DXF Lettering for eCabinets

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Roger Erismann
Senior Member
Posts: 169
Joined: Sun, Dec 04 2005, 11:42PM
Location: Sacramento, CA and Rolla, Mo

Post by Roger Erismann »

Okay Dan....

This is how I would do it....

1. Trace letters to DXF
2. Draw Arc
3. USe draw Point/divide command in ACAD
4 Apply to Arc
5. Osnap settings to node/intersection
6. Drop letters on points
7. Erase points
8. Apply layers/or load into ecabs parts editor/or drop onto panel in MV
9. Wrtie TWD/Gcode or drop DXF on router

Not a wizzard but definitely works!!
Wood Butcher/Case Maker
Roger Erismann
Senior Member
Posts: 169
Joined: Sun, Dec 04 2005, 11:42PM
Location: Sacramento, CA and Rolla, Mo

Post by Roger Erismann »

Now that my secret is out......

what is the faster or better way?
Wood Butcher/Case Maker
Zach Froble
Senior Member
Posts: 171
Joined: Tue, Jun 21 2005, 3:23PM
Location: Connellsville, PA

Post by Zach Froble »

Roger,

I use Bobcad/cam, here are the steps for any users out their with the same software.


1. Draw your arc
2. Pick font and type in text
3. Select text
4. Go to Dimensions and click \"Fit Text to Path\"
5. Go to Dimensions and click \"Vectorize Text\"

It is pretty simple, but you do have to watch your font and size for the diameter cutter that you are using.

I just did some reception stands for my packaging supplier and put their logo on the front. I wish I would have got some pictures so I could post.

Zach
Lyndan Designs
Machining and CAD Services
Brian Shannon
eCabinets Beta Tester
Posts: 979
Joined: Thu, May 19 2005, 10:50PM
Location: Los Alamos, CA

BobCad

Post by Brian Shannon »

Hey Zack,


I also have BobCad but I don't know how to use it. I was able to write text and save as .dxf but when I open the .dxf in eCabinets Part Editor, the text does not show. Do I need to select a layer name or something? Any suggestions on settings would be great.


Brian Shannon
Custom Wood-N-Cabinets
David Hall
eCabinets Beta Tester
Posts: 593
Joined: Tue, May 17 2005, 12:41PM
Location: Stamford, CT USA
Contact:

Post by David Hall »

Brain,
Two possibilites come to mind.

1. You must \"Vectorize Text\" in Bobcad, to convert the text to lines/arcs before saving the DXF. The part editor only recognizes lines and arcs from the DXF file.

2. Be aware of the position of the converted text in relationship to 0,0. The part editor lays the DXF file's 0,0 on the part's 0,0. It's easy to place the DXF \"text\" so far away from 0,0 that the \"text\" is off the eCab's part and out of view in the part editor.

Regards,
Dave
David Hall
Hall's Edge Inc.
eCabinets Machining Services
http://www.HallsEdge.com
Michael Yeargain
eCabinets Beta Tester
Posts: 1740
Joined: Tue, May 17 2005, 8:33PM
Company Name: Timeless Cabinetry and Mantles
Location: South East

Post by Michael Yeargain »

Oh the sweet sounds of the intellects brainstorming.

Bobcad is a fine software but there is a simple free program out there that will do simple tasks like this but it produces splines instead of archs.


Try this.

http://www.deskam.com/DLOAD/DeskEngrave.Exe
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Brian Shannon
eCabinets Beta Tester
Posts: 979
Joined: Thu, May 19 2005, 10:50PM
Location: Los Alamos, CA

Post by Brian Shannon »

Thanks Guys,

The Vectorizing worked and the DeskEngrave software works also and is very cool. It would be great if a program like DeskEngrave could be a part of eCabinet System software but I'm sure there are license cost and such. The only problem I'm having now is that DeskEngrave puts the .dxf @ 0 on the z axis. I'm sure I can find a setting to solve this. I can still select and cut the text. I just can't see it. Thanks for the help guys.


Brian
Paul Huff
Junior Member
Posts: 95
Joined: Thu, May 19 2005, 12:32AM
Location: Lubbock, Texas

Post by Paul Huff »

Ok I have been playing around with this arial font. I made this bowl of alphabet soup. No really it is a font made from arcs and lines. These are scaled out from about 1 inch to 12 inchs. After making all the arcs to follow the polylines I got bored and made this board with eCabinets. It was mostly a test to make sure that every letter was a closed contour.
Attachments
Arial Font.zip
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bored board.jpg
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Ariel Font.jpg
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