Nesting letters before Carbide Create
Carbide Create lets you place shapes by hand, which is slow when a job has dozens of letters. NestSigns packs them for you by their real outlines, then you import the finished sheet into Carbide Create and add your toolpaths.
Start free: 20 runs, no credit cardThe steps
| Step | Where | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | NestSigns | Open your .ai, .cdr, PDF, DXF or SVG file. Each letter becomes its own part, with its holes. |
| 2 | NestSigns | Type the size of the stock you will load and your bit diameter, then nest. |
| 3 | NestSigns | Check the measured gap and download one sheet as DXF or SVG. |
| 4 | Carbide Create | Set the stock to the same size, import the file and check that it sits at the same position. |
| 5 | Carbide Create | Select the letters and add a contour toolpath, outside for letters and inside for holes. |
Keep the sizes matching
Use the same units in both programs. If an imported sheet looks too big or too small, check the units first: a DXF has no fixed unit, so NestSigns asks which one it was drawn in when you open it, and an SVG from some programs counts in pixels. The summary in NestSigns shows the size of the largest letter, which makes a quick check after import.
One sheet at a time
Download each sheet as its own file, so each import in Carbide Create is one piece of stock. If a letter is bigger than your stock, NestSigns can divide it, and the pieces are labeled A1, A2… so they go back together.
What else it does for letter jobs
- True-shape nesting by the real letter outlines: any angle, 0/180° only, or no rotation.
- Exact spacing. Type the gap or your bit diameter; every layout is checked and shows the smallest gap measured.
- Parts inside letter holes. Small pieces go inside O, A, B and D, and holes stay with their letter.
- Leftovers first. Full sheets and leftover pieces per material, smallest leftovers used first, stock updated when the job is done.
- Oversize letters left out, divided, or divided with a 1 in joining strip, pieces labeled A1, A2…
- Every part numbered on the sheets and on the original artwork in the layout summary PDF.
See also cutting sign letters on a Shapeoko, online SVG nesting and online DXF nesting.
Questions
Can Carbide Create open the NestSigns files?
Carbide Create imports DXF and SVG files, and NestSigns exports both. Download one sheet at a time and import it onto stock of the same size.
Does NestSigns make the toolpaths?
No. NestSigns places the parts; you add contour toolpaths, depths and tabs in Carbide Create.
Is NestSigns part of Carbide Create?
No. NestSigns is separate software and is not affiliated with Carbide 3D.
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