Very easy with V-Varve to put text onto an arc or circle...
First let me say I am a total newb with CAD/CAM. I have mainly been using my cheap Chinese engraver for drilling printed circuit boards. The software pretty much shields you from the G-Code.
What I want to do is to build a hard drive POV clock like this.
The numbers on that disk are translucent and LEDs are illuminated behind them . at the appropriate time. What this guy did is to cut those numbers out by hand. My skills with a handsaw aren't all that great and I have this engraver so why not use it?
I need advice on how to cut these numbers. One thought I had was to paint a piece of plexiglass black then etch though the paint with the engraver. First I need to know if that will work.
If so my next need is to know exactly how to do this. I was going to use F-Engrave but don't know where to go from there. Should I use V-carve or Engrave? What bit should I use?
Playing with f-engrave in the past, I swear I was able to outline the characters but I can't seem to get that to work. Perhaps I am thinking of the Linux CNC example? Anyway if I could outline the characters, one thought there would be to route the outlines then scrape off the paint by hand.
That way I can use the bits I have on hand. I don't have much in the way of bits right now but open to buying more. I have a .25 inch flat bit and some of those small engrraving bits. The ones I am looking at now are 0.8 mm 30 degree. The 0.8mm is the width of the tip of th ebit.
Any suggestions?
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Very easy with V-Varve to put text onto an arc or circle...
Do you mean V-Carve? Yes I know. I have already done it. What I need to know is what type of bit I might use to do what I want to do above..
I would also like to know the difference between V-Carve and Engrave.
Thanks. Can you help me on the offset toolpath part? How would I set that? What is DoC? Sorry I am a total newb on this stuff.
There's an icon symbolizing pocket cutting. You can choose raster or offset. Choose offset. DoC is depth of cut. Set the stepover to about 15-20% as these are small tools. I'd try 10ipm to start. Buy extra tools because they're cheap enough, and you'll break one. Or three...
I do see an X an Y offset setting in General Settings.