why this is cool:

* you can use this to make your own DXFs. The SVG->DXF pipeline seems to work well on the Bristol Hackspace laser cutter.
* you could link this program to a spreadsheet and automatically cut your own labels as you add new items.

you'll need:

* a good laser cutable font. I recommend this one 'Stencil Gothic JL'
* an old version of pysvg: code.google.com/p/pysvg/downloads/detail?name=pysvg-0.2.1.zip&can=2&q=
* some python modules that can query ttf fonts: pypi.python.org/pypi/TTFQuery and sourceforge.net/projects/fonttools/?source=dlp
* an up to date version of pstoedit pstoedit.net/
* inkscape

then run from the command line

#for a single label
./makeLabel.py --text "tape"

#for a sheet, use a newline separated file of text
./makeLabel.py --file labelfile

#full options listed by
./makeLabel.py --help

latest version always on github: github.com/mattvenn/cad/blob/master/hackspace%20labels/makeLabel.py