File formats · Converter
SVG to DXF converter for laser and CNC
Drop in an SVG and get a clean DXF in millimetres, written as R12 polylines that CAD, CNC and laser software can read. The file is checked for problems first, and you can nest parts onto a sheet in the same step.
How to convert SVG to DXF
- Open Import & Nest in the app and drop in one or more SVG files.
- Let the File Doctor check them. It flags open shapes, double lines, tiny fragments and wrong sizes; press Fix all parts to repair them in one go.
- Choose Convert parts only to turn each SVG into a DXF without nesting, or set quantities and a sheet size to nest the parts first.
- Export. Choose DXF, or another format such as PDF or G-code.
What you get
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| DXF version | R12, the most widely supported |
| Geometry | Polylines: each outline is one connected chain, closed shapes marked as closed |
| Units | Millimetres (declared in the file header) |
| Other formats from the same import | PDF, G-code for GRBL lasers, CNC G-code |
Before you convert
- Convert text to paths in your design program first. Text inside an imported SVG isn’t converted.
- Check the SVG’s units. If the SVG has no real size, it may come in at the wrong scale. Re-export it from your design program with units set to mm, or check the size after import.
- Remove what you don’t want cut: guides, backgrounds and hidden layers.
Nesting while you convert
If you are cutting several parts, nesting saves material. Set how many of each part you need (or fill the sheet with as many copies as fit), choose the sheet size, edge margin and the gap between parts, and allow rotation for tighter packing. Enter the price per sheet to see the material cost per part. The nested sheets export as DXF, SVG, PDF or G-code.
Why convert to DXF?
DXF is what CAD programs, CNC software such as Vectric and Easel, many CO₂ controller programs and machine shops expect. If your software reads SVG directly, as xTool Creative Space, LightBurn and Glowforge do, you may not need to convert at all. See DXF for laser cutting for when each format makes sense.
Need a vector first?
If you have a PNG or JPG rather than an SVG, trace it to vector with image to SVG, then export DXF directly from there. All studios in the app also export DXF themselves, so designs made in the app never need converting.
Vectric, Easel, xTool Creative Space, LightBurn and Glowforge are trademarks of their respective owners. Laser Generator Studio is independent and not affiliated with them.