I'm a signmaker and I would like to create a file which can be cnc engraved into clear acrylic. I would like to create awards or plaques by having the clear acrylic cut with a basic configuration and then add my printed graphics (recipients etc). I'm looking for advise (or if it's possible) on creating a file and sending to a wholesaler to cut. Do i just send a black and white eps file? The one wholesaler I contacted said they use a 1/8 bit (if that helps)
That's what we do. Eps any color. They only tell you the size of the bit so you know any inside corners will be rounded to that.
Yes the design has to include consideration for the bit size. I use contour on the text to increase room for the bit. Also DO NOT USE ILLUSTRATOR, most of these devices use a proprietary CAD interface and AI has always been an issue for us, the more complicated the file the worse it has been. We use CorelDraw and check the fonts for weirdo behavior after converting to curves.
Ok what I posted is what we do so if there's another way I'm hip to listening and cutting costs if we can. here is an image of some PLUG UGLY design I had to execute. The acrylic on the left is called art.
Think you forgot the image, David. Strange, suddenly it appeared. Myron, are you saying you do a "normal design" and the driver takes care of the offset distance?