Modeling CNC Engraved Text and Lines

[srwaal]

Hello!

I would like to be able to model CNC engraved text and lines on a cylinder. The "Emboss" command is close, but I need to model the text and lines so that they can be engraved with a single pass of an engraving tool in a CNC machine, ideally using the "Trace" or "Project" tool paths. 

I can get what I want with a simple revolve or sweep as shown, but obviously I can't get complex patterns or text very easily with this method.

This would allow me to select a single contour to accomplish the engraving.

I know that it is possible to use single line fonts (.shx fonts) in order to do single line engraving in the manufacturing environment, but I can't get them to work to accomplish the same thing in the model:

I need to add this to the 3D model because I want to have precise control over the size and location of the engraved text/lines. I want to be able to lay this all out in CAD before handing it over to be manufactured. This will make it super easy to communicate exactly what I want engraved and how.

Any ideas or comments are appreciated. Thank you!

[jhackney1972]

One method to accomplish the wrapping of the single line text V-groove around the cylinder is to wrap the cylinder with a section of sheet metal.  Then you Unfold it and add the text to the inside, explode it, create a sketch of the V-groove on each letter path using a Plane Along a Path, and Sweep it.  Refold the sheet metal so the sweep text feature is buried into the cylinder.  You can then use a Combine command to subtract the sheet metal, the text body, from the cylinder.

This process is very labor intensive and you will have to plan well to get the text to read correctly.  Also Single Line text fonts are pretty bad after they are exploded.

[Warmingup1953]

There is a way from the Simulation in Manufacturing to save out the Machined stock that could be worth a look?

https://www.youtube.com/live/dSYQLpQhr9M?si=0g_ilQdneyxsukpn&t=1647

[srwaal]

@jhackney1972  - I had considered a similar method but as you mentioned I was concerned about the time it would take to implement. 

@Warmingup1953  - That's an interesting idea that may allow me to make changes quicker. Do you know if it's possible to engrave text like that around a cylinder? I've only see examples of it done on flat surfaces.

Thanks to both of you guys for the comments. I'll give them a try!

[srwaal]

I tried saving out the stock from the manufacturing environment. I was able to get the single line engraving to work on a cylinder by following this link: Autodesk Support: How to engrave single line text on a cylinder in Fusion 360 

I think that the result is going to me too messy to try and merge with the 3D model.... 

Further, the result doesn't appear to be able to fully wrap around the cylinder like the emboss command can, although perhaps I am just missing something:

Looks like I'll need to request this feature from Autodesk to really get what I am looking for.

[Warmingup1953]

Yes, it would be a real rigmarole in practice. What are your specific needs?....To model a solid cylinder that has the real look and feel of engraved text?

[srwaal]

@Warmingup1953 - in short you are correct, I simply want to model the cylinder with engraved text as realistically as possible. I want to be able to do this for the following reasons:

1) The space I have for engraving is small and the pattern to be engraved is moderately complex. I want to be able to see how it will look before making it.

2) The position of the text and pattern is incredibly important. Therefore, the cleanest way to communicate to the manufacturer what needs to be done is to include it in the 3D model. An alternate method is to specify everything on a sketch, but it is much more difficult to communicate what I want this way. It is way cleaner to simply send a STEP file with everything modeled exactly how I want it.

3) Using the emboss feature adds unnecessary machining time, since the machinist would need to select the bounding counter of each line instead of a single line. It also makes the text larger than I need.

[nawiuciha11]

Nurcahyati