Need Help!- making letters into useful geometry for etching

[tds11223]

Can I use the etching toolpaths to create etching a part # onto a surface?

I created letters onto a surface, then tried to chain them under the etching toolpath. This was unsuccessful.

I remember something about connecting the letters together but I can't remember exactly how to turn the letters into useable geometry. Then, instead of chaining every letter(even if I did this does is make the Letter "C" an arc or series of points?) I want to use the etching toolpath if possible.

Thanks,

[Superman]

You can apply toolpaths to "Letters" but not to "Drafting Entities"

To be able to apply toolpaths to "drafting entities" they must first be coverted to geometry (lines and arcs)

[psychomill]

You left out how to create the geo from letters....

Whether it becomes and arc(s) or lines/splines depends on the font used to create the letters. Mastercam's stick and box fonts are simple whereas true type font may not be so lucky. At any rate, the convert to geo for X... go to Break entities icon and select "Break drafting into line" or from the menu bar, go to "Edit > Trim/Break > break drafting into lines". You can then selet the letters, character set or a window to highlight and enter to break them.

On MC9, it's pretty much the same thing but you go "Modify > Break > Draft/Line" then select the font created on the part by clicking on it or using a window select.