Guide

How to prepare a DXF for laser cutting or CNC

Cutting software follows every line in the file, so a messy DXF means wasted material. Most problems come down to five things: size, gaps, doubles, stray pieces and text.

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1. Draw at real size in millimetres

Draw the part at 1:1. BenCAD's DXF export saves in millimetres, and the header tells the cutter so.

2. Close every outline

A cut path must be closed. Use extend to make lines meet, fillet for rounded corners, and join to make one outline.

3. Remove doubles and stray pieces

Two lines on top of each other get cut twice. Use trim and delete to clear overlaps and leftovers.

4. Holes and slots

Draw holes as circles at the finished size. Mark centres with centre marks for the drawing, but ask your cutter whether to remove them from the cutting file.

5. Text and dimensions

Ask your cutter whether they want dimensions and notes left in or taken out. Many prefer a clean file with only the cut lines.

Questions

What DXF version should I send?

BenCAD saves DXF R12, which nearly all cutting software reads.

Tools for this

DXF export PROSave for AutoCAD, CNC and laser ExtendLengthen a line to meet an edge JoinMake one shape from many lines TrimCut lines back to where they cross CircleCentre and radius