instructables

Typeface for CNC Machines - Text to Gcode Function

by AdrienR

I draw a typo with... gcode!
More concretely, I wrote a Matlab script who
transform a string of characters into a path for CNC
machines. This typo is made of arcs and strait lines
and takes account of the milling process. For
example the vertical lines are milled upwards to have
the same aspect. Otherwise the path is made pretty
much the same as if written by hand.
You have three parameters to play with: The height
and the length of the letters. The spacing between the
letters. All the rest is calculated from these
parameters and a gcode file is created. The total
length is returned when the scrip has run.
It can be used to make doorbell or mail plaques
quickly.

Typeface for CNC Machines - Text to Gcode Function: Page 1

Step 1: The Process

It is straightforward:

write your text IN CAPITAL LETTERS between the quotation marks on the first line of the script
enter the letter dimensions you want
run the script with Matlab or Octave (open source version of Matlab)
put your cutting tool touching the surface where you want to mill
send the gcode file created to your machine loaded with nice material (wood, colorful plastic, gold or
stones!)

You will notice that depending on the ration hight/length (has to be < 2), the letter shape is changing. You can
observe some example I draw by hand when creating the typo. To change the thickness of the stroke, use different
mills. You can also use a triangle shaped mill and play with the depth.

Engrave your name on your pencils that your colleagues always take.

Download
https://www.instructables.com/ORIG/FHY/TBGS/JBE148O9/FHYTBGSJBE148O9.m
…

Typeface for CNC Machines - Text to Gcode Function: Page 2