illustrator

[sunlight]

Hello, Maybe on the wrong topic but i cant find the right place. I've made a drawing on illustrator that has a text that must be engraved. when i export as a dxf mach3 don't get the text. Anybody has a solution i'm verry happy with it.

Kind regards Bas

[ger21]

I don't know if you can do it in Illustrator, but the text needs to be converted to vectors.

[jhowelb]

Depending on your cad pgm, you may be able to choose to place your text "as vector" as you type it, or place it on a different layer and draw lines to represent your letters..........or use a vector font.

[sunlight]

Hello, i use futura bold and i'm using autocad 2005. This program can not work with text i've heard. So therefore i've try turbocad, but i must look if that works.

regards bas

[jhowelb]

If all you want to produce is text try desk engrave. It will let you save as gcode or dxf. It's free.
http://www.deskam.com/deskengrave.html
http://www.deskam.com/products.htm

I use Design Cad to produce dxf files then convert them to gcode with Sheet Cam if the project involves more than just text. I also have AutoCad 2006 but I find that drawing is quicker and easier with DesignCad or QuickCad.

[ger21]

If you have the AutoCAD Express Tools installed, you can use the explode text tool and then the text will work in AutoCAD.

[vacpress]

hey.

in adobe illustrator, you can convert the text to 'outlines'. cant remember the specific sub menu offhand, but i think it is also in the right-click popup menu.

search the help for 'convert outlines'.

that is their term for it.

[sunlight]

Hello Vacpress, when i select the text and go to create outline's it's not light up and i cant select it.

Ger21: i was always thinking that autocad wil not work for text. I now outocad but can you be specific howto make text work. I think maybe that's the solution for me.

jhowelb: the thinks i make have text and lines so this program is not working for me. It's a nice tool to make only letters.

Regards Bas

[under-dog]

The text tool in illustrator creates text as a true type font. This is not vector art which is what CNC needs for a tool path.
Here is what you do.
1)Create your text. It is best to do all the fromatting, sizing,placenmenat and such at theis point as it will be far easier that whemn it is vectorized.

2)With the text selected got to object on the toolbar and select expand. This will vectorize it.

As an added note of interest: Once vectorized you can customise and manipulate the text entirely if you need a custom effect.

[under-dog]

Wow just looked at my post and it is early in the morning and that was a true testement to bad typing. You should stilll be able to get the gist let me know if you need translation. LOL

[ger21]

Originally Posted by sunlight i was always thinking that autocad wil not work for text. I now outocad but can you be specific howto make text work. I think maybe that's the solution for me.

AutoCAD will only work if you have the express tools installed. Do you have "Express" in your menu bar? try typing the command "txtexp". If you have it installed, it should work. If you don't have the Express tools, for $30 this will run inside AutoCAD and let you do text. http://www.freefirestudio.com/outline.htm

[sunlight]

Hello Under-dog,

Is there a special way to save to dxf? when i want to save i get a lot of options, version number of collers and rasterfile format. Also export selected art alter paths for appearence and outline text.

regards bas