DXF Lettering for eCabinets

Roger Erismann · Post by **Roger Erismann** » Sat, Oct 20 2007, 8:10AM

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!!

Roger Erismann · Post by **Roger Erismann** » Sat, Oct 20 2007, 8:36AM

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

what is the faster or better way?

Zach Froble · Post by **Zach Froble** » Sat, Oct 20 2007, 1:05PM

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

Brian Shannon · Post by **Brian Shannon** » Sat, Oct 20 2007, 6:54PM

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 · Post by **David Hall** » Sun, Oct 21 2007, 8:55AM

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

Michael Yeargain · Post by **Michael Yeargain** » Sun, Oct 21 2007, 9:01AM

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

Brian Shannon · Post by **Brian Shannon** » Sun, Oct 21 2007, 1:12PM

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 · Post by **Paul Huff** » Tue, Oct 23 2007, 11:06PM

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.