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AutoCAD/rendering letters in AutoCad 2000 for use in laser cutting machine.

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Expert: - 2/20/2004


Question
Greetings,
I have a commission that requires about 100 letters to be cut from 1/8" steel.  To do this I will be using a computer assisted laser cutting sub-contractor.  The problem is the laser software cannot recognize my AutoCAD 2000 dxf files of the letters I need.  Apparently I must draw each letter.  I have been typing the letters to scale in AutoCAD 2000 and saving the file as a dxf.  This does not work for the laser software.  I would appreciate any suggestions.

Thank you.

Paul Malmendier
Malmendier Art Metal Works
www.artmetalworks.com

Answer
The laser sofware should recognize R12 DXF.  So, SAVEAS to the R12/LT2 DXF format.  But there can still be another problem.  When saving to that format, TTF files are not recognized and SHX files don't create the raster info needed.  And almost all such software never heard of PFB fonts.  So, before saving the DXF file, you need to trace over the letters with lines and arcs.  It's very time consuming.  Then, solid hatch the closed profiles.  The DXF translation will create an unnamed block of the hatch pattern.  The block will be comprised of bits and pieces of raster info called SOLIDS.

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Bill DeShawn
bdeshawn@sterling.net
http://my.sterling.net/~bdeshawn

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Bill DeShawn

Expertise

I can address all 2-D questions and some 3-D questions. I do programming in AutoLISP if it doesn`t involve solid modeling. I can also address menu customization issues and can help you find answers to questions I can`t answer by taking your question directly to Autodesk via their newsgroups.

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I used to do electronic and mechanical design for a flat panel monitor manufacturer, and now I do architectural drafting for an architect. I did and do AutoLISP and menu customization and take pride in making my lisp routines to do the work exactly the way the client likes them done.

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I had a routine published in CADENCE magazine (no longer in publication and taken over by CADALYST). Some of my routines are published on my website at http://my.sterling.net/~bdeshawn

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