1 Topic by DePartedPrinter (edited by DePartedPrinter 2014-04-22 17:26:54)

  • DePartedPrinter
  • Moderator
  • Offline
  • From: Colorado
  • Registered: 2012-08-14
  • Posts: 1,478

Topic: Any Tips for recessed lettering?

I am working on a small project the involves creating some recessed lettering.  I am familiar with the process of creating the lettering for the model but I can not seem to get consistent results when printing the lettering.  See picture (button shown is 1" across).

I have tried using KISSlicer and Slic3r to slice the parts with mixed results.  With KISSlicer certain letters work really well but others not so much. With Slic3r it's the same problem. The lettering will get filled with white paint so any flaws tend to show up easily.

Does anybody have tips for how best to do recessed lettering?

http://www.soliforum.com/misc.php?action=pun_attachment&item=5150

Post's attachments

image.jpg
image.jpg 1.69 mb, file has never been downloaded. 

You don't have the permssions to download the attachments of this post.
SD2 with E3D, SD Press, Form 1+
Filastruder
NYLON (taulman): http://www.soliforum.com/topic/466/nylon/

2 Reply by jason_

  • jason_
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2013-07-02
  • Posts: 58

Re: Any Tips for recessed lettering?

If changing fonts is a possibility you may want to try a blockier font with less curves.  Another idea would be to try the concentric infill on top layer.

I get really good results with recessed lettering in the side wall of parts with a really thick wall.  That doesn't look to be possible here

3 Reply by wardjr

  • wardjr
  • wardjr
  • Moderator
  • Offline
  • From: Minnesota
  • Registered: 2013-06-10
  • Posts: 5,624

Re: Any Tips for recessed lettering?

DePartedPrinter wrote:

I am working on a small project the involves creating some recessed lettering.  I am familiar with the process of creating the lettering for the model but I can not seem to get consistent results when printing the lettering.  See picture (button shown is 1" across).

I have tried using KISSlicer and Slic3r to slice the parts with mixed results.  With KISSlicer certain letters work really well but others not so much. With Slic3r it's the same problem. The lettering will get filled with white paint so any flaws tend to show up easily.

Does anybody have tips for how best to do recessed lettering?

http://www.soliforum.com/misc.php?action=pun_attachment&item=5150

You could increase the number of top layers to include the recess so it was solid.  Or for a part that small just set your infill to 1 on every layer.

Printit Industries Model 8.10 fully enclosed CoreXY, Chamber heat
3-SD3's & a Workbench all fully enclosed, RH-Slic3r Win7pro, E3D V6, Volcano & Cyclops Hot End
SSR/500W AC Heated Glass Bed, Linear bearings on SS rods. Direct Drive Y-axis, BulldogXL
Thanks to all for your contributions

wardjr's Website

4 Reply by pirvan

  • pirvan
  • pirvan
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: San Francisco
  • Registered: 2013-03-27
  • Posts: 1,797

Re: Any Tips for recessed lettering?

First of all, it looks like the surface we're looking at is actually the bottom of the print.  You can tell by squished filament and very smooth surface, as well as the "loose" filament in the recess (lack of support).


I've tried printing stuff with recesses lettering with various degrees of success.  What works is printing with the lettering on top instead of the bottom, also play with the perimeter width setting, so you can get a small thin line.  Fonts:  the larger (bolder) the font the better. and don't make it overly deep.

Also when modelling the lettering, don't make it overly deep (1/2mm should be enough), and don't chamfer the edges, it muddles the sharpness of the lettering.

Something else you might try is lettering on a vertical wall, it actually works pretty well.

To print or, 3D print, that is the question...
SD3 printer w/too many mods,  Printrbot Simple Maker Ed.,  FormLabs Form 1+
AnyCubic Photon, Shining 3D EinScan-S & Atlas 3D scanners...
...and too much time on my hands.

5 Reply by DePartedPrinter

  • DePartedPrinter
  • Moderator
  • Offline
  • From: Colorado
  • Registered: 2012-08-14
  • Posts: 1,478

Re: Any Tips for recessed lettering?

pirvan wrote:

I've tried printing stuff with recesses lettering with various degrees of success.  What works is printing with the lettering on top instead of the bottom, also play with the perimeter width setting, so you can get a small thin line.

 

In this case I have no option but to print the part with the lettering on the bottom.  I am aware of all the additional problems this creates with lettering but I cant print it any other way because of features on the backside.

SD2 with E3D, SD Press, Form 1+
Filastruder
NYLON (taulman): http://www.soliforum.com/topic/466/nylon/

6 Reply by ronsii

  • ronsii
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: PNW
  • Registered: 2012-10-28
  • Posts: 1,723

Re: Any Tips for recessed lettering?

How about a couple extra mm's of letter height that you mill or sand off...

7 Reply by grob

  • grob
  • grob
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: Sydney, Australia
  • Registered: 2014-01-02
  • Posts: 900

Re: Any Tips for recessed lettering?

Or even just a recess in the bottom, and print a separate part in a more favourable orientation for text and glue it in?

SD3. Mk2b + glass, heated enclosure, GT2 belts, direct drive y shaft, linear bearings, bowden-feed E3D v5 w/ 0.9° stepper
Smoothieboard via Octoprint on RPi

8 Reply by DePartedPrinter

  • DePartedPrinter
  • Moderator
  • Offline
  • From: Colorado
  • Registered: 2012-08-14
  • Posts: 1,478

Re: Any Tips for recessed lettering?

ronsii wrote:

How about a couple extra mm's of letter height that you mill or sand off...


I like this idea.


Unfortunately, I think it would mean too much time for 1 part. We are looking to minimize our cost per print as I will be making around 100 duplicates.

I will post up a pic of the most current version when I get a chance.

SD2 with E3D, SD Press, Form 1+
Filastruder
NYLON (taulman): http://www.soliforum.com/topic/466/nylon/