I just bought a Dynatorch setup for my automotive aftermarket business. I want to be able to cut custom names, etc in light gauge steel. Is there a stencil type font that you guys use so the centers don't drop out? Most of the "stencil" fonts I see are decorative, and have the stencil lines in almost every letter, whether it is needed or not. Are there (free or cheap) fonts specifically for plasma use?

Ric
Boss Frog

There is a stencil Font on the CorelDraw CD. Basic gothic type font like you see in the old stencil sets. What we find is most people don't like/want the standard gothic stencil "military crate" look. We build the design in Corel then weld "connectors" to hold in the centers of specific letters. Takes a few minutes with the weld and trim tools. Another option it to weld the base and/or tops of the letters to a bar in Corel and let the torch cut out the background (what I call a positive cut). Then when you think you have it all figured out some dude will come along and want Old English or Brush Script lettering (:-)

That's what I suspected - that most people "make" their own stencil font. I saw one font made specifically for plasma cutting - called Blue Plasma. The font was packaged with a bunch of other fonts for $175 though.

Here are some stencil fonts: http://simplythebest.net/fonts/stencil_fonts.html

Then I use this free software to convert to DXF: http://www.deskam.com/deskengrave.html

I would think it would be easier to load the Fonts as that and let the drawing software use them. It's much easier to work with text where you can just type something, space/size the text or even warp it around a circle and then export the whole thing as a DXF.

I am getting better at bringing in a regular font and adding the bridges with the vector software - only takes a few minutes...

In CorelDraw it's two operations: create the bridge rectangle or other shape, position, and click "Trim" with the Shape tool. Finished.

Script test first has to have the letters welded together then have the bridges dropped in.

Torchehead... what version Corel are you using?
Where do you click "Trim"?

I think I've been doing it the hard way. (chair)
I've got Corel 11.

Nevermind... found it.
I learn something new everyday!

Glad I joined this forum!

Thanks Torchhead.