Creating Text Features

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In addition to simple text, the Text Features (Geometry menu) command allows you to create text features which can be used in maching cycles. These can be specified using either EdgeCAM vector fonts or Windows TrueType fonts.

Please note that the content of TrueType font files is beyond Pathtrace’s control and some characters may prove impossible to machine. Under these circumstances it may be necessary to ‘explode’ the text feature so that corrections to the geometry can be made.

For some character sets i.e. Japanese and Chinese, text features using TrueType fonts on Windows NT 4 are displayed incorrectly in the edit dialog on Windows 2000 and vice versa. The text feature is displayed correctly when loading the part and any associated machining can be regenerated, but if the text feature is edited, incorrect characters will be displayed in the dialog and the text will have to be re-entered or the edit cancelled.

The text features will be displayed in the Features Window and can be machined with any of the appropriate EdgeCAM machining cycles.

To create text/text features

  1. Select the Text Features command. The parameters for the command are displayed.

  2. Specify whether you want to use vector fonts or Windows TrueType fonts.

  3. If required, set these parameters:

Note: The “height” of a TrueType font is a complex matter, particularly since character heights vary within a font as does their position in relation to the base line. Generally, the figure is based on the height of a capital M plus leading allowances to give an overall height which is the distance between base lines in multi-line text. It is this height which EdgeCAM uses.

  1. Specify the appropriate parameters for Vector or TrueType fonts:

  1. If required, specify a Name for the text entity created.

  2. If you want to input text using a character set other than the one specified by the operating system, go to the Language tab to select the required option from the list of available sets. (By default, this option is set to the character set of the operating system). Please note that this functionality is only available with TrueType fonts.

  3. Click the Edit button and write your text in the Edit Text dialog.

  4. Click OK to accept the parameters.

  5. Digitise one or more locations at which to place the text.

  6. Perform a Finish.