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Open Builds CAM - text tool

Discussion in 'CAM' started by Award, Mar 10, 2019.

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  1. Award

    Award Well-Known
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    Hello,

    I was wondering where Open Builds CAM gets the list of fonts that it displays in the Text Tool? I assumed it would be populated from the Windows\Fonts folder on my pc. The reason I ask is that I would like to test out some single line fonts for engraving but I can't make them appear in the drop down list.

    Cheers

    Adam
     
  2. Peter Van Der Walt

    Peter Van Der Walt OpenBuilds Team
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    It pulls it from Google Fonts.

    We need special vector fonts so cannot use TTFs off the PC

    Also, OB CAM needs "closed vectors" which single line fonts would not be
     
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  3. David the swarfer

    David the swarfer OpenBuilds Team
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    the 'single line' fonts I know of are TTF's with closed vectors that are just very close together or on top of one another.
    when I use them in Sketchup I explode the character and then zoom to remove any extra lines.
    I found them with a google search, cannot recall the font names, oh, a font search on this pc shows fonts like 'cambam_Stick_5_regular' so must be related to CamBam (-:
    upload_2019-3-12_17-4-6.png
     
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  4. Award

    Award Well-Known
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    Thanks David.

    The CamBam fonts where the ones that I was hoping to be able to get Open Builds CAM to pick up but as it uses Google Fonts it is a nonstarter unless anyone more technical than me (not very difficult I will be the first to admit!) knows how to fool it. Here's the link for anyone wanting to look at them

    CamBam Stick Fonts

    Cheers

    Adam
     
  5. Peter Van Der Walt

    Peter Van Der Walt OpenBuilds Team
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    If you insist, find a font you want from Google Fonts and I'll add it to the list (but yes, will still be closed vectors, not proper engraving font)
     
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  6. Award

    Award Well-Known
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    Thank you it is very kind of you to offer and I'm sure you have much better things to do but I'm just messing around as I have virtually zero CNC or CAM experience.

    I don't have any real need to engrave as I just was exploring what I could do with Open Builds CAM - so far my efforts have resulted in a lot of scrap mdf circles, rectangles (not the fault of OB CAM I hasten to add) and insulting relief text carvings for my friends!

    Thanks again

    Adam
     
  7. Giarc

    Giarc OpenBuilds Team
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    If you like the round-a-bout way you can use any font you like. Type it into photo editing software and crop around your text, save as a bitmap, open in Fengrave, size it as large as you want, save the gcode, and use whatever GRBL controller you want to carve it. It is actually easier than it sounds.

    I do this to add text to humerous (to me) plaques I make people when they do something stupid. And by stupid, I mean something I (and other coworkers) probably have done too, and just got lucky and nothing bad happened. This was the primary reason I built my CNC. :):thumbsup:
     
  8. Peter Van Der Walt

    Peter Van Der Walt OpenBuilds Team
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    For real though (; if theres any fonts on there you really really want, anytime, just ask (and paste link to the font)
     
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