Font Question, please help.

[timtaylor]

I am using CorelDraw to output my files I use with the ShopBot.

I am trying to do small (3/8 inch high) text with a 1/16 inch bit.

When I engrave a font at this size it is terible looking.

What I need is a centerline font, I have looked around and have not been able to find one, can anyone point me to a place I can get a center line True Type font?

I know I can buy a program that will do this, but, $3000.00 sounds a little high to just do small text, I don't need all the other features now.

[dmidkiff]

Tim
I use VCarvz by vector. It works but can be very frustrating. It works better with some fonts. I have successfully carved 1/4" letters. You can arrange them in an arc, more than one line ect. I have not seen any talk about this program on the forum. It doesn't cost $3000.00. When I purchased it was $450.00. I have completed several signs with it. Signs are not our main use for the bot so we are satisfied to use the less expensive software.
You can contact them @ (248)486-3600 or imsrerv@imsrv.com (mailto:imsrerv@imsrv.com)
Hope this helps.

[gerald_d]

Search this forum for comments about DeskEngrave (http://deskam.com/deskengrave.html). This amazing freeware program has one centreline font.

[vcabinet]

Gerald, Do you know if you can v carv if you use desk engrave? I tried after I imported into parts wizard and it told me I needed other software. I was trying to v carve times new roman.

[gerald_d]

DeskEngrave gives you a dxf file of the edges of the font. It does not calculate the variable depths needed for true v-carving.

[paul_n]

Tim,

Are you looking for a "centerline" or a "single line" font ???

Paul

[don_ask]

Keith posted this. Works for me!

Don

Corel Draw trick for centerline trace. Lay out your text in Corel Draw and convert to Bitmap at a fairly high resolution (start around 300DPI for an 8.5x11 page layout). Take the bitmap into Corel Trace and do a centerline trace. Save the vector trace as a DXF and you are ready to rock with a centerline font based on any font style. Sounds a little more complicated than it is. Takes only a few minutes if you are familiar with OCR trace. If you are not, it's a good excuse to learn how to use and tweek it.

Happy Botting
Keith

[timtaylor]

>> Tim,
>>
>> Are you looking for a "centerline" or
>> a "single line" font ???
>>
>> Paul

Hey Paul, I am not sure what the differnce is, but, I am trying to engrave a font 3/8 inch high with a 1/16 inch bit and it looks really bad.

Here is a gif of what I am trying to explain. I guess you could call it a centerline or a single line font..... The black is the line the router will follow, the red is what gets cut out with the bit.

I tried to make my own font in CorelDraw, but, it will only allow a closed object and will not prosess a single open line object.

I guess I can make an object with lines really close together, but, will take longer to make and longer to engrave, but if no one else can come up with a better idea, I will be forced into doing that.


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[gerald_d]

Did you try DeskEngrave with the Stick40 font?:


4146

The dotted lines are the jogs

[artisan]

Doing a 3/8 letter with a 1/16 bit is going to cause you problems no matter what font style you choose. Look at your first "S" for example. You have 3 horizontal passes of 1/16, which adds up to 3/16.....or half the total height of your letter....causing a fat or mis-shaped letter. In your second example, the line width is more like 1/32 or less. Your problem may more of a bit selection problem.

In Corel you can use the interactive offset feature to see what your letter will look like with various bit diameters...D

[timtaylor]

>> Did you try DeskEngrave with the Stick40
>> font?:

No, I am trying to find a way in CorelDraw, I will try other programs if I find know way in coreldraw....

[timtaylor]

>> Doing a 3/8 letter with a 1/16 bit is going to
>> cause you problems no matter what font style
>> you choose.

You are correct, I ment 3/4 not 3/8.

I can do a 1 inch font with the 1/16 bit, but, when I scale it down to 3/4 inch, it causes the above problem....

[cnc_works]

Tim, you might experiment with the contour command after entering your text and converting it to curves. For instance, if you were to make a single internal contour offset by the radius of your bit, it would be as if the center of the bit followed the outline of letter. If there was room you could even take it down a little more. Might make the difference...

Donn

[timtaylor]

Thanks everyone for all your help, I think I may have solved the problem.

I have made my own True Type font with the lines very close together (0.011 of an inch apart). I will not be able to test it till Tuesday, but, I am reasonably sure this will allow me to do the job I need to do straight out of CorelDraw.

If anyone wants to try it, or needs it, you are welcome to it, I will attach it to this message.


Thin Engraving Font
EngravingFont.zip (http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/messages/20164/EngravingFont-3899.zip) (18.6 k)

[gerald_d]

Isn't that more or less what the standard "RomanS" True-Type font does?:


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[timtaylor]

>> Isn't that more or less what the
>> standard "RomanS" True-Type font
>> does?

I don't have that font, I have been looking for one for a week.... I finaly gave up and made my own......