[CRFultz]

This is another training lesson for me. I would like to cut this Logo out. It was drawn with Acad and saved as a r14 dxf.
I would like the word "BEMIS" to not be cut at all. The oval and the vertical bar be at .1 cut depth.
The inside background be at .15 cut depth.
The outside border be at .2 cut depth.
The problem I'm having is the fill (spiral) cut on the oval layer shows the toolpaths to wipe out the letters.
I've tried many different variations to have Sheetcam not cut away the letters but each time it wiped them out.
Also I can't figure out why the letter " E " will not show a spiral cut but the other letters do.
The lines making up the text are all closed polys, or at least Acad says they are.
And if I choose a no offset on the layer Bemis there is a dip of cuts on the top of the " B " can't figure out where thats coming from as well.
The tutorial part 2 shows this process exactly but its not working for me, so I figure the problem must be the way I draw it up in cad, or the the way the layers are setup.
Any ideals or pointers?
Chuck

[Bubba]

CRFultz,
First problem is BOTH the lettering AND the Oval have to be on the SAME layer. If you will do that, the oval will be cut and leave the lettering uncut.
You have indicated the lettering is polylines; SheetCam does NOT recognize polylines. However my acad nor sheetcam indicates they are? I moved BEMIS to the layer Oval and it appears to be what you want (I think).
When you have several processes that involve common borders, you may need to make copies of these eneties on various layers. My personal preference when laying out the cad work is to name my layers by PROCESS (not enity). Then if necessary do the copy(s) to each process.
Clear as mud?? If so let me know and we will try again.

[cncadmin]

What Bubba say is 100% right -Here is the part pocketed out.

[CRFultz]

Thank You!
I did what you said and that's exactly what I'm looking for.
So common borders should be on the same layer. Got it!
Any advise on making block lettering without using polylines?

[CRFultz]

Ok, another question....how do you move a object to another layer? I thought i could copy and paste but the old layer (copied from layer) still exists and i can't delete it. Should i copy each object to its own drawing and then copy and paste them all into yet another drawing with a single layer? Or maybe just redraw the whole thing with a better understanding of how sheetcam reads dxf's..........

[CRFultz]

Got it!.....thanks guys!.....I'm a slowly learnin...

[ger21]

If your letters are ploylines, just explode them. You can change an objects layer in the properties panel, or just select the object, and use the layer drop down box to pick the layer you want to put it on.

[skippy]

I'm curious as to what process you used to create that lettering. No critisism intended but the curves look quite rough (inner curves of the S for example). I'm relatively green at AutoCAD myself but in my limited knowledge of it, my process has been: (A) logo input from scanner or internet or text, etc. in jpeg or similar bitmat file, (B1) convert from a raster to vector image using a program of that sort. (Ger21 posted some good links if you do a "raster to vector" search here) OR (B2) import the jpeg image directly in AutoCAD and place it on one layer, and on another layer digitize directly over the top of the jpeg image then dump the it (jpeg image) if not needed. (C) If coming from (B1) then you'll still need to clean up your nodes (points) until your curves and lines are nice. Bubba saya above to name your layers by processes. I couldn't agree more. Hope this helps BUT as I said, I'm still relatively green in this too so if someone can suggest a better way, "I'm all ears".
Skippy

[ger21]

By the looks of it, I'd guess he used the express tools to explode True Type fonts. If you want the letters smoother, you can always redraw them with arcs. Sometimes an ellipse will work better to get the correct shape. Just make sure you set the pellipse variable to 1 before you draw them. Or use splines and resave as R12 dxf, which will convert it back to polylines.

[CRFultz]

I imported the jpeg and traced it. I used const. lines to restrain my mouse but your right, it do look crappy, skippy. I like your ideal:

(B2) import the jpeg image directly in AutoCAD and place it on one layer, and on another layer digitize directly over the top of the jpeg image then dump the it (jpeg image) if not needed

I'll try that but not sure what you mean by "digitize over the top"
I'll see what i can find.
I keep telling myself this is for the greater good to learn this stuff....i just wanna watch the chips fly....what was that?...something about ya gotta crawl first.... my knees hurt

[skippy]

CRFultz: "I'm not sure what you mean by "digitize over the top"
Here's an example although I haven't finished it yet. I've done the straight lines but haven't yet done the curves. I work in "dwg" format and then at the end when everything is as you want it, you export it or save it in what ever format you need (dxf in your case). I only mention about working in "dwg" because reading between the lines, I got the feeling that maybe you were going directly from your jpeg image to dxf in which case you wouldn't have had any means to manipulate/edit/digitize the image. Although I used to use a CAD package 15 years ago, it was "not a patch" on AutoCAD so once again, I'll state my new "newness" to AutoCAD so if there are any more experienced users that care to comment or correct what I've said above, please go ahead. The best thing you can do is get yourself an AutoCAD book and work through the exercises and when you get stuck, do a search here in cnczone and if still stuck post the question here.
Skippy

[ger21]

Phil, when you upload the drawing with the imported image, the image doesn't come along with it, so your example may not be very clear.

Chuck, by digitize over the top, he just means to trace it, which is apparently what you did. You just need to learn to use arcs, circles, ellipses (and maybe splines) when you're tracing.

[skippy]

Hmm... I was just about to say that I downloaded my own file from here and it showed up with the image in it but then it occurred to me that the file probably doesn't include the jpeg image but instead just makes use of it from where it is stored on my hard drive. Does that make sense Gerry? By the way, thanks for your untiring help!
Skippy

[ger21]

Instead of the image, the actual file path is displayed in it's place. If you were to upload the image as well, it is possible in autocad to pick the location of the file, and it should load in the correct place. Just use the IMAGE command to open the image manager, select the image in the list (it should be the only one, in this case) and select the browse button and pick the file.