Are you looking for free DXF files to use with your CAM software, 3D printer, laser cutter or CNC machine? Here’s a list of the top free DXF files that you can download right now. Each entry in this list provides you with a link to the best free source of each type of vector file and relevant information about what that particular file is good for. Scroll down to see more.
3D Printing DXF Files
If you want to 3D print something you’ll most likely need to convert it to a 3D model file. The most common model file type is an STL file, but these are not easy to create from scratch. A much simpler solution is to find an existing 3D model in DXF format and convert that to an STL file. If you’re looking for free DXF files to print you’ll mostly find architectural objects such as furniture, plant pots or decorative items. Just search for “free DXF file” or “DXF model free” and you’ll find plenty of results. As a rule architectural objects are best printed in multiple segments in order to minimize the amount of support material used. This is something you’ll need to do with virtually any model that isn’t already optimized for 3D printing. You can use our free online tool to convert DXFs to STL files. Just drag and drop your model file and the tool will convert it to STL file that you can then load into your 3D printer software.
CAM Software DXF files
If you’re using a CAM software such as Fusion 360 or Onshape you may want to convert an existing DXF file to an NC code for your CNC machine. You can do this manually of course, but there are also many free online DXF to G code converters that can do it for you automatically. It’s worth checking to see if the DXF file you wish to convert happens to be one of the free ones. If you need a DXF file to create from scratch you can find many at Open Design's Architecture and Building Wiki. You can also use our free DXF to G code converter. Simply drag and drop your DXF file and the tool will convert it to a G code file that you can then send to your CNC machine.
Laser Cutting DXF Files
If you’re using Fusion 360 or Onshape you may also want to convert an existing DXF file to SVG file for laser cutting. Again it’s worth checking if the DXF file you wish to convert happens to be one of the free ones. You can also find many free DXF files on Archimedes' Sketchpad, a free online CAD tool. You can easily import any Sketchpad model file into your CAM software and then convert it to SVG file for laser cutting. You can also use our free DXF to SVG converter. Just drag and drop your DXF file and the tool will convert it to SVG file that you can then load into your CAM software.
CNC Milling DXF Files
If you’re using Fusion 360 or Onshape you may also want to convert an existing DXF file to G code for CNC milling. Again it’s worth checking if the DXF file you wish to convert happens to be one of the free ones. You can find many free DXF files on Archimedes' Sketchpad, a free online CAD tool. You can easily import any Sketchpad model file into your CAM software and then convert it to a G code file for CNC milling. You can also use our free DXF to G code converter. Just drag and drop your DXF file and the tool will convert it to a G code file that you can then send to your CNC machine.
Tips for Finding and Using Free DXF Files
When searching for free DXF files you should keep a few things in mind: - Does it have the correct units and dimensions? If you’re converting the file to a different format it’s important to make sure the units match the ones you’re converting to. - Is it in a usable state? Some free DXF files are only available in an unfinished state. - What’s the license? Most free DXF models are released under creative commons licenses that allow you to use the work for commercial purposes. - What are the terms? Some free DXF files are released under terms that limit what you can do with them. Read the license to see how the creator of the model intends you to use it. You may also want to ask the creator if they would be willing to share their model under a more permissive license.
Printable DXFs: Objects You Can Print With a 3D Printer
Most 3D printing DXF files are architectural objects that would look good in a living room or on a patio. However, you can also find plenty of other types of models such as animals, cars, logos and even famous people. If you want more obscure models you may need to create them yourself. You can do this using our free online parametric modeling software Sketch. Alternatively, you can convert a 2D image to a 3D model using our free online image to model converter. If you just want to find a model file and print it as-is you can search for “free 3d models” or “free 3d printables” and you’ll find plenty of results. You can also create your own models from scratch and then make them available for others to download for free. There are many online communities where you can do this, such as Sketchfab, Thingiverse or MyMiniFactory.
Laserable DXFs: Objects You Can Laser Cut
If you want to make something that’s not easy to 3D print you should convert it to a DXF file and laser cut it. You can then find free laser cutting DXF files on sites such as Archimedes' Sketchpad and Sketchfab. You can also create your own laser cutting DXF files using our free online DXF to SVG converter. Once you have a laser cutting DXF file you can use our free online laser cutting tool to find a laser cutter near you. Simply drag and drop your file, select the material and power settings, and you’ll be shown a list of nearby laser cutting services. You can also use our free online laser cutting service to convert your DXF file to SVG, upload your model to our servers and then have it sent to a nearby laser cutting service for a small fee.
CNC Millable DXFs: Objects You Can CNC Mill
If you want to make something that’s not easy to laser cut you should convert it to a DXF file and CNC mill it. You can then find free CNC milling DXF files on sites such as Archimedes' Sketchpad and Sketchfab. You can also create your own CNC milling DXF files using our free online DXF to SVG converter. Once you have a CNC milling DXF file you can use our free online CNC tool to find a CNC milling shop near you. Simply drag and drop your file, select the material and power settings, and you’ll be shown a list of nearby CNC milling services. You can also use our free online CNC tool to convert your DXF file to SVG, upload your model to our servers and then have it sent to a nearby CNC milling service for a small fee.
Conclusion
Free DXF files are an easy way to get started with 3D modeling and fabrication. If you have a model in another format you can also convert it to DXF and then use it in other applications. You can find architectural objects such as furniture and decorative items, as well as a wide variety of other models. It’s also possible to create your own models and then share them for free.
