How to

Convert a DXF or SVG to G-code for your CNC router

A DXF or SVG is a drawing. Your router needs G-code: a list of moves with depths, feeds and spindle speed. Turning one into the other is what CAM software does, and in Cutline Studio it takes a few minutes.

1. Open your drawing

In Cutline Studio, open the CAM tab and load your DXF or SVG. DXF lines, arcs, polylines, circles, splines and blocks are read; SVG paths, shapes and transforms are read too. Cutline joins touching segments into closed shapes, so a part drawn as separate lines still cuts as one piece. Check the size: SVGs exported at the wrong scale are the most common surprise, and you can scale the artwork before cutting.

2. Tell it what each shape is

• Outside profile: parts you want to cut out. The bit runs outside the line so the part comes out at the drawn size.
• Inside profile: holes and slots. The bit runs inside the line.
• Pocket: areas cleared to a depth, like a recess or a dado.
• Engrave: the bit follows the line itself, for lettering and markings.
• Drill: holes at points, with optional pecking.

In Basic mode, Cutline walks you through this one question at a time: which shapes are parts, which are holes, which are pockets.

3. Set the bit, depth and speeds

Enter your bit diameter and material thickness. Cutline suggests a depth per pass, feed rate, plunge rate and spindle speed for your machine; through-cuts go slightly into the spoilboard so parts come free. If you use a trim router, it tells you the dial setting.

4. Add tabs and dogbones

Tabs are small bridges left at the bottom of a profile so the part doesn't move during the last pass. Dogbones are small round-outs in inside corners so square tenons fit, since a round bit can't cut a sharp inside corner.

5. Check the toolpaths and save

Look over the toolpaths in the 2D view, press Optimize to shorten the travel between cuts, and save the G-code. Open it in your machine's sender (Candle, gSender, UGS, Carbide Motion, Mach3/Mach4) and run an air cut first if it's your first file on that machine.

Common problems

• Parts come out too small: the shape was set to inside profile instead of outside.
• Shape won't pocket: the outline isn't closed. Cutline closes tiny gaps; a big gap needs fixing in the drawing.
• Everything is tiny or huge: the file's units were wrong on export. Scale it once, then save the file again in your drawing program at the right units.

No drawing yet? Cutline can design one for you from a description. Try it free in your browser, or read about Cutline's CAM features.

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