[solved] Text not appearing when previewing/laser cutting

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thelasercutter01
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[solved] Text not appearing when previewing/laser cutting

Post by thelasercutter01 » Fri Jan 13, 2023 2:18 pm

Hi, a total noob here on QCAD , so hopefully not a silly question!
Any file in which I add Text does not show it either when laser cutting. All files have same result, so something I am doing wrong.
I have attached a sample file with a rectangle and some text. Any pointers anyone can provide will be very useful
Attachments
test.dxf
(133.37 KiB) Downloaded 150 times

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andrew
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Re: Text not appearing when previewing/laser cutting

Post by andrew » Fri Jan 13, 2023 2:34 pm

Can you please provide more information:
- What software are you using for laser cutting?
- How do you transfer data between QCAD and that software (DXF, SVG, ...)?

Most likely the software you are using to control your laser cutter simply doesn't support text or doesn't import text from DXF.
You could explode the text into polylines in QCAD using Modify > Explode and import that file with the laser cutter software.

thelasercutter01
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Re: Text not appearing when previewing/laser cutting

Post by thelasercutter01 » Fri Jan 13, 2023 5:38 pm

Thanks Andrew. Sorry, I should have mentioned the versions here. QCAD version 3.27.8.0 64-bit Windows 11
Correct, the most likely cause is the text isnt supported (I send the dxf file to 3rd party who came back and said the text isnt appearing). I have tried Modify > Explode and tried but no luck. Is there a way to convert the text to an type of object where isnt a text?

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andrew
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Re: Text not appearing when previewing/laser cutting

Post by andrew » Fri Jan 13, 2023 5:44 pm

You might have to explode multiple times.

Formatted text is exploded to text blocks without formatting. Those are exploded to polylines.

Depending on the quality of font, you might have to clean up after exploding, e.g. trim away overlapping edges, etc.

CVH
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Re: Text not appearing when previewing/laser cutting

Post by CVH » Fri Jan 13, 2023 8:45 pm

thelasercutter01 wrote:
Fri Jan 13, 2023 5:38 pm
I have tried Modify > Explode and tried but no luck.
andrew wrote:
Fri Jan 13, 2023 5:44 pm
Formatted text is exploded to text blocks without formatting. Those are exploded to polylines.
Please also have a look at the explode settings under:
Menu Edit > Application Preferences > Modify > Explode

Explode text Glyphs to Polylines would be appropriate.
Remark that TTF are stored as splines so the Spline approximation tolerance does also apply.
I would not explode splines to Polyline with line segments (without Arcs) except if that is utterly required.

Remark that you get the outlines of the Glyphs in return ... The fill doesn't explode at all.
QCAD/QCAM does not support pocketing but there this workaround:
https://www.qcad.org/rsforum/viewtopic.php?t=5411
Or you could hatch the Glyphs outlines with a fairly dense ANSI37 and explode the Hatches to lines.

Regards,
CVH

thelasercutter01
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Re: Text not appearing when previewing/laser cutting

Post by thelasercutter01 » Mon Jan 16, 2023 1:14 pm

Thank you very much both. Exploding text resolved the issue

RDICKEN
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scale issues

Post by RDICKEN » Wed Jan 18, 2023 7:47 pm

I have imported a building section into a new file so i can make some modifications. I"ve created all of my layers and such so i'm ready to make the modifications.

Why is my horizontal 48"-line way off of the building's scale?

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andrew
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Re: [solved] Text not appearing when previewing/laser cutting

Post by andrew » Wed Jan 18, 2023 8:32 pm

RDICKEN: please open a new topic for new, unrelated questions:
https://www.qcad.org/rsforum/viewforum.php?f=32
-> Click "New Topic"

Please follow the forum rules at the top in red (attach file, etc.), thanks.

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