True 1:1 cut contours
The top-view DXF contains only the cut geometry at exact scale — no dimension text, no frames, nothing your nesting software has to clean up.
Lay the part flat first
A built-in 3D orienter lets you put the part on the table exactly how it will be cut, so the projected contour is the right face every time.
Drawing included
Every conversion also produces a dimensioned multi-view drawing and PDF sheet — hand your operator the cut file and the drawing in one go.
How it works
- 1Upload the STEP file of your sheet part (or a whole assembly — parts are split automatically).
- 2Orient each part flat in the 3D preview and name it.
- 3Generate and download the 1:1 top-view DXF (CUT layer) plus the full drawing package.
- 4Load the DXF straight into LightBurn, Fusion CAM, or your nesting software.
Two DXF files from every STEP conversion
Drawlytic exports two different DXF files, because laser cutting and CAD work need different things. The first is the top-view cut file: a 1:1 contour of the part as seen from above, containing only geometry — outer profile and every internal contour as polylines on a dedicated CUT layer. There are no dimension texts, no border frames, no title blocks and no stray construction lines, so nesting and CAM software (LightBurn, Fusion 360 Manufacturing, SheetCam, Deepnest) can use it without cleanup.
The second is a full 2D projection DXF of the orthographic views — front, top and right — with visible edges on a VISIBLE layer and hidden edges on a HIDDEN layer. This is the file you open in AutoCAD, LibreCAD or QCAD when you want to keep drafting on top of accurate projected geometry instead of redrawing the part from scratch.
Both files are measured on the exact B-rep solid loaded by the OpenCascade CAD kernel — the same class of geometry kernel used inside commercial CAD packages. Nothing is traced from a rendered image, so a 40 mm hole spacing in your model is exactly 40 mm in the DXF.
Why orientation matters for cut files
A cut file is only right if the part is projected from the right side. After you upload a STEP file, Drawlytic opens every part in an interactive 3D preview: rotate it freely, use lay-face-flat to snap the face that should sit on the machine bed, and fine-tune with 90° and small-step rotations. The top-view DXF is then projected from exactly that pose — so for sheet-metal-style parts you lay the flat face down and get the true cut profile every time.
Assemblies are handled automatically: each solid body in the STEP file becomes its own part with its own cut file and drawing package (up to 30 parts per upload, 25 MB max), plus an assembly overview drawing of the whole model. You can exclude parts you don't need before generating.
What you get alongside the DXF
Every conversion also produces a complete dimensioned technical drawing: front, top, right and isometric views with true hidden-line removal, automatic dimensions for hole groups (like 4×Ø8), fillet radii, chamfer angles and overall size — delivered as vector SVG and as framed PDF sheets in A4, A3, A2, A1 and Letter with a filled title block. Your laser operator gets the cut file; whoever checks the work gets a real drawing. A free Measure & adjust mode lets you add your own dimensions — edge picks, point-to-point distances, angles — and regenerate the drawing and PDFs without spending another credit.
Frequently asked
Which DXF version is exported?
A widely compatible ASCII DXF (DWG-compatible exchange format) that opens in AutoCAD, LibreCAD, LightBurn, QCAD and every mainstream CAM package.
Is the scale really 1:1?
Yes — units are millimetres, measured on the exact B-rep geometry. What you cut is what the CAD model says.
What about holes and internal contours?
All internal contours visible in the top view are included as closed polylines on the CUT layer.
Can I convert DWG files?
Not directly — export the DWG as DXF from your CAD software first (every mainstream package can), then upload the DXF. Drawlytic tells you if a file can't be read.
Do STL or OBJ files work?
No — mesh formats (STL, OBJ, 3MF) don't carry exact geometry, so dimensions can't be measured from them. Export a real STEP solid instead: in SolidWorks use File → Save As → STEP AP214; in Fusion 360 use File → Export → STEP.
Which STEP versions are supported?
STEP AP203, AP214 and AP242 — the formats every mainstream CAD package exports, including SolidWorks, Fusion 360, Inventor, CATIA, Onshape and FreeCAD.
How much does it cost?
DXF export is part of Pro ($19/mo, 100 drawings a month — extra credit packs from $0.28/drawing). Trying the drawing engine itself is free: 3 drawings a month, no credit card.
How long does a conversion take?
Typical parts finish in seconds. The first run after a quiet period can take up to a minute extra while the drawing engine boots — the progress bar tells you when that's happening.
Related guides
Try it on your own part
Upload a STEP file and get your drawing in about a minute — or use the built-in sample part.
Get your cut-ready DXF →