Software to cut out letters

[esmiller]

I have recently finished (More or less) a JGRO router table, and am having dificulties with the software end of things..

What I am wanting to do is simply to create a file with a series of letters in a specific font and size, and have the table cut them out.

I have Corel Draw 11, and the trial version of Mach 3. I have had no luck using DeskEngrave <?> I think is the name of the program tht was once suggested to me.

Anybody have any suggestions on doing what I want to do?

I would also prefer to be able to tell it how deep to cut per pass, but I can edit the G-Code file to do that if necessary.

Any help is appreciated.

Eddie

[widgitmaster]

Try this software out, it lets you convert an image to g-code!
Use the windows paintbrush program to make the text, save as an image, then engrave it!

Its shareware, good for 30days
http://www.imagetogcode.com/Download.htm

Quote from website:
"PS: IMAGE TO G-CODE GRAPHICS INTERFACE IS FREE. (You do not need to register to keep the graphics interface utilities. Only if you want to use the G-Code converter utilities you are required to register)."

It's a nice little program, easy as pie to use too!

Eric

[MetLHead]

Eddie,

Give NCPlot v2 a try www.ncplot.com it's a G-Code editor that has a font to G-Code converter built in.

Thanks,
Scott

[esmiller]

I appreciate both suggestions. i will download them and check them out as soon as things calm down with the holiday season (I work in retail).

Have a Merry Christmas & a Happy New year.

Eddie

[ger21]

If you draw your text with Corel Draw, just exportas a .dxf file. Use version 10 or 11 for the .dxf version. Check the box that says save text as curves. Then just import the .dxf into Mach3. Set the total depth using the layer buttin in Mach 3's .dxf import window. Once the g-code is created, use Mach3's Multipass option to cut the full depth in multiple shallow passes.

There is a guy currently writing a better .dxf exporter for CorelDraw using VBA. I don't think it supports text yet, but you can get it from the files section of the SheetCAM Yahoo group.

And if you want more control in cutting out letters, you might want to look at SheetCAM. A lot of people use CorelDraw with SheetCAM to do all their cutting.

[esmiller]

WELL !!! I will be danged!!

I have been trying to do this with CORELDRAW for about 2 months now, and I was exporting using the wrong version of AUTOCAD .DXF format. No wonder I was unable to get it to work! I thought using the NEWEST version of AUTOCAD .DXF export was what I wanted to do. Now I just need to get my system back up & running to experiment with this method! Thanls for all the ideas from the three of you. between the 3 ideeas, i should have the answers to all my Letter cut-out problems!

Eddie

Originally Posted by ger21 If you draw your text with Corel Draw, just exportas a .dxf file. Use version 10 or 11 for the .dxf version. Check the box that says save text as curves. Then just import the .dxf into Mach3. Set the total depth using the layer buttin in Mach 3's .dxf import window. Once the g-code is created, use Mach3's Multipass option to cut the full depth in multiple shallow passes. There is a guy currently writing a better .dxf exporter for CorelDraw using VBA. I don't think it supports text yet, but you can get it from the files section of the SheetCAM Yahoo group. And if you want more control in cutting out letters, you might want to look at SheetCAM. A lot of people use CorelDraw with SheetCAM to do all their cutting.

[WarrenW]

One question about cutting letters from what I read above. How do you set it to cut the inside of the letters first? I know Sheetcam will do this. But if I use Corel Draw and save as a DXF and then load in Mach 3, will Mach 3 cut the inside of a letter D first and then the outside?

Thanks!

Warren

[ger21]

Mach3 will cut them in the order thay are drawn, which you will have no control over in Corel Draw. (that I'm aware of)

[MetLHead]

Originally Posted by WarrenW One question about cutting letters from what I read above. How do you set it to cut the inside of the letters first? I know Sheetcam will do this. But if I use Corel Draw and save as a DXF and then load in Mach 3, will Mach 3 cut the inside of a letter D first and then the outside? Thanks! Warren

Warren,

NCPlot will allow you to convert a DXF to G-Code in the order want. You can also change the cutting direction if you need to.

Scott