<p>In OpenSCAD, apply the <code>offset</code> transformation to inset the letter outlines before extruding them. However you may find it works better to fill the sunken letter shapes with nail polish then remove the overflow with acetone; see my question &amp; answer <a href="https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/a/10872/11157">https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/a/10872/11157</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-19T07:25:18.573Z
Success! I applied a +0.1 offset to the plate lettering, and a -0.1 offset to the insert lettering. I also made the bar holding the letters together slightly smaller than the recess on the plate into which it fits. The result is a snug fit, but it works. Thanks for all the suggestions. I haven’t ruled out the “pause at height and change the filament suggestions, but it was fun solving this with your collective help.
Ron Ventura
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-12T05:36:01.700Z
2020-01-12T05:36:01.700Z
R.. GitHub STOP HELPING ICE
<p>Fusion 360 can be easily used to <strong>alter the design</strong>. It has a button under <code>Construction &gt; Edit &gt; Push/Pull</code> <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/51SAC.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/51SAC.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a>. Using this tool allows to select one or more surfaces and shift them all outside or inside as needed.</p>
<p>An alternative would be to include the <strong>size difference in design</strong>. By selecting a line or loop and then pressing <code>O</code> opens a menu that easily creates an outline shifted by a specified ammount.</p>
<p><strong>Tapering</strong> the extrusion is also easy: When extruding, one can choose to extrude with a -1°, resulting in a smaller size on the far side from the extrusion. positive angles make the far side larger.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-12T14:08:18.453Z
2020-01-12T14:08:18.453Z
2020-06-18T08:29:41.667Z
Trish
<p>You will need to run test prints to see how your printer behaves with your choice of filaments.  Then you'll know how much narrower the letter-lines (not the letter dimensions)  need to be to fit.  </p>

<p>The problem with that is one of making letters with narrow solid parts but without "shrinking" the open parts so that they fit into the badge receptacle regions.  You can't just reduce the dimensions of the letters themselves.  </p>

<p>Other than what Trish's answer suggests, I'd recommend either using a very small nozzle diameter and setting a narrow linewidth to reduce the "over-dimensioning" effects.  Even better would be to identify the letters separately from the badge but keep them as a single STL and use a two-color printer (twin extruders, etc) to make the badge in one run. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-13T18:59:51.853Z
2020-01-13T18:59:51.853Z
Carl Witthoft
<p>I want to create two piece labels for storage containers. The main piece would be the “badge” which would have text cut out of it (e.g. “Paint”, “Electrical” etc.). The second piece would be a positive of the text which is would be in a different colour, and would fit inside the cut out on the badge. Because of the tolerance of 3D printers, I need to make the insert slightly smaller than the cut out. Initially, I thought I could just scale the insert but that would affect the letter spacing. Then I thought it would work if I could somehow taper the letters so they are slightly smaller at the top than the bottom. So my question is, how I do that. I did the original in OpenScad but I would try Fusion360 if that’s a better solution. Any and all suggestions are welcome. Thanks.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-12T05:32:59.290Z
You might try this alternative approach: https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/a/10872/11157
R.. GitHub STOP HELPING ICE
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-12T09:52:14.507Z
Why dealing with inserts while you can print the letters on top of the plate by changing filament at height! There are various questions on changing filament here.
0scar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-13T06:59:30.397Z
If creating a number of items, it would be simpler to print all the “plates” and then print all the inserts. And I also prefer the look where the letters are not higher than the backing plate.
Ron Ventura
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-13T20:08:59.100Z
@RonVentura: While I agree, if the plates are not terribly large you could print a number together at the same time, and then one filament-change operation would serve all of the batch.
R.. GitHub STOP HELPING ICE
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-14T22:34:11.297Z
can you use a flat colored sheet instead of positive text? it would show through the "stencil" of the negative letters. that way the text can be colored without sizing reqs...
dandavis
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-15T23:28:49.450Z
Dandavis yeah, but where’s the fun in that? :)
Ron Ventura
<openscad><fusion360>
Creating a two part label for storage boxes
Ron Ventura
# Creating a two part label for storage boxes

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-01-12)

I want to create two piece labels for storage containers. The main piece would be the “badge” which would have text cut out of it (e.g. “Paint”, “Electrical” etc.). The second piece would be a positive of the text which is would be in a different colour, and would fit inside the cut out on the badge. Because of the tolerance of 3D printers, I need to make the insert slightly smaller than the cut out. Initially, I thought I could just scale the insert but that would affect the letter spacing. Then I thought it would work if I could somehow taper the letters so they are slightly smaller at the top than the bottom. So my question is, how I do that. I did the original in OpenScad but I would try Fusion360 if that’s a better solution. Any and all suggestions are welcome. Thanks.

**Tags:** openscad, fusion360

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: You might try this alternative approach: https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/a/10872/11157  
> **username_2**: Why dealing with inserts while you can print the letters on top of the plate by changing filament at height! There are various questions on changing filament here.  
> **username_0**: If creating a number of items, it would be simpler to print all the “plates” and then print all the inserts. And I also prefer the look where the letters are not higher than the backing plate.  
> **username_1**: @username_0: While I agree, if the plates are not terribly large you could print a number together at the same time, and then one filament-change operation would serve all of the batch.  
> **username_3**: can you use a flat colored sheet instead of positive text? it would show through the "stencil" of the negative letters. that way the text can be colored without sizing reqs...  
> **username_0**: username_3 yeah, but where’s the fun in that? :)  

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-01-12. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

In OpenSCAD, apply the `offset` transformation to inset the letter outlines before extruding them. However you may find it works better to fill the sunken letter shapes with nail polish then remove the overflow with acetone; see my question & answer <https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/a/10872/11157>.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Success! I applied a +0.1 offset to the plate lettering, and a -0.1 offset to the insert lettering. I also made the bar holding the letters together slightly smaller than the recess on the plate into which it fits. The result is a snug fit, but it works. Thanks for all the suggestions. I haven’t ruled out the “pause at height and change the filament suggestions, but it was fun solving this with your collective help.  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2020-01-12. Score: 1

Fusion 360 can be easily used to **alter the design**. It has a button under `Construction > Edit > Push/Pull` [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/51SAC.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/51SAC.png). Using this tool allows to select one or more surfaces and shift them all outside or inside as needed.

An alternative would be to include the **size difference in design**. By selecting a line or loop and then pressing `O` opens a menu that easily creates an outline shifted by a specified ammount.

**Tapering** the extrusion is also easy: When extruding, one can choose to extrude with a -1°, resulting in a smaller size on the far side from the extrusion. positive angles make the far side larger.


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### Answer by username_5 on 2020-01-13. Score: 0

You will need to run test prints to see how your printer behaves with your choice of filaments. Then you'll know how much narrower the letter-lines (not the letter dimensions) need to be to fit.

The problem with that is one of making letters with narrow solid parts but without "shrinking" the open parts so that they fit into the badge receptacle regions. You can't just reduce the dimensions of the letters themselves.

Other than what username_4's answer suggests, I'd recommend either using a very small nozzle diameter and setting a narrow linewidth to reduce the "over-dimensioning" effects. Even better would be to identify the letters separately from the badge but keep them as a single STL and use a two-color printer (twin extruders, etc) to make the badge in one run.


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