1. CNC Vector DXF Art File and Design Resources

   All about vector clip art files, requests, sources and vendors.

   1. CNC Art File Sharing

      A free library of quality vector clip art for cutting

      Latest:FREE Fire Ringmurat taştan,1/16/21 at 12:48 PM

   2. CNC Art Requests

      Art is a gift - that echoes - quietly

      Latest:Willi’s Jeep VectorSignTorch,1/17/21 at 11:39 PM

2. CNC Vector DXF Art Tutorials and Tech Support

   Learning Resources - Video Tutorials, Examples and Vendor Tech Support

   1. CNC Tutorials

      CNC is just physics, logic, math, electronics, chemistry, construction, service, maintenance, research, etc.. - easy - right?

   2. Misc Example Demonstrations

      Various arbitrary how to videos and dialog

      Latest:Steel RoseA Amend,2/28/20

   3. Tech Support - SignTorch

      Because even the most perfect vector clip art cannot preempt all CNC and computer problems

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3. Community

   Community content.

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1. Dxf Files For Cnc Router
2. Free Dxf Files For Cnc

Need free DXF Files for your Laser, Plasma Cutter, CNC Router, Waterjet, or Other Machine? We can help!

Laser Cut Portable Glasses Case 4mm Plywood SVG File The 'Laser Cut Portable Glasses Case 4mm Plywood SVG File' is a svg file type, size is 164.17 KB, under patterns. Stand Panel Door Designs Split Monogram letters Fish Santa Ready Laser Cut Wooden Piggy Bank Template Free Vector The vector file 'Laser Cut Wooden Piggy Bank Template Free Vector' is a Coreldraw cdr (.cdr. How to create a shape path using free tools. The first step is to find an image that you want to make a shape out of. Images that have simple backgrounds are much easier to use than images with complex backgrounds, because essentially you want to generate a two color image which you will trace to get the shape path. Browse hundreds of dxf animal shapes for CNC machines. DesignShop has hundreds of animals, African animals, north American wildlife, fish, and more. And, DesignShop specializes in providing high quality design files for plasma, waterjet, and laser cutting systems.

Need DXF File information, tips, and techniques? Scroll down, there’s a bunch below!

Free DXF File Downloads by Category:

More Free DXF Files coming soon: we upload new ones constantly!

DXF File Information

What is a DXF File?

DXF files (files with a .dxf file extension) are a type of CNC File called vector CAD files. Vector CAD Files contain objects such as:

• Lines
• Polygons
• Circles
• Arcs
• Bezier Curves
• Text

DXF stands for Drawing eXchange Format. The Drawing Exchange Format was created by Autodesk for their AutoCAD CAD software. It was originally introduced with AutoCAD 1.0 in December 1982, so it’s been around for a long time.

Most CAD and CAM software will open, create and edit DXF files. Importing a DXF file into a CAD program and then exporting it is the best way to convert DXF files to a different CAD drawing file format. Many drawing programs such as Adobe Illustrator and CorelDraw will also open, edit, and save DXF files, so this is another possibility. For artistic work, a drawing program may be easier. For creating mechanical components, CAD software is better.

We offer this collection of Free DXF Files to get you started.

Why would I need Free DXF Files?

There’s a lot of fun to be had with decorative and artistic CNC projects. Such projects don’t require a lot of precision and are only 2 to 2 1/2D, so they’re easy to make with a CNC Router, Laser, Waterjet, or Vinyl Cutter. Sometimes we’re adding a design as a decorative element on top of a precision machined part, like this engraving on a bandsaw mitre gage:

Many times, the hardest part of these kinds of projects is coming up with artwork. It’s line art, which is relatively straightforward to convert to CAD and thence to CAM and finally g-code. But getting decent line art to start can be a pain. Especially for non-artists.

With this page, I’m making decent quality line art available for free to CNC’ers.

As you can see, we divide the files into Categories like Animal, Holiday, and Vehicles. I have a LARGE library of free dxf files that you’ll be able to download above. I don’t have nearly all of them up yet, but I will be steadily adding to the page until I have them all available.

Below, you’ll also find information about how to get the most out of the free dxf files, so be sure to check out the article below on optimizing your CAM for DXF Cutting Files.

I have big plans for the page, so stay tuned. If you haven’t already subscribed to our email newsletter, get hooked up right below so you don’t miss out as new developments unfold.

Optimizing Your CAM for DXF Cutting Files

To ensure you have an excellent experience with our free DXF files we would like to share with you some information that will make it easier for you to be successful with our DXF files.

The first thing you will want to do once you download a Free DXF file is to unzip the file with a file extraction program. Once you unzip the file folder you will see two files available. One of your unzipped files will end with .dxf and the other will end with .jpg (.dxf files are for cutting .jpg files are for viewing purposes only).

You will primarily be focused on either importing or opening the DXF file into your CAM or CAD based software program. If you are trying to edit the design work you can use a program like Corel Draw or Adobe Illustrator to make quick changes to the existing DXF file.

I know a lot of individuals that are new to the CNC industry like to try Inkscape but I have not had very good success with importing and opening my DXF files into that particular program. I believe it is due to how Inkscape was developed based off older versions of the DXF file format.

If you are importing the DXF file or opening it into your CAM software you will want to be sure to disable your offset tooling function. If you are unable to disable the offset function altogether then you will want to reduce your offset value as small as it will go (.001″). This function may also be referred to as “Tool Compensation.”

The reason to do this is you want the cut to go right down the centerline of the vectors in these files. Anything else can lead to poor results or errors that prevent your CAM package from generating g-cdoe.

Here is an example of what a DXF file looks like when it is imported without any offsets:

This is what a DXF file looks like with a medium offset:

Notice there is not much visible difference, however this medium offset has created over 100 unwanted intersections in the geometry.

This is what a DXF file looks like with a large offset:

The difference is dramatic and alarming. Don’t be fooled by seeing something like this, clearly the issue is due to improper tool path offsetting.

Dxf Files For Cnc Router

If your CAM system is detecting overlapping lines or giving you error codes the primary reason for this is that your auto offset feature is toggled on and your CAM system is literally redrawing the design work to accommodate an unnecessary offset. If you import the DXF file and you are seeing thousands of little lines very close to each other you import options may be configured incorrectly for lines and arcs when they should be set for polylines.

Once you are able to import the DXF file into your CAM software you will notice that most of our CNC DXF files come with two images of the same design.

For example, here’s a Camaro DXF File:

If you zoom in on the DXF file you have imported you will see one design includes single lines like you see in this example (single lines are referred to as open cut paths):

If you zoom in on the other image included in the DXF file you imported you will see that it does not contain any single lines. (In this design all the cut paths are referred to as closed cut paths):

Now that you are familiar with some of the basics of importing your DXF file you will want to either delete the closed path or open cut path version of the design. As a rule of thumb all Plasma and Router based CNC cutting systems will utilize the open cut path version of the design (if you are using a plasma or router based CNC cutting system you can delete the closed path version of the DXF file design) Remember to save the file under a separate name so that you do not lose access to both versions of the design.

Now if you are operating a laser or waterjet based CNC cutting system you will want to utilize the closed cut path version of the design. ( If you are using a laser or waterjet based cutting system you can delete the open cut path version of the DXF file design) Remember to save the file under a separate name so that you do not lose access to both versions of the design.

If you plan to cut the our DXF files with a CNC plasma cutting system it is recommended that you use a plasma cutting system capable of cutting at or below 40 amps. Fine tip consumables between 20 and 40 amps will yield excellent to very good results. Amperage is directly tied to the size of your plasma stream cut width.

Free Dxf Files For Cnc

For the very best results make sure to do several straight line test cuts to minimize the cut width in the material that you will be cutting. Stand off distance, cut speed and air pressure all have an impact on the cut width and quality of your cut. Every plasma cutting system is different and the only true way to get truly amazing results is through trial and error. With a little time and practice you will minimize your cut width and improve your cut quality that will result in achieving great detail and minimal clean up.