Due to security reasons, if you send us a zipped folder we won’t be able to open it and download the files. Please export the original STEP, STP, DXF, DWG, AI, or EPS file and upload it to our website for pricing in our available materials!
If you send a link to your design (such as a Google Drive or Dropbox link), we won’t be able to open the link and download the file for security reasons. This includes links from online shareable CAD platforms like OnShape. Please export the original DXF, DWG, AI, or EPS file and upload it to our website for pricing in our available materials!
It’s important that the file you upload for bending is in a format that we can accept. Currently we accept STEP and STP format 3D files. If uploading a 2D file, it will need to be a flat vector file (DXF, DWG, EPS, or AI format). We have tutorials you can follow to learn how to turn a bent part into a flat pattern in various CAD software.
3D preview issues with bent parts can be due to a lack of bend reliefs, bend lines that don’t extend the full width of the part, and incorrect file setup. Read the complete FAQ to learn more!
Make sure all of the geometry in your laser cut part is at least 50% of the material thickness. As an example, if your material is 0.100” thick, the smallest hole you could expect to cut would be 0.050” in diameter.
Any interior geometry smaller than 50% of the material thickness will not be cut accurately by the laser, and the integrity of the design will be lost in the machining process. We want to make sure your parts come out perfectly, so we provide all the resources necessary for you to help us make that happen. Our online laser cutting guidelines, max/min material charts, and our support team will give you all the additional information you need.
Ensure your 2D file is free of duplicate paths, that .step or .stp format files meet our 3D file guidelines, that all cut geometry meets the minimums for the material selected. See the full FAQ for more tips!
At this time SendCutSend does not offer beveling services or 3D cutting. This includes cutting/grinding a taper into knife blades. We only offer 2D perpendicular cuts and cannot produce any kind of beveled or radiused edge options.
In order to produce your part, we’ll need a 2D vector-based file of the design to be cut (DWG, DXF, EPS, or Adobe Illustrator format) showing just the flat cut pattern for the part at 1:1 scaling, and no additional information like text, borders, crosshairs, or dimensions. We also accept 3D files in the STEP and STP formats. Your STEP/STP file must include only one solid body of uniform thickness to upload successfully.
Powder coating adds 7-10 days to an order’s lead time. Check out the complete FAQ and our powder coating guidelines for all details, tips, and considerations!
For 2D vector files, we accept DXF, DWG, EPS, and AI (Adobe Illustrator) formats. For 3D files, we accept STEP and STP formats.
You can powder coat bent/formed and tapped parts. Please be aware that die witness marks from the press brake will be visible through the coating. Also, you will have to chase any tapped holes to clear the threads once you receive the parts.
Our pre-flight checklist for file setup applies to all our services. Make sure all your part files fit within these guidelines before you send them to us, and we’ll be able to get your parts to you faster and easier. Don’t forget to read up on all our services guidelines as well to make
We have multiple etching limitations to keep in mind since we do not offer laser engraving or solid etching. Our etching services are currently limited to single line etching. Please note: single line etching is faint and shouldn’t be used for cosmetic applications.
When setting up your design for tapping, make sure that the holes are sized to the correct drill size corresponding to your needed tap size.
For ideal thread engagement, your tapped hole should be 1-1.5X the bolt diameter. For example, an 6-32 bolt should have roughly (0.136”-204”) thread/material depth.
Design all tapped holes to be directly perpendicular to the main surface. We do not offer tapping at an angle. Finally, your part needs to be at least 1.5”x1.5” for us to tap it.
The biggest thing to keep in mind if you want to powder coat your parts is the added thickness of the powder. Powder coating can add anywhere from .007”-.010” to the surface of your part, so design all clearances with the added width in mind. The best materials for powder coating are Aluminum 5052
Here is our quick file setup checklist for Fusion360:
File is exported as a DXF;
All holes and cutouts are at least 50% material thickness;
File is built at a 1:1 scale, preferably in inch units;
All objects are on the same layer;
All stray points, duplicate lines, empty objects and text areas have been removed;
No shapes have open contours;
All shapes have been united, combined or merged;
All text has been converted to outlines or paths;
Cut-out text (reversed text) has bridges or has been stencilized.
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
We proudly use hardware by PEM
Aluminum: 5052, 6061, 7075 Steel: Mild, G30
| SKU | SO-440-8 |
| Thread Size | 4-40 x .250″ |
| Hole size in sheet (+0.003/-.0.000) | .168″ |
| Minimum sheet thickness | 0.040″ |
| Maximum sheet thickness | .125″ |
| Fastener material | Steel |
| Minimum distance hole C/L to edge | 0.230″ |
| When determining the distance between two or more fasteners, you can calculate the distance by the formula, C/L to edge + 1/2 the diameter of the second mounting hole. | .345″ |
| Recommended panel material | Steel/Aluminum |
| Coating type | Zinc |
| Length | .250″ |
| Aluminum material ranges (5052, 6061, 7075) | 0.040″-0.125″ |
| Steel material ranges (CRS, HRPO, HR) | 0.048″-0.119″ |
We proudly use hardware by PEM
Stainless Steel: 304, 316
| SKU | SO4-440-8 |
| Thread Size | 440 |
| Hole size in sheet (+0.003/-.0.000) | .166″ |
| Minimum sheet thickness | 0.04″ |
| Maximum sheet thickness | .125″ |
| Fastener material | 400 Stainless Steel |
| Minimum distance hole C/L to edge | 0.230″ |
| When determining the distance between two or more fasteners, you can calculate the distance by the formula, C/L to edge + 1/2 the diameter of the second mounting hole. Example shown with x2 of the same hardware. | .313″ |
| Recommended panel material | Stainless Steel |
| Coating type | Passivated |
| Length | .250″ |
| 304 Stainless Steel material ranges | 0.048″-0.125″ |
| 316 Stainless Steel material ranges | 0.060″-0.125″ |
