Tony, I have not worked with Illustrator yet. Does it have a programing language built into it for generating drawing based on user input. That's one thing that many of these CAD programs have that drawing programs don't.
++ron ----- Original Message ----- From: Tony Moss <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sundial Mail List <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, March 23, 2000 4:46 PM Subject: DeltaCad vs. TurboCad > Subject: Re: DeltaCad vs. TurboCad > Sent: 24/3/00 12:08 am > To: Richard Mallett, [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Richard Mallet Contributed: > > > >>> Who would attempt roman numerals with curved serifs, graduated in size > >and 'skew' between a pair of off-centre ellipses by hand and eye? With > >'Illustrator' it was a breeze. I'm trying to think of something it can't > >do in 2D but without much success. << > > > >So can you please give us a flavour of the work that you (or someone else > >?) need to do to get these roman numerals etc. off the 15" or 17" screen > >and onto the big piece of wood / pastic / stone / whatever ? I'm still > >puzzled about that. > > In Illustrator you can set a work area of up to 5.77 metres x 5.77 metres and, depending on chosen magnification, your 17" screen will show all or any part either full size or magnified up to 6400% for fine detail work. > > As for turning it into resistant material, try one of the following: > > > Save to ZIPdrive or CD, take to your nearest graphic arts/pre-press agency and ask for a positive or negative 'emulsion down' on process film for photo-etching or a paper print in up to AO size to be laid on a wooden/MDF workpiece. For small photoetching up to about A3 this is a 'pie-dish' process at home after which sizes I use a local specialist company. The dial plate with curved roman numerals I mentioned is supposed to be ready tomorrow in time to have the dial together for the BSS Conference next week. > > OR > > Save as '1 bit Macintosh' or '1 bit IBM/PC' and take it to your nearest sign maker equipped with a CNC panel engraver. He will engrave in brass, bronze or MDF up to 8ft x 8ft with an accuracy of 0.02mm anywhere on the panel. > > OR > > take the same file to any company equipped for water jet cutting if you would like the design cut out like a jigsaw puzzle in material up to 8" thick. Wear ear protectors if you want to watch the operation! Water at 60 000psi with a pinch of abrasive added passes through a 1mm dia. hole in a diamond and cuts with a burr-free edge and virtually no 'spread' in metal or stone. > > I know little or nothing of stone working but I've read of photo/sandblast materials which might not be durable enough to to give a full depth cut but may last to give marking out for hand work thereafter. > > I understand stone is now laser engraved with great success so I would guess the same file mentioned above would work in a laser engraving setup?? > > Hope this is helpful Richard. > > Best Wishes > > Tony M. > > ====================================================== > > \ T \ / M ** ****** > \\ - O - ** ** > \\ L / \ S ** ******* > *\\ ** ** > *\\ ******* ******* > **\\ > ***\\ Tony Moss, Lindisfarne Sundials > *****\\ 43, Windsor Gardens, Bedlington, > *******\\ Northumberland, England, NE22 5SY, > **********\\ 55° 07' 45" N 1° 35' 38" W > Tel/FAX +1670 823232 > Mobile: 07970 208 540 > Website: http://www.lindisun.demon.co.uk > > ======================================================== > > Horizontal, Vertical, Declining, Analemmatic, Equatorial, Polar > and Capuchin Sundials individually made in solid engraving brass > or phosphor bronze. Professional-quality Dialling Scales, > 'engine-divided' Meridian Layout Instruments with software. > Analemmatic dial plots - any size for any latitude. > Graduation, re-cutting and restoration of scales. > 'Lintique' patination of brass. > > ======================================================================= > >
