single line fonts

[MarkusMohr5941]

Hi,

I'm using single line fonts (CamBam and OrachTech) on the Mac and I can use them without problems in other applications. But when I use them in Fusion they show up as normal outline fonts. How to fix that?

What I'm actually trying to do is to mill numbers with a flat face. No, I don't want to engrave. Extruding is the other option but very unwieldy.

Thanks

[Steinwerks]

While you are editing the sketch try using the Explode Text command from the right-click menu:

For what it's worth, this did not work on this single-line font, but it may work for you.

@jeff.pek @keqingsong another argument for real text support in Fusion. Don't know why it still isn't done properly as I know it's been a point of contention for literally years now.

[MarkusMohr5941]

"...But when I use them in Fusion they show up as normal outline fonts..."

That is my problem. Exploding outline fonts will yield not one but two lines (actually a contour). If the font would show up like in your example I wouldn't have a problem.

Why does the single line font up as outline font in Fusion?

[paul.clauss · Accepted solution]

Hi @MarkusMohr5941, @Steinwerks

Thanks for posting! I tested out the CamBam font today, as well as a single-line CNC vector font, and found that neither was shown accurately or exploded as a single line font in Fusion when I tested on my Mac. They did explode as single line fonts, however, on my PC.

Because of this inconsistency, I have logged a report (FUS-32414) with our development team to look further into this issue. We are aware of the current limitations when working with text in Fusion 360 and will be looking at improving text in Fusion in a future update.

In the meantime, the easiest workaround (if you do not have access to a Windows machine) would be to use an Engraving toolpath, which will use a single line/pass for cutting the letters whether or not the text is exploded. Why would you prefer to not do so? The other option, for now, could be to draw centerlines in the outline fonts and use the manually sketched entities to drive your CAM toolpaths.

Hopefully this helps! Please let me know if you have any questions.

[Steinwerks]

For what it's worth I was using the CAMWorks font that came with our old CAM software and it failed to explode. I can send it to you if that would be helpful. My own experiences with it are not optimal and I have found minor discrepancies in its geometry in SolidWorks.

[paul.clauss]

Hi @Steinwerks

Feel free to send over the CAMWorks font! We appreciate the help.

[MarkusMohr5941]

Ok - if its a bug its a bug. 🙂

Hope you can fix it soon. I'll find a workaround.

[Anonymous]

Is there an update to this issue? I've tried a number of different ways to engrave text, trace text, mill text. None of them are working, despite finding some excellent tutorial this continues to be a pain in the bum and I've not found a work around that is consistent.

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-design-validate/getting-any-text-and-svg-file-into-fusion-...

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/hsm/troubleshooting/caas/discussion/t5/Fusion-360-Computer-Ai...

InkScape still produces a  SVG file that Fusion 360 will not treat as a single line. 

[paul.clauss]

Hi @Anonymous

Thanks for posting! While this issue has not yet been resolved, the fix is currently beginning its testing period and should be released soon - I am still unable to give an exact date. 

I believe if a line is defined as a single line in Inkscape it should be brought into Fusion as a single line - the information should be maintained in the SVG. It may be something particular to the font you are using in Inkscape - is the font showing up as a single line there? 

We apologize for any inconveniences this issue has caused you - please let me know if you have any questions.

[Anonymous]

Hi,

Many thanks for the update. Very much appreciated.

I am using the following fonts:

http://www.mrrace.com/CamBam_Fonts/

They all appear to be a single line, but as I've said the text comes in with width associated with it.

[paul.clauss]

Hi @Anonymous

Thanks for the response! We have seen some issues with the CAMBAM fonts before - unfortunately they are still not supported by Fusion 360. Hopefully this issue will be addressed soon.

I did find this video today, which may help you get single line fonts out of Inkscape. Hopefully this helps! I would think that Inkscape may also not be seeing the CAMBAM font as a truly single line font. If this does not work, feel free to share the SVG file from Inkscape with me (by attaching it to this forum thread) - I am happy to have a look.

[randyT9V9C]

I've been thinking of trying some of the single line fonts from One Line Fonts, http://www.onelinefonts.com/ Has anyone tried them in Fusion 360? How about on the mac? The regular weighted fonts are designed at 1/4" in height with 1/32" (.032") milling tool. When using different heights you simply adjust the tool size accordingly. This sounds like exactly what we all need.

I did find an un-answered thread from earlier this year that suggests they may or may not work. Anyone have more experience?

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-computer-aided/trace-with-single-line-font/td-p/6916470

[Anonymous]

Hi, 

Thank you for the link to the video. This has provided me with a workable solution.

[randyT9V9C]

At the risk of being OT... I download the sample font from onelinefonts.com and tried the three included versions. The OC version looks promising but some of the letters miss segments on the trace. Further research revealed that some adjustments may need to be made to the software for the font to work correctly.

3. OC- The 'OC' format for open curve uses bezier curves & traces only once. It requires that the software provider make a simple adjustment to ensure that the 'OC' font files are rendered correctly. Enroute 6, FeatureCAM 2014, Make the Cut, Rhinoceros®, Solid Edge ST9®, SolidWorks 2014, Visualmill®, Text Sketcher®, WoodWOP2014, Hundegger, & Impact currently have a "single line font" feature that will correctly draw this font format.

Maybe the Fusion 360 team can look into this?

[randyT9V9C]

Justin from OLF reached out via email. I was mistaken, the font I was using was the universal, not the OC. Too many fonts for my brain. In any case he wanted a pic of the letters ABCDabcd123 for reference. Maybe this can get dialog open. I was amazed how quickly he responded to my query. 😉

Here's the text from his email:

"I’m surprised the OC format is in a way working for you, though with an added step. While searching to see what single line font features Fusion has I came across your recent post on the forum. I thought Fusion 360 had single line font support, but apparently not. I will definitely encourage you to make a ruckus so that AutoDesk might contact me for some help adding an ideal single line font feature.

In the meantime. Can you provide me with a screenshot of all the letters in the sample font: A.B,C,D,a,b,c,d,1,2,3. Showing the milling path will help too. Based on what I see on the forum there may be a workaround, but I’ll need to see the other letters to know for sure."

Now here is the rub. The universal font appears to post a whole bunch of segments rather than arcs, but if I understand the OC version correctly that would be corrected if the fonts were made native. I've attached my g-code for reference.

Here's the universal test font using trace.

This is the back plot, it may be easier to see what's going on rather than the trace path.

[Steinwerks]

Trace doesn't really do smoothing on the G17 plane, try 2D Contour with compensation turned off.

[troyC7734]

Yeah, thinking it's a TTF issue. I've tried, using FontForge, to make a single line font to keep cutter from jumping around in toolpath with no success. I think TTF always assumes block characters (likely why the CamBam font fills holes in letter/numbers) and likely why the SVG text files are working for others and not TTF text.

At very least, Autodesk has a feature called, "Overkill" in other software that finds duplicate items and removes. Can y'all at least add that? I've attached my model. Check out the CAM toolpaths on my model to see why this is a problem for machining. I didn't 'clean' the first Trace operation toolpaths. I cleaned (removed double entities) the second toolpath.

http://a360.co/2CAr8gD

[zelfPX3TT]

Any Idea when this issue will be solved?

Here I have another beautiful single line font that Fusion 360 does not understand. https://aajohan.deviantart.com/art/Comfortaa-font-105395949

[danjlarge]

Any progress on this issue? I have just come over from another platform and am pretty disappointed in the inserting text abilities. I make panels that require engraving, the text needs to be centre justified above cutouts etc and then single line engraved. I used to do this with the CAMworks font, but as mentioned earlier in this thread it does not show up, nor does there seem to be a quick way to place text properly. Any ideas? 

[LibertyMachine]

If you scroll up on the Text box, you will find that Fusion now has Single Line Text support:

Aligning and sizing properly is still a PITA, but progress is still progress...