CNC scribing? 1

[GLOCKER]

Hi,

I'm part marking hundreds of aluminum flat pattern tools, but there's got to be an easier way!

I'm currently using solidworks/solidcam, but in order to get "single-line" text to be pasted into Solidworks, I have to....
-create my text in Autocad,
-export the text as a WMF file (still within autocad)
-import the WMF file back into Autocad as a DXF
-paste the text DXF into my Solidworks part and g-code it in solidcam!

Wheeww!

Solidcam takes forever to recognize and g-code the text. I have to wait 10min sometimes per part (~200 characters each).

Anyone have a better idea?
I hear SigmaNest does it pretty quick. Is there a cheapy program and post process out there that we can use with our Multicam?

Thanks for any insight.

Tom

 

[SBaugh]

The wrap feature will allow you to scribe into a part with SW.

How ever the text that is used inside SW is ttf and there is no stick text that I know of. You would have to create the text manually or import in from a file (DXF/DWG).

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

I have not tried them, but there are "single line fonts" which can be purchased from

http://www.dafont.com/en/buy-font.php?f=Industrial+Gothic+Single+Line&v=agfa

However, I do not know how they would be treated, or even if they would be accepted, in SW.

If you "google" you may find others ... maybe even for free.

Also, you should be able to use the same fonts used in the DXF files. If they are not on your machine you can simply copy them to the c:\Windows\Fonts folder.

BTW, what is the purpose of converting to WMF prior to DXF?
Why not just convert to DXF direct from AutoCAD?


Helpful SW websites every user should be aware of faq559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions faq559-1091

 

[bigbuck]

We are currently using CamWorks and went through this very situation. CAMWorks has a special font that gets put into the C:\windows\fonts directory that is then visible when text is put onto the part in SolidWorks. You can then do all the normal cool stuff with it at this point but only have the font be single line.

 

[GLOCKER]

Thanks for the responses gents.

CorBlimeyLimey, the reason for the WMF conversion is that AutoCad text won't directly paste into solidworks. The WMF conversion tricks it into thinking it's not text?

 

[SBaugh]

Why don't you export to DWG/DXF and then you can import that into a part within SW - Insert\DWG/DXF

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[GLOCKER]

That seems logical Scott, I wondered if that what I tried originally? I just tried again, doesn't work.

Can you get that to work?

 

[ctopher]

We don't machine any text on our parts, it is all laser marked. We could never get the SolidWorks file translated to work with the laser marker, but our guys are writing software that will automate it somehow without the SW file.

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP3.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716

 

[bigbuck]

I know I know this is deviating from the original topic but I'll ask anyway. ctopher, what do you use for laser etching your componants? Will it work on a wide varity of parts such as plastics, heat treated, surface ground etc? Thanks for any input you may have. We have considered doing this for sometime but have not figured out an easy and cost effective way of doing it day in day out.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

http://www.laserusa.com/services_engraving.asp?section=services&page=engraving

http://www.google.ca/search?client=...en&q=laser+engraving&meta=&btnG=Google+Search

Helpful SW websites every user should be aware of faq559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions faq559-1091

 

[ctopher]

We have a laser marking machine. I do not know the specifics of it. The operator takes our dwg with marking info, writes a program and sets up the laser to mark it.

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP3.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716

 

[bigbuck]

Glocker...

The CAMworks.ttf is nothing more than a type of font used. Think new times roman or Arial. The difference is when you use any of the default Microsoft font type you will get text that is a "double line" that can be extruded or used as cut-extrude. When using CAMworks.ttf you will only get a single line for each character that can then be used by an engraving tool, center drill or any other similar tool on a CNC mill to create text on the part. By default any other type of text will create a pocket that the CNC software will try to use as a pocket and will only allow the use of a EXTREMLY small end mill.... .005ish.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

bigbuck ... Do you know if there are any copyright or usage restrictions on using CAMworks.ttf?


Helpful SW websites every user should be aware of faq559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions faq559-1091

 

[bigbuck]

None that I am aware of. I all likelihood CAMWorks lifted it from someone else and relabeled it into their own program. I wouldn't expect the software police to bust down our doors anytime soon.

 

[EEnd]

This is a bit of a trip on the ‘Way Back Machine’, but at one point in time I wrote an AutoLISP routine to convert text into polylines using the .shp font definition files. It was written for AutoCAD 11 or 12, but I noticed that the DWGeditor has some .shp files in its fonts directory. Maybe it will still work.

The work flow would be: text in DWGeditor -> poly lines in DWGeditor -> save as DXF -> import sketch into SolidWorks.

Before I go scrounging around home looking for the file and seeing if it still works, would the routine be useful to you?

Eric

 

[GLOCKER]

I think what I really need is CAM software that more quickly processes text. Solid cam just takes forever....

Thanks for all your help gents.

 

[ArtL]

Glocker;
I use BobCad to engrave text on my parts. It has a "crunch" icon that "crunches text" to lines and then can be used in CNC's. Art L

 

[bigbuck]

Glocker....

You should try the CAMWorks text, it is all lines and arcs and our CAM software handles is very well.

Mike

 

[CSLufkin]

We have a HAAS CNC mill here, and that control came with a very slick engraving Canned Cycle. It engraves a standard block letter, and size, and rotation, even around in circles.

 

[BSMECAD]

Hi Tom,

Maybe use Solidworks to add text to surface.
Here is an idea:
Add Extrude cut feature in Solidworks part file
Tools->Sketch Entities->Text