How to make my lines engrave thicker/wider?

[Robert E Miller]

I design alot of parts in Millwrite and export the DXF into coreldraw then into lasercut 5.3. If your wondering why I do it this way it's because lasercut doesn't bring them in scale correctly otherwise. I am engraving an outline of the letters onto metal using the cut option. I need to make the outlined letters fatter or thicker. If I make the lines wider or thicker in coreldraw will the laser cut them as such?

[Joe Pelonio]

Yes, in Corel, simply select the pen tool and make the lines wider (increase the points).

[Richard Rumancik]

Robert, I don't think that will work. Most lasers follow the centerline of a line or path when vectoring. If a wider line is used, (more than .003") then most of our lasers decide you want to raster it. I don't know what the Rabbit lasers do.

If by "fatter or thicker" you mean you want to "bold" the letters then you could consider the following in CorelDraw: a) convert text to curves b) use contour tool to offset the outline by .xxx" c) break contour group apart d) delete the original character outline.

[Allen Isakson]

I have a Chinese laser also. When I need to widen my lines or text, I just lift my lens ( focus )up till i get the desired thickness. I do this often when I'm making signs.

[Mike Null]

I favor Richard's solution. I've found that working out of focus is not always reliable.

[Joe Pelonio]

Robert, I don't think that will work. Most lasers follow the centerline of a line or path when vectoring. If a wider line is used, (more than .003") then most of our lasers decide you want to raster it. I don't know what the Rabbit lasers do.

If by "fatter or thicker" you mean you want to "bold" the letters then you could consider the following in CorelDraw: a) convert text to curves b) use contour tool to offset the outline by .xxx" c) break contour group apart d) delete the original character outline.

I missed "the cut option", sorry. That will only work when rastor engraving.