Hi all,

I would like some help to convert Image files or Word to AutoCAD (.dwg) so they can be cut with Laser cutter.
I have tried but with no luck, AutoCAD only imports them.

This is what I want to do (I have them in better quality if needed):

Assuming that those images are bitmaps, it's a job to re-create them as vector drawings, which is what is required for laser DWGs. Everything needs to be defined by a very thin line with no black fill. If they are vector drawings already, what format are they?

You can import a .jpg image into AutoCAD, scale it to the right size, then trace the image in AutoCAD. Once done delete the .jpg image... significant pain.

quote Originally posted by Gall757: Assuming that those images are bitmaps, it's a job to re-create them as vector drawings, which is what is required for laser DWGs. Everything needs to be defined by a very thin line with no black fill. If they are vector drawings already, what format are they?

The first image (hvac) is scanned and opened with Photoshop to clear the scanning faults. I don’t know if I can do more with that. I don’t know much about images formats and their capabilities.
The other (selector) was made with Word.
Can Photoshop create vectors and how can this be done?

Thanks in advance
Chris

It is a manual process of redrawing the item using the picture as a reference.

Getting the text (especially the HVAC text) cut with a laser is going to be a challenge.
First when you cut the "O, D, R, B, and A as shown, the center will fall out. To keep them in place, there must be little legs to keep the centers in place (like stencil sets have).
The second issue is heat. Making detailed cuts in a very small location can put too much heat into the item being cut and cause melting or other unintended deformation.
Third issue is letter line width. If it narrower than the laser cut path, then the text must be larger, if it is wider than the laser cut path, then multiple passes will be required which will put more heat into the area, or they will have to cut them in multiple passes.

Using a wire EDM might be better for the letters.

This website should get a format you can use in autocad. May I ask what version you have? Autocad is usually pretty good at converting it to a format it could use.


http://image.online-convert.com/

quote Originally posted by Mykola: This website should get a format you can use in autocad. May I ask what version you have? Autocad is usually pretty good at converting it to a format it could use. http://image.online-convert.com/

Its 2010 AutoCAD. I can import them but as fieroguru says I need to draw over the image and this is what I want to avoid if possible...

quote Originally posted by Chris_86GT: Its 2010 AutoCAD. I can import them but as fieroguru says I need to draw over the image and this is what I want to avoid if possible...

Thousands of engineers have wished they could have avoided the task in the last 20 years, but they ended up doing the files over. Looking at your files, you can see they are not accurate enough for laser work, and you would need to re-draw them anyway to get the part you want.

[This message has been edited by Gall757 (edited 05-14-2013).]

If you can provide a high quality, High DPI image, I can convert this really easy for you. The higher resolution the better! I did this in about 30 seconds in Photoshop. It is really jagged and rough due to the low resolution image I used from the first post.



a .png at 300 dpi or better would probably work very very well.

Another thought, you will have to re-work some of the icons, the defrost one in particular. If you cut all the black lines with the CNC, you will remove the little squiggly arrows, as well as the background around the arrows, leaving an empty hole. Picture CNC'ing the letter "O". If there is nothing to support the circle in the center of the O, you will end up with a simple circle cutout, and not the letter "O".

[This message has been edited by JohnWPB (edited 05-14-2013).]

Hi John,

This is the best I have (only hvac). I can scan it again if necessary.

www.infocert.gr/files/HVAC.tif

Ok, I converted the image above to now be just a white image, with only thin black line drawing the image. It is good, but not perfect with little "jaggies" here and there when zoomed in on the image.

I uploaded it, in .zip format here.

Hello Chris,
I have traced the HVAC image in Adobe Illustrator to a vectored image and saved as both an Illustrator and Autocad DWG file. Since it is vectored each line, circle, etc, is editable.
DWG
AI
Let me know if this helps you,
-Robert

quote Originally posted by fieroguru: Using a wire EDM might be better for the letters.

EDM would be really really expensive!

as others have said, tracing the pattern isn't that bad in autocad, bring in the image, change layers trace the image and then turn off (or delete) the layer with the import image. matching the font with vector graphics will be a challenge and if you intend to cut through the material at the letters the micro tabs will be required and probably really jack up the font. not to mention how ticked you'll be if they rip out during the polish process. better option would be to etch the letters. this generally requires a gas change on the laser (real pain on mine but its pushing 15 years old). but the effect should look good (similar to the lettering on the shift plate photo). what type of laser are you using what software to generate the G-code?

[This message has been edited by wolf63 (edited 05-15-2013).]

First I want to thank you all.

This weekend I will try to use the files you have sent me and see what it will work better for me.
I hope at least, because I don’t know how to use AutoCAD and I have only little knowledge about Photoshop (used occasionally).
As far I can tell maybe I will have to draw over the image or if I am lucky the dgw Robertzep2 send me it will be a good base to work and reduce the amount of work needed to be done.

I don’t know about laser types since I haven’t talked with a shop yet.
I didn’t know about G-code, in a Greek forum they said only for dwg file.

I work in AutoCAD you can either send me these high quality images or you could just as easily convert them in Abobe Photo Illustrator which has an auto trace built right into the program. You can even see how they do these traces in some Youtube videos.

I have traced many images in Auto Cad, but the easiest and cleanest converter I have seen it Adobe Illustrator. My niece took a college course on it and WOW! I have seen really crappy images turn in to crystal clear .dxf files.
By the way we have laser cut several of her files at work. They send her all the images that need converting. I am not sure what she charges, but I can find out.

Rich

[This message has been edited by silver 85 sc (edited 05-20-2013).]

Thank you macrophallus I will try to see if it’s easy to do it my self, if I fail I will pm for your help. I have only the HVAC in good quality and the selector is made with Word.

Silver 85 sc if it's not too much trouble I would like to know how they will cost for converting the files and also for cutting; images are in top of the post, thank you (although there will be an additional cost for shipping to Greece). HVAC surround will be 0,5mm thickness made out of stainless steel or brushed aluminum and Shifter Plate will be 2,5mm thickness made out of stainless steel or brushed aluminum.

quote Originally posted by wolf63: matching the font with vector graphics will be a challenge

After some research, I found that the Font that GM used on the HVAC was called "Francker" It is a commercial font that can be purchased for $55. I was however able to find a font that is almost an exact match for free called "Eurostyle". You can download it here. This would allow you to re-do the font in Illustrator, and not use the jagged rasterized font that is in the existing image.

Here is a comparison of the font to the original (Eurostyle font is the one in yellow)

quote Originally posted by wolf63: if you intend to cut through the material at the letters the micro tabs will be required and probably really jack up the font. not to mention how ticked you'll be if they rip out during the polish process.

Exactly.... This is what the final result would look like if cut out the way that it is now:

[This message has been edited by JohnWPB (edited 05-20-2013).]

I am always wanting to learn new stuff, so I dug out a old copy of illustrator on CD that I had. I was able to convert the image above to .dxf format. The lettering, as expected did not look so good when converted using line tracing. I just re-typed all the lettering using the font that I mentioned above. Hopefully this will help you out.

You can download the file on DataFileHost Here.

Here is a sample zoomed way in:

Thanks JohnWPB that looks really sharp.
Can you do also the shifter with or without the shifting numbers?

EDIT
I just opened the file with AutoCAD and the quality isn’t the same, is it because I used AutoCAD? Actually it’s a lot worse.
Please check the file, thank you.

[This message has been edited by Chris_86GT (edited 05-21-2013).]

quote Originally posted by Chris_86GT: I went to two shops this morning and both said than they can’t cut the letters. The Laser beam is 1mm thickness. So I was thinking that etching the metal could be a solution. Make a stencil apply to the surface and etch thru the letters. I will continue my search, I am sure that I haven’t found the shop with the correct cutting equipment for the job…

This seems like a better solution. Cut the holes in the templates - print the letters. Unfortunately, there will be no backlighting.
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[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 05-22-2013).]

Just a note if you have the express feature with auto cad you can explode any true type font and it will convert into lines.

Rich

I want to keep the backlighting and this seems to be the difficult part. Font size is too small to cut. If I don’t find a solution I will have to etch the letters.

quote Originally posted by silver 85 sc: Just a note if you have the express feature with auto cad you can explode any true type font and it will convert into lines. Rich

I don’t know about it, I just opened the file. I haven’t found the time yet to learn the basics with auto cad...