EXPLODING TEXT TO GEOMETRY

[dangermouse]

HI,
im now using autocad2002 :lol: and i would like to know how to expolode text so that it is basically converted in to lines and arcs (so i can incorporate it in to a milling prg ) .in autocad2000 there is a an express menu which has this item on it

thank you for your time :wink:

[superjari]

You could type the EXPLODE command, or just use the explode button in the modify toolbar...

[robfowler]

I think Express Tools was sold separate when it came to Acad 2002 but was free with 2000. Could you not migrate the Express Tools across to 2002?

For those without Express Tools there is another way to explode text and that is to WMF it out to a windows metafile and then insert the WMF file back into the drawing - now the text is exploded and can be extruded in 3D.

Rob.

[robfowler]

Forget the last part of my last post - I just tried it and it doesn't work. I'm sure I have used that method before and can't think what step I'm missing for the moment.

Sorry superjari, but you can't use the explode tool on mtext - it doesn't work.

Rob.

[dangermouse]

HI
thanks very much for your help,ill give it a go on monday at work and let you know how it goes.

always smiling dangermouse :lol:

[superjari]

Forget the last part of my last post - I just tried it and it doesn't work. I'm sure I have used that method before and can't think what step I'm missing for the moment.

Sorry superjari, but you can't use the explode tool on mtext - it doesn't work.

Rob.

Yes,

I found out it doesn't work, I thought I once exploded text...

Sorry, my mistake... :oops:

[CADTutor]

For those without Express Tools there is another way to explode text and that is to WMF it out to a windows metafile and then insert the WMF file back into the drawing - now the text is exploded and can be extruded in 3D.

Rob.

That's a neat trick. Extrude won't work on lines and arcs but you can give them a thickness using the Properties Panel.

[Mr T]

Export as wmf then import and explode. They become 2d polylines. Only closed objects extrude but you can use a 2d polyline as a source object to create a TABSURF with the thickness ie back ways being the direction vector. TABSURF is similar to extrude but creates surfaces.

Nick

[dangermouse]

HI,
What im actually doing is creating a drawing on 2002,and writing text onto it ,then this text is machined on the component ,so text needs to be geometry not jst text,for those that have privete messaged me asking .

always smiling dangermouse :lol:

[gcp310]

What we do in the signage industry is do the layout in coreldraw and export it out as .AI or .EPS

you have more control with the fonts,etc in corel.

We also use corel for the text and export it out as a .wmf>import it into cad as a .WMF>scale to suit>and then explode it.

we then can extrude it and render the text as 3D signage.
if you follow the .wmf way, you can then export it out as a .Stl file
which you can import into the cnc machine.

Hope this helps.

G

[robfowler]

I said earlier that the way was to WMF out the text from the drawing and then insert the WMF file back into the drawing. I knew I remembered this from a while back from another NG.

I tried doing it this way today and even after exploding the WMF file that I inserted back into the drawing I couldn't get the text to explode. Figured I must have been doing it wrong but glad to see someone else says this is the way to do it.

So what am I doing wrong? :(

This is only for interests sake because I already have Express Tool and don't need to do it this way!! :?

Rob.

[rupert]

I don't mean to pull up an old thread, but I have a very similar question and don't want to create an entirely new thread about it.

I tried the export as .wmf, then import and explode method. It works beautifully for me when using autocad fonts.

However, it does not work when using a ttf font.

Here's my situation:
I created a logo for our company using Illustrator. I exported to .dwg format from Illustrator. When I opened it in Autocad, it ended up keeping the font information (meaning I can still edit the text.) I need to explode it so I can put the logo in our titleblock. And I do not want ttf fonts in our drawings.

Any ideas?
Thanks!

Oh yeah. . .I'm using 2006LT

[fuccaro]

Rupert
Welcome in the Forum!
Since you use LT you can not use the express tools. For a logo -it sounds to be a small job- try to trace over the characters with a polyline.
I don't use Illustrator -but maybe there is an option to export the text as curves.

[rupert]

Thanks, but tracing it all out would be a hassle. :(

I ended up finding the info I need on another site.

The user wrote:

"If you are using True Type fonts for the text, you may need to create a text style and set the Width Factor to something other than 1.0000 (ex. 1.0001 or .9999). This apparently fools AutoCAD into thinking it is some other type of font."

I did that and then I was able to do the wmf out, wmf in, explode method.