problem with text in solidworks/deskcnc

[GOTRICE]

ok basic requirements are to render some text on some small sheets of metal about 1.6mm thick or so then get them cut out probably using deskcnc and my trusty old sherline 2010

anyway I only want to use a tool bit about 3 or so mm in diameter so is there a way in solid works(or any other program) that I can some how create the font i am using or text to something more of like a frame. If there was some way of guiding it to cut down the midlplane of each individual letter that would be ideal(can this be done in any other proggy like illustrator or freehand)

so far anything I export into deskcnc ends up setting it a path to run all the way around the text which when using a 3mm bit you could imagine how it may not turn out as planned. I know the simplest way might just be to let it stay as it is and use a smaller bit but i have already tried and pulled all of my hair out

any suggestions?? much appreciated

cheers milesjhood@hotmail.com

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Check out Thread559-82541. It covered a similar problem just a week or so ago.


CorBlimeyLimey
Barrie, Ontario
faq559-863

 

[rocheey]

It sounds like the CAM software is treating each letter as an individual part (cutting the outside of the boundary)

Draw/extrude/etc a frame around all the text, and treat each letter like a pocket.

 

[GOTRICE]

Thank you all for the help, still havent't had any success and even in solidworks when i try to extrude some text for say a thin sheet type drawtig it gives me " Cut-Extrude2: The sketch contains a doubly nested contour."
even though none of the text is touching each other

I have tried exporting bitmaps from photoshop but they end up with white back grounds, i have tried saving them as .tiff which can be saved with transparent back grounds but when they get imported into CNC they appear black

there must be a way in something like illustrator to take some text in any font and just work out the mid plane of each individual letter and leave it as a wire sort of font so i can export !!???!?!?

all help much appreciated

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

GOTRICE
1) Without seeing your text I am only guessing, but the error you are getting is probably because your text has a letter which, when cut, would have a "floating" solid body. (ie. not attached to the main solid part.) Like an O or A.

2} SW can do what you want! Edit your text sketch, then RMB on the text & select "Dissolve sketch text". This will break down your text into Lines, Curves & Splines. You can then go in & offset these to create a centreline path.
Depending on the font selected you will soon find out that you will not be able to do what you want though. Not all fonts are equal thickness or width. Many, like Calligraphy vary in width according to the "pen" shape that creates them. Thats why engraving programs use the text profile, so that it can follow the true internal or external shape.

Good Luck.


CorBlimeyLimey
Barrie, Ontario
faq559-863

 

[Dennyd]

The double nested contour is simple once you learn (like I did - the hard way) what it means. I have several sketches, such as logos, that I copy from a master file of sketches and paste and position in SWX. Most of these would give the doubly nested error so I have to extrude them as several different features. This error means basically that you have too many closed boundaries surrounding one another. A good example is the "circle R" registered trademark symbol. If I bring that in as part of my master sketch it gives me this error. I have to extrude the "R" separate from the circle.

Let's follow the closed boundaries starting from the outside. We have the OD of the circle followed by its ID. Anything inside the ID is considered a doubly nested entitiy and will cause this error.

If you are trying to burn or raise some text in SWX and that is all there is in your sketch then you shouldn't be getting this error. Sketch text itself won't cause this error because all of the letters are separate and none of them individually are "doubly nested". If you are trying to incorporate additional sketch elements in this same feature then perhaps you can make them construction lines for this feature and see if that solves your problem. If it does then for the next feature you only need to convert entities on these construction lines. That way in your master sketch you can control the relationship of text to the other features.

Let us know if this helps.

- - -Dennyd