Problem Statement: Making AutoCad Text compatible with CNC operations
In AutoCad, the fonts are vectored lines. But the filled in shading of fonts can cause problems with creating the font on a CNC machine. For example: The cost of a plasma cutter is about 10 cents per inch. If you follow the outline of a 2" font for a particular letter, the total distance is 8 inches (as an example). However, standard fonts cause CNC machines to raster scan the font, which scans back and forth like a TV screen at about 1/3 the diameter of the tool. For a plasma cutter, that is about 1/8". So for the same 2" letter, the total distance to scan is 2 divided 1/8 is 16, or about 16 inches. Which costs twice as much as the single line fonts.
Also, because the plasma cutter constantly starts and stops, considerably more slag forms and distorts the lettering. Single line vector fonts produce much cleaner lines for text.
AutoCad built-in Solution:
The built-in solution is to Explode the text font in AutoCad and erase all the interior fill lines (Choose a stencil or outline font and this is already done).
Explode any font in AutoCAD using explode text command located in text menu in express tools. Then use that exploded text to route cutters in CNC.
Lettering Aperture is the connecting pieces in a stencil that hold the center of a small "e", "p", "B", "b"... Without the Aperature connections, the centers of the letters would fall out. Think of stencils and how the center pieces are held in position.
The explode commandmay cause certain issues when trying to cut the lettering and maintaining letter aperature integrity; i.e. cutting inside versus outside of the line, or the width of the cutter. For the lasercutter this probably won't be too much of an issue. You will need to work through these problems when making your own stencil lettering.
Also be aware that you may need to erase duplicate lines that define line width on the outline lettering, or the CNC machine will follow the duplicate line and you will be charged for the extra plasma cutter opertion, even though it did not produce anything useful.
Youcan check your fonts using BobCad in the simulate mode to see if the lettering is cut as expected, without having to actually cut anything.
Ready-made Single-line Text Alternative:
There are CNC-ready AutoCad fonts available online. Though finding them takes a bit of effort.
The problem here is these are untested, and you should test them with the simulator in BobCad, or on a piece of plastic with one of our machines before you send your project out to be commercially produced.
Changing the lettering size:
You can select these single line fonts and scale them like you would any drawing object. Because these letters are exploded line segments, they do not have the same limitations as fonts.
Saving your developed Text styles:
After making a complete alphabet and number set, you can save each letter and number as a Block and save it to a unique folder. The next time you need them you can copy them to your drawing and arrange them as you want, and then Explode ALL of the elements to remove the Blocks.
CNC machines generally won't accept Blocks. All objects must be in the form of line elements.
Selling your developed Text Styles:
Disclaimer: The following is NOT expert advice, and should only be considered an opinion of limited consideration.
There seems to be very fewonline resourcesthat have text styles available for AutoCad for the purpose of running CNC machines. If you develop a particular text style, you can make copyrighted pictures of your text style and put them online with your email address; along with the Terms of Use license agreement. When they send you a check, and a signed Terms of Use agreement, you canmail them the copyrighted text style.