Convert text to shapes / lines?

josh_mccullough080

I need to make additional sketch elements atop some text in a sketch. E.g. to connect the inner of an "O" to the outer. But it seems like the text element is not "really a sketch" which I can interact with. I can draw on top of it but I can't reference any part of the text to be included in a constraint.

When I try to draw a "stem" across the "O", the intersections to not create points, and so I cannot e.g. trim the loose ends. What am I missing here?

S1mon

You don't need to trim the curves to create the extrusions you want. Sketch faces are created anyway. You can then select the faces to extrude.

S1mon

You don't need to trim the curves to create the extrusions you want. Sketch faces are created anyway. You can then select the faces to extrude.

Matt_Shields

^ that's the best solution.  Also, for future reference, exporting a sketch as a DXF and then importing that DXF into a new sketch will create sketch entities.

eric_pesty

You could also just extrude the entire letters and do as second feature to "merge" them back in...

josh_mccullough080

Thanks. The main issue is not about selecting the faces, but rather selecting constraint references. For instance, I want those lines to be parallel to the upright portion of the "d" (not pictured). But I can only select all of the "d", not just a single line. The text is rotated which also makes things a bit more difficult.

josh_mccullough080

I'm putting it back to horizontal and I will apply the rotation in the Wrap step, rather than at sketch-time. I think this will get me the rest of the way there. Thanks again.

S1mon

If you need to reference edges to get angles or sizes of letters, I would follow @eric_pesty 's suggestion. Keep in mind you can do things like make helper parts or surfaces that you then use the edges of to create a sketch later.