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Designing an engraved acrylic sign with text
In this guide, we will create a simple acrylic sign with rounded corners, mounting holes and engraved text in the Eurocut online editor.
By the end, the design will be ready for price calculation and ordering, with the text assigned as an engraving operation rather than a cut.
Engraved acrylic signs are particularly useful where exceptional durability is important and the lettering must not wear off or fade over time due to UV exposure.
At Eurocut, engraving is performed with a UV laser rather than a CO2 laser. Instead of applying a separate layer, this process changes the colour and structure of the acrylic surface. The marking therefore remains a permanent part of the material and cannot peel away.
If you have already prepared the design in another CAD program, export it as a DXF or SVG file and drag it onto the online editor workspace. If you do not have a finished file, you can create the sign directly in the editor by following the steps below.
Designing the sign in the online editor
Following this guide, designing the sign takes approximately 10 minutes. Click any image to enlarge it and make the icons and settings easier to read.
Draw the outline of the sign
Click the rectangle icon to begin drawing the outline of the sign.
Draw a rectangle
Draw a rectangle with the mouse. Its final dimensions are not important at this stage, as they will be set precisely in the next step.
Set the exact dimensions
Press ESC or select the selection tool, then click the rectangle.
In the properties window, enter the width and height. In this example, the sign is 100 mm wide and 50 mm high.
Round the corners
In the same Properties window, enter a suitable corner radius, for example 5 mm. Click outside the field or press Enter and the editor will round the corners immediately.
Centre the shape
To position the holes accurately and easily, first align the sign with the origin both horizontally and vertically.
Use the "Centre horizontally" and "Centre vertically" icons in the top toolbar. The shape will align with the intersection of the orange horizontal and vertical axes.
Fit the view to the design
Use the mouse wheel to zoom and drag with the middle mouse button held down to move around the workspace.
For a quicker option, press Ctrl+0 or use the "Fit to view" button in the top toolbar. Both commands fit the entire design into the viewport.
Select the circle tool
After fitting the view, click the circle icon in the left toolbar to begin drawing the mounting holes.
Enable snapping to grid points
Before drawing the holes, enable "Snap to grid points". Grid points are spaced 1 mm apart, making it easier to start and finish the circle at whole-number coordinates.
Grid snapping is only an aid. You can later enter the exact size and position of each hole with the selection tool if you need to adjust or fine-tune them.
Draw the four holes
Hold down the left mouse button to draw a hole in each corner. The grid lines help you position the holes symmetrically on the sign.
If a hole is in the wrong place or has the wrong size, press Ctrl+Z or use the "Undo" button in the top toolbar.
Enter the text to be engraved
Select the text tool marked "T" in the left toolbar, then click the centre of the sign. In the text editor window, enter the wording and adjust its alignment, font and size.
After creating the text, you can use the selection tool to resize and position it.
Assign the engraving operation to the text
The example uses the wording "Door 21". By default, the text is still assigned to the laser-cutting layer, so the system would interpret it as a cut if left unchanged.
For acrylic signs, "Outline + fill engraving" usually produces the best result. It engraves both the fill and the outline, creating a clear and durable inscription.
Calculate the price and order
The orange lettering indicates that the text is assigned as an engraving operation. The design is now ready for price calculation, adding to the cart and ordering.
The same method can be used to design signs, front panels and other engraved acrylic parts in virtually any shape.
How is the finished sign made?
Once the order has been placed, the design is used for laser cutting, followed by engraving and inspection. Watch how the sign created in the editor is manufactured, connecting the on-screen design process with the finished physical product.
If you would like to create a similar acrylic sign, front panel or custom engraved part, start with a simple test design. The editor calculates the price directly from the material, thickness, dimensions and selected operations.
