Why the rules are the same everywhere
The cutting program takes every line in the file as a path for the beam. Xometry, TAUPITZ and Tolery publish almost the same file rules for that reason; only colours and layers differ from shop to shop, and Quotation Factory notes that every shop has its own rules for contour colours, file names and layers.
The checklist
- Units in millimetres (or inches), set in the file. Xometry asks to update the units and re-export if the design used others. Check the units
- Scale 1:1, flat 2D in the XY plane: the drawing is the size of the final part (Xometry, TAUPITZ, Tolery). Measure the size
- Every contour closed, outer and inner: no gaps, no overshoots. Open contours
- No duplicate or overlapping lines. Duplicate lines
- Curves as lines and arcs rather than splines: MEILLER accepts only lines and arcs, and lines and arcs suit every shop. Splines
- No title block, frame, dimensions, notes or text: TAUPITZ warns that the laser software reads dimensions and texts as cut lines. Check for text in the cut
- Layers and colours as your shop asks: TAUPITZ wants one layer, white for contours and green for engraving; Tolery engraves yellow lines. Put bend lines on their own layer. See what is counted
- Holes and slots not smaller than your shop's rule for the thickness. Minimum hole size
- One part per file; mirrored parts as separate files (Tolery). Measure each file
- Draw the final size unless your shop asks otherwise: SendCutSend compensates for the kerf on the machine, MEILLER asks to allow for it in the design. Kerf width
Worked example
A 120 × 80 mm plate drawn as lines with one corner open by 0.05 mm, the top edge drawn twice, a cut-out whose arch is a spline, and a stray 0.3 mm circle.
CutMeter measures 530.47 mm of cut and 3 pierces and reports 5 issues; 4 are fixed by auto-fix, and the tiny circle has to be removed in CAD.
What the check finds in the example
| Issue | Auto-fix |
|---|---|
| Gap | Yes |
| Duplicate line | Yes |
| Spline | Yes |
| Open contour | Yes |
| Tiny contour | No |
Questions
Which DXF version should I send?
The one your shop asks for. Some shops ask for R12, the oldest common version (Xometry does); newer objects are converted when you save to it, so look at the file after saving. CutMeter writes the fixed file as R2000 or R12.
My part comes out 25.4 times too small or too large. Why?
The file is in inches and was read as millimetres, or the other way round. Set the units in CAD before export; CutMeter shows the units it read from the file and lets you change them.
Do layers matter?
Some shops want everything on one layer, others use colours for engraving or marking. CutMeter does not count bend lines on layers it recognises as bend layers and lists every layer it skipped.
Can I leave my title block in the file?
No. Shops ask to remove the title block, dimensions and notes, because the cutting program may read them as lines to cut. Send the drawing with dimensions as a separate PDF if the shop needs it.
Should I draw the kerf into my contours?
Ask your shop. SendCutSend compensates on the machine and asks for the exact final size; MEILLER asks to take the kerf into account in the design. For tight slot-and-tab fits ask the shop for its kerf value.
Sources
- Xometry: Guide to Quoting with DXF Files xometry.com
- SendCutSend: Sheet Cutting Guidelines sendcutsend.com
- MEILLER: Laserteile richtig als DXF-Datei anlegen (German) meiller-lasertechnik.de
- TAUPITZ: Anforderungen an CAD-Dateien in der Blechbearbeitung (German) taupitz.com
- TAUPITZ: Welche Dateiformate eignen sich für die Blechfertigung? (German) taupitz.com
- Tolery: Découpe laser en ligne (French) tolery.io
- Quotation Factory: When drawing guidelines lock up your supply chain quotationfactory.com