Output

DXF layers and toolpath types

Understand how DXF layers are named and coloured according to different toolpath types.

Generated DXFs group geometry by machining type. Colours give you a quick visual check in the DXF Exporter preview or in CAM. Layer names add structured detail — machining type, depth, and size where the export can infer it from the model — so you can review output or hand it off with less guesswork.

Toolpath types

Each toolpath type uses a fixed colour in the preview and in the downloaded DXF. The icons below match the legend on the homepage and in the layered preview.

	Toolpath type	Typical geometry
	Cut outside	The outer profile of the part.
	Cut inside	Internal profiles and cut-outs.
	Pocket	Cleared pocket areas, including overcam relief at part edges.
	Hole	Drilled or bored holes.
	Ball cut	Rounded grooves machined with a ball or bull-nose cutter.
	V-cut	V-grooves and similar angled cuts.

Use the DXF preview after generation to confirm that geometry landed on the expected type. See Export your first DXF package for the full preview workflow.

Layer names

Layer names follow a predictable pattern: optional size or angle prefix, machining type, then depth where the export provides it. Names use underscores and stay consistent across parts in a package.

Examples:

CUT_OUTSIDE — the outer profile of the part
CLEAR_12mm — an area clear (pocket) to 12 mm deep
3mm_HOLE_8mm — a 3 mm hole, 8 mm deep
12mm_BALL_CUT_6mm — a ball-cut groove with a 12 mm cutter, 6 mm deep
45deg_V_CUT_Through — a V-cut at 45°, through the material

Not every layer includes every segment. A profile cut may be type only with no depth suffix; a through-cut may end in Through instead of a millimetre value. The export report lists what was generated for each part if you need to cross-check.

Using this in your workshop

Because the naming logic is structured, many shops can filter layers or build macros and post-processors around machining type and any depth or size tokens that appear. That makes handoff clearer and programming more repeatable.

If this naming scheme does not fit how your shop works, get in touch. Hearing about different workflows helps us improve the output.