The checklist
- 01Save as R12 DXF. Many machine controllers and older CAM packages only read the R12 (AC1009) version. If your software reports "unsupported DXF version", convert it to R12.
- 02Draw at 1:1 and know your units. DXF files often don't state their units, and the cutter will assume millimetres or inches. Draw at full size and tell the shop which unit you used, or check one known dimension after import.
- 03Close every shape that should be cut out. A part outline needs to be one closed contour. Tiny gaps where lines don't quite meet create open paths, which some software won't cut or will treat as a score line. Join lines into closed polylines in your CAD tool.
- 04Delete duplicate and overlapping lines. Two lines on top of each other look like one on screen, but the laser cuts both, burning the edge and wasting time. Most CAD tools have an overkill or delete-duplicates command.
- 05Remove everything that isn't a cut. Dimensions, title blocks, borders, notes and construction lines will all be cut unless you remove them or move them to a layer the shop ignores.
- 06Turn text into geometry. The cutting software probably doesn't have your fonts. Convert text to outlines for cut-out letters, or to single-stroke lettering for engraving.
- 07Separate operations by layer or colour. Put cut, score and engrave geometry on separate layers (or colours, if the shop maps colours to operations), and ask which convention the shop uses.
- 08Convert splines to polylines or arcs. Some controllers can't interpolate splines and ellipses. Breaking them into polylines or arcs avoids rejected files and jagged cuts.
- 09Allow for kerf. The beam removes material, typically a fraction of a millimetre depending on machine and material. For press-fit parts, either offset the geometry or tell the shop the fit you need.
Converting DWG or newer DXF files to R12
The free converter writes R12 DXF from any DWG or DXF in your browser, without uploading the design. It keeps layer names (shortened to R12's 31-character limit), turns connected linework into polylines, maps colours to the AutoCAD Color Index, and breaks splines and arcs into short straight segments that controllers handle reliably.
Because it exports the drawing as it appears, dimensions and notes come along as plain lines on their original layers. Delete those layers before cutting. Text is exported as single-stroke lettering, which suits engraving but not cut-out letters.
Glowforge, Cricut and other design-tool cutters
Browser-based cutter software usually prefers SVG to DXF. Convert DXF to SVG instead. When the DXF declares its units and is part-sized, the SVG is sized in real millimetres so it imports at the right scale.
Before you send it
Open the final file in a viewer the shop doesn't control, such as the free Caddis viewer, and check it with fresh eyes: one closed outline per part, no stray lines, the right size. It takes a minute and avoids a re-cut.
Free, local-first CAD viewer
Open DWG, DXF, STEP and STL files without uploading them.
Frequently asked questions
What DXF version is best for laser cutting?
R12 (AC1009). It's the version the widest range of laser, plasma, waterjet and CAM software accepts. You can check a DXF's version and convert it to R12 for free.
Why does my laser software say the DXF is empty?
Usually the geometry is in a block the software doesn't explode, in paper space, or at a scale so small it rounds away. Exploding blocks and checking units fixes most cases.
Should I send DWG or DXF to a laser cutting service?
DXF, unless the shop asks for DWG. DXF is the exchange format fabrication software expects.