Need help creating text with estlcam.
Start here. Then if you have questions please ask. https://youtu.be/gn9PXGsnreg
I watch that one. How do you get object to put text in? I’m lost on the text part
- enRoute for flex sign. Does anyone know if it can be used ?
The way I use text.
Click the tool you want to use in the tool list. Top right
Click text button left side.
Click the top left point of where you want the text to be. This is tricky because font sizes and stuff can cause the text to shift. You can move it later so don’t worry to much.
Then the text window appears. The BOX size can be controlled in that window. Lining the actual text up with your work is tricky. If you need to move it use the select tool on the left.
EstlCAM can be confusing at first because it doesn’t begin by opening a native file. It uses a file created on some design program, could be CAD or a 2D design program. Then once you loaded the design, it can save the project including the design and tool paths. It exports the gcode from this.
Start with a 2D vector drawing of the object you want to carve text into. So if it is a 12’ x 15" board, make a 12" x 15" rectangle in your design program and save the SVG or DXF. I usually use Inkscape since it outputs SVGs for my laser and EstlCAM can use SVGs also.
Open that SVG or DXF in Estlcam, making sure you have the correct dimensions chosen when opening it. A dialog box will pop up.
You will see a large rectangle in your design window grid (if you have the grid option defined. That will give you a new object or project to work on and you can then place the text tool where you want it. It can be tricky because the window opens with the word “text” already in it. If you apply a different font and size, then the text isn’t affected since the tags are not around the word. You want the next nested inside the size and found and style tags. It takes a bit to get used to that dialogue. It’s old school text formatting.
If you need to make the text block around to reposition, click on the move icon.
If you are vcarving, then keep the maximum carve width the width of your vbit.
Thank you
1 Like