Laser file checker

How this works

Your file is opened and measured by your own browser, the same way our instant quote reads it. Nothing is sent anywhere until you choose to upload it for a price. Curves, circles, and arcs are turned into short straight segments for measuring, so lengths are accurate to a fraction of a percent.

Overall size

The width and height of a box around everything in the file. If it's far off what you expect, the units are probably wrong: a 100 mm part read as inches looks like 100 in. DXF files usually store their units (the $INSUNITS setting); when they don't, choose the units above. SVG files are measured at 96 px to the inch, the SVG standard, and sizes set in mm in the file are respected.

Total cut length

The length of every line, arc, and curve added together. This is how far the laser travels while cutting, and it's the biggest factor in cutting time.

Separate shapes

Lines whose ends touch are joined into one shape. Each separate shape is a separate cut, with its own starting point. A sign with 20 letters and a border has at least 21.

Open shapes

A shape is open when its outline doesn't close, so the end of one line doesn't meet the start of the next. We check every end: if no other end lies within 0.002 in. (0.05 mm), it's a loose end. An open outline can't be cut out as a part; the laser just cuts a slit. Usually it's a gap left when drawing, or an outline made of lines that overshoot instead of meeting. Join them in your drawing program (in many programs that's "join" or "close path").

Tiny features

Shapes smaller than 0.04 in. (1 mm) across. These are often stray dots or leftover fragments, and real details this small tend to melt together or fall out in acrylic. Delete the strays; for real details, see the smallest detail you can laser cut.

Duplicate lines

Two copies of the same line on top of each other, common after copying, pasting, or exporting shapes that share an edge. The laser cuts the line twice, which melts the edge, slows the job, and adds to the price. We compare every segment's two end points, rounded to 0.001 in.; lines that overlap only partly may not be caught.

Want the full guide? Read how to prepare a file for laser cutting acrylic and, if you're starting from a picture, how to convert an image to SVG. Our laser cutting page covers what we can cut. Don't have a drawing? Describe your idea and we'll help.