If you have an intricate, delicate, or complex design, check to see that it meets our density guidelines. Here are some tips for designing successful parts: If your design is too delicate to produce, our applications team will place your order on hold and request that you revise. Take a look at our other
To laser cut, waterjet cut, or CNC route parts, we can’t use raster files or photos because our cutting machines require vector files. They cannot cut a part using a pixel-based image file (PNG, JPEG, TIFF formats). Laser, waterjet, and CNC cutters can only process path-based vector files (DXF, DWG, EPS, .AI formats) since
You can find tolerances for bending in the specifications on each material info page in our Material Catalog. Learn about sheet metal vs. plastic and tolerance stackup considerations in the full FAQ!
Take a look at this FAQ for best practices! For specific, in-depth advice on designing tabs and slots to create a slip fit, check out our Designing Sheet Metal Parts with Tab and Slots guide.
Need to export a 2D DXF file or 3D STEP from OnShape? We can help! We know OnShape is a top choice for students and hobbyists. That’s why we’ve put together a step-by-step guide for exporting DXF format files we can use to cut your parts! You can also export STEP format files from
If you uploaded your design file to our website and can’t get a quote, there are a few possible reasons why! Read the full FAQ to learn how to troubleshoot your file, resolve error messages, and place an order using these tips.
If you want to know how to export a design from Adobe Illustrator, it’s easy! Illustrator is an industry standard vector graphics program that we highly recommend for decorative projects. While Illustrator isn’t free, the software comes with a powerful toolset and may merge seamlessly into your workflow if you’re already an Adobe user.
If you need to export a file from QCAD, great news! You can save the file natively within QCAD – no special export process needed. Just press Ctrl+Shift+S to save the file in either the DXF or DWG format. Whether you’re a CAD pro or just starting out, QCAD is useful for reviewing two-dimensional
Create and export your design using Inkscape if you need a free design program that works well for decorative parts! Inkscape makes our list of recommended illustration software. If you decide to try Inkscape, it is free to download here. Be sure to export your design as an EPS format file: Exporting a Design
Need to export a flat DXF file from Rhino3D? The best way to create a successful design for laser cutting is to use one of SendCutSend’s Recommended Software. Rhino3D is not on our preferred software list because compared to other design tools, Rhino3D tends to produce inconsistent exports. However, we understand it’s not always
Exporting a successful 2D vector file from PTC Creo is not straightforward, so Creo is not one of our preferred software. We highly suggest using software like Autodesk Fusion, AutoCAD, or SolidWorks. If Creo is your preference, though, check out our Video Guide for How To Export in PTC Creo. Once your file is
When exporting a design file from TurboCAD, the program often creates duplicate and intersecting paths that our lasers cannot process. This happens sometimes when a 2D flat pattern is exported from a 3D design. For this reason, you may want to consider trying one of the free software programs we recommend instead. However we do
Need to know how to export a file format we accept from TinkerCAD? TinkerCAD can be a challenging platform for us to process since it does not export true DXF files. For this reason, you may want to consider trying one of the free software options we recommend instead. However, there are a couple of
You can export either a 3D STEP file or flat DXF from Shapr3D for an instant quote. Read the full FAQ to learn how!
We cannot accept files saved directly from Photoshop (.psd, .png, or .jpeg format files). If you have access to Adobe Illustrator, we recommend using it to convert your raster file to vector and export an .ai format file.
You can export either a 2D .dxf format file or a 3D .step or .stp format file from AutoCAD. If exporting a 2D .dxf file, please be sure to use dashed (not hidden) lines to mark the center of each bend. Read the complete FAQ for more details!
Everything you need to know to design for laser-cutting, CNC routing, bending, and tapping.
Everything from software-specific tutorials to material selection tips.
We have sheet metals, plastics, composites, and wood/boards for every project.
Min and Max part sizes for all our materials
