Design Guidelines for laser cutting parts
> Supported Formats for laser cutting
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DXF Example
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DWG Example
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AI Example
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SVG Example
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- For .svg files, it is important to check the measures detected by our tool, which can be edited in the configurator itself. The scale of the format may be altered depending on the version of the file or software used with which it is created.
For Adobe Illustrator (.ai) and PDF files, the parts of the file must be fully contained inside the canvas during file export. E.g. Most templates start with a DIN A4 background. If the part measures more than the paper format predefined by the program, the size of the background canvas must be modified to a larger format.
Do you have any doubts about the creation of your files? Contact us
> Recommended software to create laser cutting files
All CAD software can save and export files in the formats we support in our configurator. Here is a list of our recommendations.
Adobe Illustrator™ and Inkscape™ are the most versatile ones, designed for both technical and artistic creations, with a wide range of available export formats and easy to use. Autodesk Autocad™ and QCad™ are the industry standard for 2D CAD drawing. Solidworks™ and Autodesk Fusion360™ are 3D drawing software for engineering and mechanical design.
Remember: it is necessary to upload the parts free of dimensions, measures, and drawing templates and in real scale 1:1 in millimeters.
Preparing your file
The 4 basic points to get your parts ready for our configurator:
> Scale
Your part must be the exact size you want it to be cut (1:1 scale). If you want the part in a different size than the original file you must indicate it in the configurator. The units in which you must upload your file are millimeters (mm) or inches (in).
> Content
Your file should contain only the lines to be cut. To get your parts properly quoted, your design should be free of dimensions, notes, borders, and objects that should not be manufactured.
> Strokes
Your designs must be free of open points and intersections. Our process handles all lines in
your design as a cutting line, an open area will generate a non-complete cut, and a line intersection will generate an extra cut. Make sure your designs do not have any of these elements.
> Texts
We have many fonts installed in our machines but it is possible that the one you choose for
your creation is not there. To avoid any mistakes, we need you to convert texts into outlines.
In most CAD programs, the tool for converting text into shapes is called “explode or “explode text”. In Adobe illustrator™ this can be done by selecting the text and clicking on the Text
Menu>Create Outlines.
Laser cutting process
Useful information to understand the process and its capabilities.
> Capabilities of the laser cutting process
Our precision and maximum dimensions:
±0.15 mm
Cutting tolerance
1000 x 2000 mm
Size of our cutting formats
0.3 mm ~ 8 mm
Cutting thickness
The dimensions of our sheet metal formats match the maximum dimensions we can produce for a part. If you need bigger dimensions for your creations, please contact us.
> Shape and hole limitations
Our process has some limitations according to the thickness of the material we want to cut.
Find below the minimum measurements for hole diameter and space between shapes to
guarantee a good cut and finish.
> Limitations on shapes and holes
Thickness (t)
Minimum diameter (d)*
* In aluminum, the minimum diameter is equal to the value of the thickness
> Minimum measurement between shapes
Minimum space between cutting elements apart. It also applies to the minimum distance
between the cutting silhouettes and the perimeter of the part.
Thickness (t)
Minimum diameter (d)*
* In aluminum, the minimum diameter is equal to the value of the thickness
It is possible to properly manufacture parts that do not comply with the Minimum Hole Sizes and/or Minimum measurement between shapes tables, however, the correct cutting result is not guaranteed by LaserBoost if the specifications of these tables are not met.
In addition to the non-correlation between the design and these tables, the quality of the cut may be affected by factors such as the existence of areas on the part with a high concentration of cut, among others.
Explore more content
Finishes for your laser cut parts
At LaserBoost we offer a wide range of finishes for your parts. Here, we show you what they look like and their main applications.
Geometry designs meets unlimited accuracy in laser cutting
The automotive industry, with its demanding quality standards, aims to ensure that the end customer, the vehicle buyer, enjoys a product where everything fits perfectly.
