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How to convert Solidworks parts to DXF files

By Harry Bryant
In the following tutorial, I will discuss how to create a DXF file from a Solidworks part. When
you convert a 3-D Solidworks part to a DXF file you will break it up into 2-D planes (such as top,
side, and front views). The laser cutting service that we contract will lay a sheet of balsa wood
or plywood material on their cutting table. On their computer they will see the cutting table.
They will then import the DXF file into the cutting table and the laser cutter will cut the part
out. This means that only one plane will need to be imported to the cutting table meaning that
only one plane will need to be converted into a DXF file.
For this tutorial, a rib from the 2014 Wing will be used.
1. Open the part in Solidworks:

2. From the File menu in the upper lefthand corner, select Save as.
3. Open the Save as type menu and select Dxf (*.dxf):

4. Now you must select the face that the laser cutting service will import to the cutting
table to cut the part. Apply common sense to determine the appropriate face. You may
select the face by either choosing one of the Annotation Views or by selecting the
Faces/loops/edges option and actually clicking on the face that you would want the
laser cutter to see. In this example, the front and rear faces are the appropriate faces for
the laser cutter. The left image below shows selecting the correct face using the
Annotations views. The right image shows selecting the correct face using the
Faces/loops/edges.


5. Click the green check mark.

6. Next you will be able to view the DXF file. Where there is blackness, there will be
material. Where there is whiteness, the laser will cut. Verify that all cuts are made
correctly and then click Save.

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