point data in autocad

[trubleshtr]

Hi,
I have a robot that is using point to point moves. I would like to use it for engraving text. The problem is, I' cant just tell it to "print" the letter 'a', I would have to teach all the points for it to create the letter 'a', to engrave a whole word, would require, well a-lot of point teaching.This system is 15+ years old and uses basic protocal and a text type editer that compiles the program to something different for the controller to use.

Here is my question...

Is there a way in autocad, (or other easy to use text software,preferably free) to creat the text and give it point data info,, that I could try to put into the robots editor and then complie it to the controller? I think if it could be loaded into the editor as x,y,z,a data i might have a chance.

The controller is a Seiko TT8030 system. The software currently used for it is "Darlspec".
I am hoping to find a way to creat easy test files instead of teaching every point to the robot everytime I want to engrave a different word.

Thanks, your input is greatly appreciated.

[ger21]

If you know VBA or AutoLISP you could do it. I wrote a VBA macro that outputs g-code from inside AutoCAD. What version of AutoCAD are you using?

[trubleshtr]

Hi ger21, thanks for responding.
I am using acad 2000. I have since learned that the robot controller creates several files (.obj,.sys and a .prg file) upon saving using the robots software, I am hoping to at least make drawings in acad, and then have the co-ordinates of every "point" be displayed, I can then just type it into the robot controller. Not exactly ideal, but unfortunately without the other files that are automatically created in the robot controller, I don't think I can make a working file that the controller can compile.
Macro's I am unfamiliar with, is there a easy tutorial on doing it? I am still hoping there will be an easier way to input info into the controller.
The software can bring in strings and variables from other devices via rs 232...(numer data only)
any input is greatly appreciated, sorry if I am rambling, I am racking my brain to try and simplify this set-up.

[ger21]

Originally Posted by trubleshtr Macro's I am unfamiliar with, is there a easy tutorial on doing it?

There are examples in the help file, but it would probably help if you bought a book on programming AutoCAD with VBA. If you don't have any Visual Basic or VBA experience, expect a decent size learning curve.

But it's relatively easy to get the vertex locations, but you need to use a different methods for each entity type. (lines, polylines,circles,arcs....)