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Thread: Could use some help.
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2nd November 2012, 10:43 PM #1
nine digits
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Could use some help.
G'day gods of cnc.
I would like to engrave some of the pens I make, but don't have a rotary axis set up on my machine (yet). I would think that a simple one line engraving on a 13-14mm dia cylinder should be achievable using software, well that's what I think.
Is it possible?
What software will achieve this if it is?
Yeah I'm probably way off, but thanks in advance. Even if you tell me how ignorant I am. BTW I have engraved on flat surfaces with the machine (a kit build I bought already assembled......dremel for spindle)
undies
Those who can do, those who can't don't.....................I think?
undies
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2nd November 2012 10:43 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
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3rd November 2012, 08:41 AM #2
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This is built into Mach3. (Assuming that you are using Mach)
Use the wizards to generate text and if you are only doing one line in really small font then that should be OK without rotation.Bob Willson
The term 'grammar nazi' was invented to make people, who don't know their grammar, feel OK about being uneducated.
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3rd November 2012, 08:53 AM #3
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Penturner would be your best bet on this, he's the expert
-Scott
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3rd November 2012, 11:51 AM #4
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Very small text is likely possible. And I mean small.
Obviously the further you get from "top dead centre" the more distortion is introduced. And 12mm is not a big diameter.
I'm thinking, maybe 2mm high text will be the biggest you will get away with.
You use CamBam if I remember correctly. That should do fine for the text.
The next step up from that is a CAM program that will project a toolpath onto a 3D shape.
Aspire will do this. A great program but expensive if you only want this feature. I don't know if CamBam will.
But with such a small diameter job I don't think you will achieve much more than a 2D toolpath will anyway.
A rotary axis will allow you to do much more with your present setup. Then CamBam combined with CNCwrapper will open up whole new world of possibilities.
Laser engraving is the best way to do all this. I have a laser and have been doing some pens for myself. If you want to have a go at it, contact me off list.
Greg in Geelong
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