making dxfs

[manncm]

how do I get this to be a vector outline of the letters instead of raster so I can laser cut them

[Patchy]

Try this:

[manncm]

Unfortunately the letters are not watertight outlines as seen when I go to hatch them only the O has been fully sealed?

[Patchy]

Not from here my friend.

All of them are closed.

[pendean]

@manncm May I ask, any reason you cannot just try to fix the problem at your end with BOUNDARY or other HATCH command pop-up settings?
Assuming you already tried selecting each boundary as part o the HATCH command instead of just clicking inside the area you need hatched like I did with the generously converted file provided to you