Metal cutting from your DXF file or finished drawing
Short answer
Metal cutting from a DXF file means we never redraw your work: you send the DXF, we check the geometry and return a price within 24 hours, then cut mild steel, stainless or aluminium on a CNC fiber laser to ±0.1mm positional tolerance. Minimum order is one part, and production in Tbilisi takes 2-3 working days.
Architects, engineers and designers usually arrive with the drawing already done — a DXF from AutoCAD, a flat part exported out of SolidWorks, or a vector contour from Illustrator. When that is the case the design stage is redundant and only accurate fabrication is left. Craftarea takes the finished file, checks its geometry and cuts it at our Tbilisi workshop on a CNC fiber laser: stainless steel, mild steel, aluminium, copper and brass. What follows covers working specifically from DXF — which versions read natively, how to export cleanly from each program, how thick we can go, and how quickly you get a price.
Key facts
- Compatible DXF versions
- 3 versions — R12, R14, R2000; all read natively
- Accepted formats
- 5 formats — DXF, DWG, AI, EPS, SVG (vector only)
- Minimum order
- 1 part — no production run required
- Quote turnaround
- 24 hours from receipt, on working days
- Production time
- 2-3 working days from price approval
- Positional tolerance
- ±0.1mm on the CNC fiber laser
- Maximum thickness
- 10mm mild steel, 6mm stainless, 5mm aluminium, 3mm copper and brass
- File check
- 0 ₾ — geometry checked before we quote
- Collection
- 2 options — pickup in Tbilisi or courier across Georgia
- Contact
- +995 557 771 979, info@craftbox.ge
Why DXF rather than a PDF or an image?
DXF is a vector format: every line and arc in it is a mathematically defined object that our CNC laser control software reads directly, with no redrawing step. That is why a job arriving as DXF reaches the machine fastest. AutoCAD DWG files we convert to DXF ourselves at no charge. PDF, JPG and PNG are raster images — a line in them is a cluster of pixels, while the laser needs a toolpath, so such files have to be traced into vectors first and that step is quoted separately.
- DXF R12, R14 and R2000 — all three read natively on our machine
- DWG — an AutoCAD file; conversion to DXF is on us and costs nothing
- AI, EPS and SVG — fine for simple contours, but we need the scale confirmed
- PDF, JPG and PNG — raster files; they need vectorizing before cutting
- The drawing must be two-dimensional and dimensioned in millimetres
How does metal cutting from a DXF file work, step by step?
There are five steps: send the file, free check, price approval, cutting, collection. As soon as the file arrives we check whether every contour is closed, which units the drawing uses, and whether hole diameters suit the chosen thickness. If something needs correcting we name the specific line and tell you — nothing is cut before you approve. The full file-preparation specification, including kerf allowance and minimum hole diameter, lives on its own page: "How to prepare a file for laser cutting".
How do you export a clean DXF from each program?
Every CAD and vector editor exports DXF its own way, and the results differ. R2000 gives the most reliable file; R12 remains the safe fallback for older software. The table below shows where the export sits in each program and what we look at first when the file lands.
Which metals and thicknesses will my DXF cut in?
The same DXF can be cut in several metals — only the thickness ceiling changes. On our CNC fiber laser we cut mild steel up to 10mm, stainless up to 6mm, aluminium up to 5mm, and copper or brass up to 3mm, all at ±0.1mm positional tolerance. The same file costs differently per material because cutting speed depends on thickness and alloy: 5mm stainless takes several times longer on an identical contour than 1mm aluminium.
What we don't do — and when you'll need a partner workshop
Stated plainly: plasma cutting, waterjet cutting, press-brake bending, CNC milling and lathe work do not happen at our workshop — we do not own that equipment. If the part in your DXF exceeds our thickness ceiling, contains bend lines, or needs volumetric machining, we tell you before quoting and refer you to a vetted partner workshop. We only take on work our own machine can finish end to end.
- In-house: CNC fiber laser cutting and engraving on metal, wood, acrylic, leather and paper
- Not in-house: plasma cutting, waterjet, press-brake bending, CNC milling, lathe work
- Parts thicker than 10mm or otherwise non-standard go to a partner workshop, and we tell you up front
What does a DXF-based order cost, and how long does it take?
Three things set the price: total cut-path length, material type and thickness, and a one-off setup fee. That is why a part with the same outer dimensions but many holes and fine ornament costs more than a plain outline — the cut path is several times longer. You get an exact price in GEL for your specific file within 24 hours. Minimum order is one part; on larger quantities the unit price falls, because the setup fee is spread across the run. Once you approve, production takes 2-3 working days.
Exporting DXF from common CAD and vector programs
| Program | Where the export lives | Recommended DXF version | What we check on receipt |
|---|---|---|---|
| AutoCAD | File → Save As → DXF | R2000 | Whether blocks are exploded and helper layers switched off |
| SolidWorks | Export of a flat sketch or flattened part | R2000 | Whether the file holds only the cut contour or a 3D projection too |
| Fusion 360 | Sketch → Export as DXF | R2000 | Whether every sketch contour is closed |
| Adobe Illustrator | File → Export As → DXF | R14 or R2000 | Whether text has been converted to outlines |
| CorelDRAW | File → Export → DXF | R14 | Whether doubled lines from stroke width have been removed |
| Inkscape | Save As → Desktop Cutting Plotter (DXF) | R14 | Whether units are millimetres rather than pixels |
| Rhino | Export Selected → DXF | R2000 | Whether polylines are joined or split into separate segments |
How it works — step by step
- 1
1. Send the file
Email your DXF or DWG to info@craftbox.ge and state the material, thickness and quantity. Adding one control dimension — the overall length of the part, for instance — lets us verify the scale immediately.
- 2
2. Free check
We check closed contours, units, hole diameters and the spacing between nested parts. If anything needs attention, we point to the specific line.
- 3
3. Price within 24 hours
We measure the cut-path length and send you a price in GEL within 24 hours on working days.
- 4
4. Cutting
Once approved, we cut on the CNC fiber laser at ±0.1mm positional tolerance. Production runs 2-3 working days.
- 5
5. Collection
Collect the finished part at our Tbilisi workshop, or receive it by courier anywhere in Georgia.
Frequently asked questions
Which DXF version should I send?
R2000 is the safest choice — it stores arcs and polylines the way our machine reads them. R12 and R14 also work without trouble. If your software only saves the newest release, send it as is and we will down-convert it if needed.
Can I send a file from SolidWorks or Fusion 360?
Yes, provided you export a flat sketch or a flattened part as DXF rather than a 3D model. We do not cut directly from STEP or IGES, because the laser needs a flat contour. If all you have is the 3D model, send it and we will tell you whether the required profile can be derived from it.
Do I need to convert DWG to DXF myself?
No — that is our job and it is free. Just send the DWG exactly as AutoCAD saved it. If anything is lost in conversion, we flag it before fixing it.
How do I make sure the scale of my drawing is right?
Send one control dimension with the file — the overall length of the part or a hole diameter, in millimetres. We compare it against what the file measures and correct any mismatch before cutting. This check is part of quoting and is not billed separately.
Can I order a single piece, or is a production run required?
The minimum order is one part; a production run is never required. On larger quantities the unit price drops, because the one-off setup fee is spread across the batch. A single prototype and a run of a hundred are equally welcome.
I don't have a CAD file, only a sketch — what then?
Send a photo or scan of the sketch with the key dimensions marked. For simple geometric shapes vectorizing is quick; for intricate ornament it is a separate step and is quoted separately. Either way we tell you the cost first and only then start.
Can you plasma-cut or bend the same file?
No — plasma cutting, waterjet, press-brake bending, milling and lathe work do not happen at our workshop. If your part needs those operations we say so up front and refer you to a vetted partner workshop. We deliver only what our own CNC fiber laser cuts.