Engraving Question

[bjenkins]

Hi,

I would like to know what programs work best for engraving small text and imported clip art. I use BobCad and I have been playing around with BobArt. I can open a .BMP image and vectorize and then send it over to the CAD side for placement. The problem I see so far is that the vectorized clip art doesn’t seem to create a tool path that accurately represents the original drawing. Also when it comes to text, I find that BobCad creates block type letters when vectorized. I guess I can create an offset to the center to get one line but I bet there are better techinques than that.

I’m wondering if anyone has had success using BobCad for engraving. What program do you like? Should I try a search for single line fonts or should that be easy enough to do within CAD?

I only have one engraving bit at the moment. It is a 30 degree point.

Thanks!
Bill

[gjameson]

I struggled with bobcad/bobart to do name signs and vcarving. I ended up getting a finished prodect that looked the way i wanted but took about two hours to machine because it basically carved the entire name like a raster engraving rather than profiling the outline of the text and ramping up at the corners. Unfortunately i ended up bagging bobcad and I bought Vcarve pro which does a fantastic job in every thing i need it to do. you can download a trial version at vectric .com

sorry i cant give you more positive BobCad experience. I was using BobCad v21 which is definitely not their most recent version. maybe your version is different and has those capabilities.

[bjenkins]

Thanks for your sharing your experience. After researching and messing with V21, it became pretty clear that VCarvePro would be better for engraving than BobCad and your point about how BCV21 works for this process makes it an easier decision to purchase VCarvePro. I have learned to use V21 for CAD drawing and creating G-Code and so I'll stick with it except for engraving.

I think Ron is a distributor so I'll call him to purchase. I've been holding off until I perfected my prototype and finally I got it right so it's time to work on getting a small logo on the bottom of my puzzle box project. I plan on using a clip art bmp.

I have a 30 degree V bit and have a 60 degree on the way. The logo and letter engraving will be small. The diameter is only about 1.5 to 2.0 inches.

Any tips you would like to share would be appreciated.

Thanks,
BillJ

[otrattw]

I have a couple of clients who were requesting engraving work and thought about trying one of these:

www.2linc.com/engraving_mini.htm

They also have software available.


or one of these:

www.widgetworksunlimited.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=CNC-DMND_ENGRV&Show=TechSpecs

[bjenkins]

That's a very interesting tool. On the second link I read the materials that it's best suited for and wood was not mentioned. I bet it would work. Please post an update if you try this and I'll do the same.

Thanks,
Bill

[romaxxcnc]

Hey guys,

Just to add, Bobcad V21 is great for 2D work like milling out pockets or doing perimeters, and single line engraving. If you're looking to do letters that are actually sculpted in true 3D, have a look at another software. We sell VcarvePro, it is designed specifically for that type of work, signs etc.

Bobcad v21 (I'm not sure about 22 or 23) is pretty cumbersome in the 3D realm. It will do it, but there are much better alternatives available.

For machining solid models, Vectric Cut3D is another very good candidate.

Thanks, Ron

[otrattw]

Found another one:

www.amanatool.com/ingroove/

[otrattw]

Just received the tool from widget works this afternoon. Already broke one of the drag bits due to a stupid mistake. I called the company and talked with the owner I believed and explained what I had done. They are sending me a new bit at no charge. Talk about great customer service. These guys have my business for life.

Here a quick test sample I made this afternoon.



It is a lower switch panel for a Jeep, btw.

[bjenkins]

That really looks professional.

I spoke with WidgetWorks about their vacuum forming unit recently and I agree that this company is very helpful. I will probably be getting one of their units to do a little prototyping with. If I built one, I'm sure it wouldn't be as nice and probably about the same price.

Bill