CAD US Map

Hello, I am interested in a rough quote to do the following. I am making a map of the United States using license plates. I ultimately need a DXF file that I can give to the metal cutter which will leave the boarders of each of the states (I am thinking 3/16 th of an inch boarder between all the states). This would be one solid piece of sheet metal and I would be able to piece the license plates behind this cutout so that they show through the solid piece of cut out metal. The lower 48 states needs to be approximately 52" wide by 31" Tall (tip to Texas to the top of North Dakota). License plates are only 6" tall, so the concept is to make this map as big as possible, but keep states that should only need one license plate in height to a max of 6" tall. This may mean some minor manipulation of states (making some states taller in order to shrink other states to 6" tall without distorting the relative and accurate feel of the states shape and relation to eachother). The full metal frame would be larger than that, with cutouts to bend in order to properly frame the state boarders. The metal cutter would use the DXF file to laser / plasma cut the states out then they will fold back the borders 1.25" deep to make a frame. I am interested in your thoughts on how accurate laser cut can get understanding that the actual license plates would be cut out by hand to fit behind the metal frame. I am thinking the best way to do it is buy a pre done AutoCAD drawing of the united states, scale it to the proper size, then smooth out the lines (eliminating islands and lakes) and generalizing the boarders and shores so that a metal cutter can easily accomplish the task while leaving a 3/16" boarder between states. I would like to work it out so that Lake Michigan remains attached to the source metal but that the state itself connects by 3/16". I will need this in a DXF File, and something I can work with in AutoCad 2005 (the latest version I currently own). I used to use CAD in my college engineering days -- let me know if this is a project that interests you. No hurry on this, you can work on it on your off times. I am hoping this sounds like something fun and out of the ordinary as I cannot afford to pay top prices. Once we nail the lower 48 states, I am interested in an option with Hawaii and Alaska in there too -- but we can deal with that later. Let me know a quote / estimate. See the two attachments for inspiration. Freeman