How to prepare your file so your parts come out perfect the first time

A clean file means an accurate price and parts that come out right the first time. A messy one means delays, questions or parts that don't fit. The good news: almost every file problem comes from the same few mistakes. Run through this checklist before you upload.

1. Draw at full size (1:1)

Draw the part at its real size, in inches or millimetres. After exporting, measure one known dimension in the file to confirm the scale didn't change. A part drawn in millimetres but read as inches comes out 25 times too big.

2. Close every outline

The laser follows lines. If an outline has a tiny gap, the software can't tell what is part and what is scrap. Join every shape into a closed loop.

3. Delete duplicate and overlapping lines

Two lines on top of each other look like one on screen, but the laser cuts both, leaving burn marks and adding to your price. Use your software's overkill or join tools to clean them up.

4. Remove everything that isn't a cut

Dimensions, title blocks, notes, centre lines and borders should not be in the cut file. Anything left in may be read as a cut line.

5. Convert text to outlines

Text must be shapes, not a live font. Letters like O, A, B and R lose their centres when cut, so use a stencil-style font or add small bridges to hold them in.

6. Check hole sizes and spacing

As a rule, holes should be at least as wide as the metal is thick, and at least one thickness away from any edge. Smaller holes can come out rough or not at all.

7. Show bends clearly

For bent parts, send a STEP file of the finished 3D part, or a flat DXF with bend lines on a separate layer and a note of the angles.

Free and paid tools that export DXF

Common problems and quick fixes

No CAD? No problem

Send us a sketch, a photo with measurements or even the old broken part, and we will draw it for you. Full rules are in our design guidelines.