Lettering in AutoCad

[SadisticIron]

I am trying to make a lot of signs drawn into autocad and then transfered over to sheetcam program. Any style of lettering I am using I can not get it to make a single object out of the letters. It always has multiple lines. The only way for me to do this is connect the dots pretty much and that takes time.

Are there certain font format I need or is this a long process to cut letters out on my plasma table. All help is much appreciated.

 

Thank you:D

[ReMark]

A wild guess on my part...

 

Explode the text and recombine the lines/arcs using the Pedit command.

 

Text Explode can be found in Express Tools.

[SadisticIron]

I am able to multiple join objects now after I have broken the lines that are not needed inside the lettering. I just cant figure out how to break all the lines that are not needed without breaking them. I have heard that shx font files will not break the lettering in pieces but keep it a solid letter. thank you for the step forward though.

[ReMark]

What font are you working with?

[SadisticIron]

We can just say aerial. I saw another post and someone was talking about creating a rectangle around the lettering and make another layer, locking the original layer and use bpoly then unlock the first layer and all inside lines are taken care of. But I can not figure out how to lock the orginal layer

[ReMark]

Layer On/Off, Freeze/Thaw and Layer Lock can be accessed a couple of ways. Look in Layer Properties Manager for one.

[SadisticIron]

Ok cool I got that. Now I do the whole bpoly on my second layer and it says all ten boundries have been created but my lines are still in the middle of the letters. Maybe the lines never go away without breaking them.

[SadisticIron]

I did that but after bpoly it says all ten boundries were connected and the inside lines are still there. Unless I break them they will not go away. I am just looking for a simplier way to do this process. Thank you mark for your help

[ReMark]

I think I figured out a way to do it.

 

Text style: Standard

Font: Arial

 

Annotate > Single line text.

 

Type the letter S.

 

Use Express Tools Text Explode command.

 

The infill disappears but you're left with two small lines within the interior of the letter.

 

Now use the regular Explode command and window the entire letter. Explode it.

 

Erase those small interior line segments.

 

Now use the BPoly command on what remains.

 

You should end up with a letter S that is treated line a single entity.

 

Is this what you were trying to accomplish?

[SadisticIron]

That sounds exactly. did you do all this on the same layer. I am going to try this now.

[ReMark]

Yes, everything can be done on one layer.

[ReMark]

When the letter "S" is exploded using Text Explode the result will be an outline of the letter. The letter itself will be made up of three parts. Where the parts overlap is what we want to delete after we explode a second time. After using the regular Explode command the letter "S" is made up of a multitude of very short line segments. BPoly reconstitutes these segments into a single entity. Ta da!

[SadisticIron]

You are the man!!!!!!! I did it and that was very simple rather than dealing with that stupid break command.

 

THANK YOU so much you just my life so easier.

[SadisticIron]

I am going to call you anytime I need help.

[ReMark]

Alright let's not get carried away. It's not like I saved the world or anything.

 

Buy me a beer and we'll call it even OK?

 

Glad to hear the technique gave you the results you were looking for.

 

You're welcomed.

[SadisticIron]

I have been fighting this for four weeks and it was getting old. If I could get you a beer I would. Thanks again.

[Tankman]

What font are you working with?

 

I think the problem is with the font selection. Sure use a standard ACAD font, symbols, i.e.: CenterLine symbol is included with the ACAD font.

[ReMark]

I have been fighting this for four weeks and it was getting old. If I could get you a beer I would. Thanks again.

 

The next time you roll through Hartford, CT look me up.

 

Four weeks? You should have joined CADTutor sooner.

[SadisticIron]

We roll through CT every now and then for truck shows. LOL. Then we will have a beer. Until I run into another issue talk to you later. Thanks again.

[BIGAL]

Just a quick one what about a search for a hollow Arial TTF this would save steps as you would not end up with inside lines.