DXF file preparation for CNC & laser cutting

Why DXF

DXF (Drawing Exchange Format) is the lingua franca of CAD and CAM software. Almost every design and engineering tool reads and writes it. It carries pure vector geometry without the raster baggage that PDF and AI files can pick up, and it supports layer separation natively — which is how we tell the cutter what's a cut line versus an engrave versus a score.

Layer convention

We accept files with layers structured for cut, engrave and score where applicable. If your file is single-layer, that's fine — flag in the quote notes what's cut and what's engraved and we'll separate them on our end.

• →Cut: the perimeter or interior cuts that go fully through the material
• →Engrave: surface artwork that marks but does not cut through
• →Score: shallow lines that mark a fold or layout reference
• →Drill: hole positions, typically with centre-point or circle indicators
• →Reference: registration marks, dimension labels — not cut

Convert all type to outlines

Live fonts don't transfer reliably between software, machines and operators. Convert all text to outlines (Illustrator: Type → Create Outlines; Inkscape: Path → Object to Path; AutoCAD: TXTEXP) before sending the file. The text becomes part of the vector geometry rather than a separate text object, which means there's no risk of a missing-font substitution.

Closed paths, single strokes, no duplicates

The cutter expects each shape to be a single closed path — one continuous outline per part. Common file issues we flag before cutting:

• →Open paths where the start and end points don't meet — leaves a tiny gap on the cut
• →Duplicate paths stacked on top of each other — cuts the same line twice
• →Compound paths that should be simple paths — affects how internal holes are interpreted
• →Self-intersecting paths — confuses the toolpath direction
• →Stroke width treated as cut line — only the path centreline cuts

Scale, units and registration

We work in millimetres. Set your file units to mm and your drawing scale to 1:1 — the finished size on the cut bed is exactly the size in the file. If you're working in inches or a different scale, flag the conversion in your quote notes so we can confirm before cutting. For multi-part files, group parts in a logical layout — we'll nest for material yield on our end.

Other accepted formats

DXF is preferred but not required. We accept AI, SVG, PDF, EPS and DWG. PDFs need to carry vector content rather than rasterised artwork — flatten any image layers to vector before sending. AI and SVG work well; EPS and DWG are accepted but less common in modern workflows. If your file isn't yet a cut-ready vector, we offer file vectorisation as a separate service.

When in doubt, send it anyway

If the file isn't perfect, we flag what needs fixing before cutting — that's part of the file-check step in every quote. Don't sit on a job because the file looks rough. Send what you have, tell us the target size and material, and we'll come back with what (if anything) needs to be cleaned up before the cut.