:37 pm
Hardware/Software: Denford Micro Router
Bridgeport Miller
Colchester 2500
Colchester 1600
Location: Leicester
Contact:

Re: Engraving Alphanumerics

Post by derekb » Tue 08 Mar , 2016 18:05 pm

Thanks for the reply

im using Denfords VR Milling v5.63

I see what you mean, but wont setting the tool diameter affect the cutting depth eg 1/2 diameter depth ?
Never hold discussions with the monkey when the organ grinder is in the room.

User avatar
Steve
CNC Guru
CNC Guru
Posts: 1432
Joined: Tue 21 Feb , 2006 16:15 pm
Location: Denford UK

Re: Engraving Alphanumerics

Post by Steve » Tue 08 Mar , 2016 19:29 pm

You are correct. To get round that go into the material library in VR Milling and add a new material called engraving. Allow the tool to step down 100 %.

When engraving you only want to go max 0.2mm deep so using a 0.5 mm cutter can still do that at 50%

derekb
Posts: 6
Joined: Thu 11 Feb , 2016 22:37 pm
Hardware/Software: Denford Micro Router
Bridgeport Miller
Colchester 2500
Colchester 1600
Location: Leicester
Contact:

Re: Engraving Alphanumerics

Post by derekb » Tue 08 Mar , 2016 21:55 pm

Many thanks
Will give it a go

D
Never hold discussions with the monkey when the organ grinder is in the room.

Post Reply