I'm new to this, but I am trying to vinyl cut letters on my Sherline mill with Mach2. I can do it from the write wizard, but can't get letters, fonts to convert from autocad, I have no problems with clipart. When I load the g-code, there is just a couple of lines of code, but no words or letters, mayby this can't be done.........

If you have the express tools, you can explode the fonts into polylines. This might even be included in newer versions. (I'm using 2002)

Thanks, I have explode, but it doesn't do anything with the fonts in autocad, mayby I should try importing or paste another font in. Do you know if there are some font programs that work well with g-code that aren't very expensive...........Don

Don,
This is NOT the normal Explode, but it is in the EXPRESS tools and is explicitly for exploding text that has been selected.

Normal Explode will NOT work on text.

PM me if you want more help and let me know specifics etc.

A utility can be downloaded from here:

https://www.qwerks.com/order/buynow.asp?ProductID=3121

"outlineart". It will convert truetype to dxf files.

It has a trial download and cost $20 if you want to own it.

Works O.K. Watch out as you increase the precision though, will generate many segments on the arcs, since the program doesn't creat curves into arcs but into small line segments.

I hear some others using Adobe Streamline. This will cost you $100+. I believe this program will convert curves into arcs not line segments, but not 100% sure.

Thanks, I have autocad lite 2004, but I don't see express tools. Will look into Adobe Streamline, are there any others out there that work well for less than $100, thanks.........Don

Is there a font program out there that just writes to g-code or .dxf files, thanks.........Don

CorelDraw will export to .dxf . Older versions are available on auction sites for $15 and up.
I have not tried fonts exported this way. If you try this please let us know how it works.

robotic regards,

Tom
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Don,
Look on your CD, it is a seperate "setup.exe". I don't have my CDs in front of me and I don't remember "exactly" where it was.

You should have the necessary information to be able to install it, but please note that as long as autodesk has had the utility, it still has bugs. Text explode will mangel the first character of a string and when exploded, may not appear in the same position as originally placed. My work around is to add a "dummy" character to the front of the string to be exploded and when exploded, move the result to the location I want.

If you have a busy drawing, it is best to locate the source string outside the drawing area and then move it to proper position after it is exploded.

Like Chris said, get OutlineArt. Try this link instead. http://www.freefirestudio.com/outline.htm

This will give you the exact same thing as the Express Tool explode text, only it's better. You won't have to clean up the text afterward. Just export from OutlineArt, and open the .dxf in ACAD.

Not sure, but I think Coral draw is like Autocad Lite in that will not convert fonts, does anyone know for sure, thanks..........Don

This is free, you can't beat that price.
http://www.deskam.com/deskengrave.html

Thanks for all your help, I tried to find Streamliner, but couldn't find it locally, or to purchase online, so I bought Outlineart and it works pretty well. There are a lot of extra lines that I have to take out of the program. I guess this is normal though..........Don

i use ttftodxf to do my text for autocad here is a link to it

http://home.carolina.rr.com/gcodemcode/

hope that helps

Thanks you so very much, I think that's exactly what I am looking for, will let you know how it works............Don ;)

Thanks h2o, I am using it and I like it...................Don :)