engraving onto a solid surface

i have a plate contructed as a 3d solid with various holes cut into it

it also has engraved lines marked on it useing a polyline of correct
width which has been imprinted onto the the plate using the imprint
command

now i want to effectively imprint text the same way (imprint command
does not let you do this )or show text engraved into the plate showing
depth to the engraving

anyboby out their can they point me in the right direction

cheers

 

I am afraid you will have to explode the text & creat each letter into a
close polyline &
extrude them, then subtract them from the object.

 

I have had to do the same thing. I have one problem when I do it though.
How would you go about turning them into a polyline? I can't seem to
explode them into less than a single line text.
I usually have to go back and trace over the text with polylines and then
delete the text.
Is it possible to explode the text then turn it into polylines without the
tracing?

TIA
J

I am afraid you will have to explode the text & creat each letter into a
close polyline &
extrude them, then subtract them from the object.

 

I usually will use a block type font & if you just erase all the inner lines
after exploding the rest can be p-edit ed together.

I have done this with several types of text for our CNC laser to cut out
letters... some text styles will explode into several lines , others will
explode into several faces. putting the next on a certain layer & locking it
(without exploding it) & using a polyline to trace over it , is probably the
fastest way & results are decent...
HIH
Rob

 

The Express tools have an 'Explode text" that will do it; but if you
don't have the ETs, then you have you export/import to get it done.

Export a metafile (WMF), then import the file you just exported.
Explode the new block, delete the frame, and you'll have polylines.

 

sorry for the delay

company pc down for two days

looks like i am going to do it the long way

but if i find a faster method i will post it


thanks colin