Inventor Nmber Files

[cheif039]

Does anyone have or know where I can get number files the can be extruded in Inventor.

This might require some explanation... The font files in Inventor do not become a sketch and allow for extrusion. I need numbers that are a sketch and can be extruded. Any ideas where i can get such files. If it exists the entire alphabet would be amazing.

[JD Mather]

You can extrude sketch text in Inventor.

[Molten]

I do offer a little advice on the matter though. If you really need to make a dimensioned drawing for the part, I suggest that you don't do it mather's way. Because there is no way of dimensioning that text (as far as I can tell). What I would suggest for dimensioning would be to draw simplistic numbers yourself. They are not as pretty but they do add a certain amount of functionality to the part. If you need it for visual purposes, definitely go with mather's advice. I am just stating this as an alternative for the 1 in a million case where you actually have to go back and dimension it too.

[squirrely]

Or you could type up what you want to extrude, and turn it into a picture. Insert the picture into a sketch and then trace it the best that you can.

[Dan Zollman]

Originally Posted by Molten

Because there is no way of dimensioning that text (as far as I can tell).

Sketch text appears in a rectangle and you can dimension the sides, points, or corners on that box. You can't dimension the aspects of the characters themselves, but that's controlled by the font/font size/style anyway.

[Molten]

My point was that if you actually want to make the part with the letters on it. Lets say you want to cut your team number into metal. You print up the numbers and you give them the information you suggested. They would not be able to take a mill and cut those letters into the metal. I am just suggesting to the person who made this thread that they keep in mind what they want to do with the letters. Sometimes you need real dimensions. Using font, just won't allow you to give these dimensions.

[Manoel]

You want artsy stuff (and FIRST robots could always be prettier). Inventor/SolidWorks/your preferred CAD program is, well, a CAD program.

What have worked for us in the past is CorelDraw. You can download a free version from their website, draw whatever you wish using their vector abilities, export the drawing as a dwg and then import it on Inventor or other CAD program.

Here's our robot from last year, the team and school logos were exported from Corel to SolidWorks and then the entire thing was lasercut.

[grim]

I have found certain fonts in Inventor do not extrude. However extrude is the wrong word here. The command you are looking for is Emboss. Emboss allows both engraving and raised letters (extruded if you will). The steps are:

1. Create a sketch on the surface you wish to emboss.
2. Place a text entity and dimension it if required.
3. Select emboss off the part panel and follow the dialog box.

To place images follow the same sequence:
1. Create a sketch on the surface you wish to put the decal on.
2. Insert an image entity using the tool on the part panel and dimension it if required.
3. Select decal off the part panel and follow the dialog box which will ask for a sketch to be the decal.