Knowledge · guide
Create a DXF file: how your drawing becomes laser-ready
A DXF file is the 2D standard format for laser cutting: it describes the cutting contour at 1:1 scale in millimetres. With free software such as Inkscape or LibreCAD, you create a laser-ready DXF with no investment at all – the instant price calculator accepts DXF and DWG as a pure cutting contour; you simply add the material thickness at upload.
Basics
Why DXF is the format for laser cutting
DXF (Drawing Exchange Format) was developed as an open exchange format for CAD drawings and has become the standard for 2D cutting data. During laser cutting, the laser follows the lines of your drawing exactly – which is why the DXF file is the most direct link between your idea and the finished metal part.
The principle: every closed contour in the file becomes a cut line. The outer contour defines the shape of the part, and inner contours become bores and cut-outs. The cut doesn’t need more information than that – you choose material and thickness at upload in the calculator. For an overview of all common CAD formats from DXF to STEP, see the article CAD formats in sheet metal fabrication.
Checklist
What makes a DXF file laser-ready?
Five points decide whether your file goes through production without any follow-up questions.
- Closed contours: Every cut line must form a continuous, closed shape – the laser follows the contour from start to end.
- 1:1 scale in millimetres: The drawing matches the finished part exactly. No scaling, no inch units.
- No duplicate lines: Overlapping lines would be cut twice – that costs time and can damage the cut edge.
- Convert text to paths: Fonts aren’t transferred as a font, but as a contour – otherwise the text goes missing on import or gets substituted.
- No hatching and dimension lines: Only what’s actually meant to be cut should sit on the cutting layer – delete dimension lines, hatching and construction geometry beforehand.
In short: the file should hold only the cutting geometry – cleanly closed, dimensionally accurate and with no extras. Anyone who follows these five points gets a price immediately at upload and avoids correction loops.
Guide
Create a DXF with Fusion 360, Inkscape + co.
Three routes to a laser-ready file – from professional CAD to free graphics software.
CAD · parametric
Fusion 360
- Create a new sketch on a plane and construct the contour at 1:1 scale in mm.
- Draw bores and cut-outs as internal contours directly in the same sketch.
- Right-click the finished sketch in the browser and save it as a DXF.
Advantage: dimensions can be changed parametrically at any time – ideal for parts still in development.
Free · vector graphics
Inkscape
- Set the document unit to millimetres in the document settings.
- Draw the contour with the path tools; merge overlapping shapes via the path functions.
- Select the text and convert it to a contour via “Path → Object to Path”.
- Export as DXF R14 via “Save As”.
Advantage: completely free – especially popular with private customers for décor, signs and one-off pieces.
Classic 2D CAD
AutoCAD + LibreCAD
AutoCAD works natively with DWG and DXF: create the drawing 1:1 in mm, put dimensions and construction lines on separate layers, and choose the DXF format when saving.
LibreCAD is the free alternative for dimensionally accurate 2D drawings – it saves directly as DXF and suits simple contours with exact dimensions well.
Here’s how it continues after export: drag the file into the instant price calculator, choose one of 10 materials and the right thickness – steel up to 20 mm, stainless steel up to 15 mm, aluminium up to 12 mm – and adjust the quantity. The price appears in about 60 seconds, with no registration. Orders start at 1 part, delivery from 2 working days.
Avoid mistakes
Typical DXF mistakes – and how to fix them
Four stumbling blocks keep coming up in practice. All of them can be avoided with a few simple steps.
Open contours
The outline is broken at one point, or lines don't meet exactly.
Fix: Close the contours or snap the endpoints – in Inkscape the path-joining functions help, in CAD programs the snap function does.
Splines instead of polylines
Some importers interpret free-form splines incorrectly or not at all.
Fix: Convert splines into polylines or line and arc segments before exporting.
Wrong unit (inches instead of mm)
The part arrives a factor of 25.4 too big or too small.
Fix: Set the document unit to millimetres and check a control dimension (e.g. a 100 mm edge).
Forgotten internal contours
Bores and cut-outs are missing from the export file because they sat on a hidden layer.
Fix: Show all layers before exporting, then reopen and check the file after saving.
Finer points
Planning delicate details correctly
How fine a detail can be cut depends on the interplay of material and thickness: in thin sheet, noticeably finer contours are possible than in thick plate. It’s best to have very delicate webs, narrow slots or closely-spaced contours checked in advance via the quote request page – Laserteile Online will get back to you with a firm assessment.
A proven practical tip: round off internal corners slightly and leave some distance between neighbouring contours – that increases both the stability of the part and process reliability during cutting.
3D alternative
Bent parts? Then STEP is better
The DXF file describes a flat 2D contour – perfect for pure cutting. If your part is going to be bent afterwards, a 3D format is the better choice: a STEP file contains the complete geometry including bends, so the flat pattern doesn’t have to be worked out by hand.
The calculator accepts STEP, IGES and STL alongside DXF and DWG – individually or bundled as a ZIP, up to 516 MB. That lets you calculate cutting and bending in a single pass.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about creating DXF files
Can I create a DXF file for free?
Yes. Inkscape and LibreCAD are completely free and produce laser-ready DXF files. In Inkscape you draw the contour with the path tools, convert text via the “Object to Path” function, and save as DXF R14. LibreCAD works natively with DXF and suits dimensionally accurate 2D drawings well.
Which DXF version should I export?
DXF R14 has proven reliable – practically every system reads this format without issue. Newer versions usually work too; if you run into upload problems, simply export the file again as R14.
Can I also send a PDF or JPG file?
The calculator processes CAD formats: DXF, DWG, STEP, IGES and STL. You can submit a PDF drawing or a hand-drawn sketch via the quote request page – the Laserteile Online team will then check how your part can be produced.
Does the calculator check my file?
Yes. On upload, your file is automatically evaluated via 3D AI analysis and the instant price is calculated right away – with no registration. That way you see immediately whether your contour can be processed.
What unit does the DXF file need to be in?
Millimetres, at 1:1 scale. A file saved in inches arrives wrong by a factor of 25.4. Check a control dimension before exporting, for example an edge that's exactly 100 mm.
How do I specify the material thickness?
The DXF or DWG file contains only the 2D cutting contour. You choose material and thickness directly at upload in the calculator – 10 materials are available, steel up to 20 mm, stainless steel up to 15 mm, aluminium up to 12 mm.
What about very delicate details and narrow webs?
How fine a detail can be cut depends on material and thickness. It's best to have very delicate webs and contours checked in advance via the quote request page – that avoids surprises during production.
DXF ready? Upload it now and see the instant price.
Drag the file into the calculator, choose material and thickness – the price appears in about 60 seconds, with no registration, from a single part.
Delivery from 2 working days · Minimum order value €50 net · Express on request