Font Choice Help (my letters are breaking)

[tri4sale]

I am working on some monograms, and when I cut out the letters for the names they tend to be fragile due to narrow widths. I am cutting these in 1/2 inch plywood, mostly Baltic Birch right now. I am open to using other plywood if you think there is a better wood to use.

I've been using Times New Roman, which while it does look nice (at least to me) it tends to have fragile letter parts. The letters are usually around 3 inches tall, and 1.5 to 2 inches wide. Cutting using a 1/4" Bit.

For example, cutting the name CUMMINGS out and the "C" broke

Any suggestions for fonts that will look good but may not have such fragile letter sections? I'm open to anything, and I've played around with some other fonts, but with the Gazillion fonts available out there it was getting a bit overwhelming trying to narrow down to some other fonts to try.

http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=26256&stc=1http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=26257&stc=1

[joe]

No Problem, 1/2" PVC.

[Brady Watson]

You mentioned 'monogram' - you may find Sean's video interesting: http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/showthread.php?17906-Sleepless-Nights

-B

[tri4sale]

No Problem, 1/2" PVC.

Called for a quote and around here that runs about $115 a sheet, which just pushes it out of budget.


You mentioned 'monogram' - you may find Sean's video interesting: http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/showthread.php?17906-Sleepless-Nights

-B

I remember that video when he posted it, very cool.

[Brady Watson]

Called for a quote and around here that runs about $115 a sheet, which just pushes it out of budget.

The big box stores sell PVC trim board. Same stuff. Buy whatever width/length you need.

Not sure what your intention here is with 'monogram' - for what, t-shirts? Or? There are cheaper ways depending on the application.

-B

[joe]

I often why people post questions without letting us know what they are expecting. In this case there isn't basic knowledge of font architecture or potential products to try. I guess it's easier to throw questions on a forum than think it through.

There are lots of experienced fellows out here willing to help but you need to think about what your posting prior to going on the board.

[tri4sale]

The big box stores sell PVC trim board. Same stuff. Buy whatever width/length you need.

Not sure what your intention here is with 'monogram' - for what, t-shirts? Or? There are cheaper ways depending on the application.

-B

I'm working on door and wall hangings, run about 22 inches wide and tall. My nearby big boxes don't carry anything that big, but did find one a little further away that website lists in stock 1/2 inch 4x8 sheets for $75. I'll pick some up and give it a try. Still worried that some of the narrow sections, like the C in the Times Roman Font will be an issue.

[Brady Watson]

Is there any money to be made in your area with these? How many have you sold?

You can convert the text to curves and offset them outward to fatten up the letter strokes, or node edit as required.

-B

[rb99]

Or go through fonts until you find one with serifs that is quite bold.

[tri4sale]

Is there any money to be made in your area with these? How many have you sold?

You can convert the text to curves and offset them outward to fatten up the letter strokes, or node edit as required.

-B

Yes there is money in these in my area. I've sold 9 by word of mouth off the first one I made. Even with the breakage I'm in positive cash flow on these, but would like to cut down on breakage to improve those numbers.

[jerry_stanek]

I ran a simulation using a .125 bit that I use all the time to cut small letters out of PVC. they are 3 inches tall

this is one with an inside cut and one with an outside cut

[tri4sale]

I ran a simulation using a .125 bit that I use all the time to cut small letters out of PVC. they are 3 inches tall

this is one with an inside cut and one with an outside cut

Is that Times New Roman font? No issues when removing the letters from wood like your pictures, just when removing the area around letters, leaving the name attached to the rest of the sign, that some sections of letters become fragile.

[jerry_stanek]

Yes that is Times New Roman here is the letters that are cut out. I cut these all the time for a company that does menu boards for collage cafeterias

[Alex Naumenko]

Home Depot sell PVC 1/2 4x8 for $75.

[tri4sale]

Home Depot sell PVC 1/2 4x8 for $75.

Thanks, headed there tonight, the 2 Home Depots near my house don't carry it, but there's one a little further away that stocks it according to their website, going to pick up a sheet and do a test cut.

[jerry_stanek]

I use these bits to cut mine in fact I just ordered some more this weekend

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-175x2-5x22mm-CNC-Router-Bits-Single-Flute-Tools-High-Efficiency-10pcs-/121347214003?hash=item1c40db8ab3

[tri4sale]

How long do they take to arrive shipping out of China?

[jerry_stanek]

last time it was a week

[kurt_rose]

Yep Jerry, I always have a couple of boxes of those on hand in both flat endmill and ballnose. Been using them for years now. Great value and a decent tool.

[chiloquinruss]

I don't know if your version of Aspire has this tool but you can take any font and convert it to vectors, then use this tool to trace the vector to make it bigger (not what you want) or make it smaller (what you do want). This maintains the correct letter spacing you want but you are in charge of how much meat is left for each letter. Russ

http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=26286&stc=1

[tri4sale]

Ordered a set of those bits, eBay says arrival 10/22 to 11/25 - we'll see how long they actually take to get here.

Until then, I did some cutting with a bit I had on hand, Whiteside UD2102 - Up/Down Compression 1/4-inch diameter. Cut really nice, smooth finish, and held up nicely, no issues like I had with the Baltic Birch. Any reason not to use a bit like this in PVC? Besides the cost difference that is, can buy a lot of those eBay bits at the price of 1 Whiteside bit (runs about $30 on Amazon)

But the chips stayed in the grooves. Running at 16000 RPM and 2.6 IPS. They didn't melt together or melt back to the sides of the cutout area like I've read about, they just stayed in the grooves. Is this normal when cutting PVC? Haven't had time to play around with different feeds and speeds or different bits yet to see if any different results when I change those.

http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=26301&stc=1

[tri4sale]

I don't know if your version of Aspire has this tool but you can take any font and convert it to vectors, then use this tool to trace the vector to make it bigger (not what you want) or make it smaller (what you do want). This maintains the correct letter spacing you want but you are in charge of how much meat is left for each letter. Russ

http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=26286&stc=1

Isn't that the "join open vectors" tool?

[chiloquinruss]

Well I was close! :D What I meant to circle was of course the offset vectors icon, sorry! Russ

http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=26343&stc=1

[tri4sale]

Well I was close! :D What I meant to circle was of course the offset vectors icon, sorry! Russ



Thanks Russ, I've not played with that feature yet, still learning all the ins and outs of Aspire.

[chiloquinruss]

Here's a simple example, 'stencil' font, original tool path no offset, then with 16th offset. You'll notice it keeps the same letter spacing so the 'word' still fits where it's supposed to, but the cutouts are very slightly reduced leaving more meat. Have fun! Russ

http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=26345&stc=1http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=26346&stc=1