nozzlefox

STLSVG

STL to SVG and DXF

Draw a 3D model as a true-size 2D outline or a cross-section, for laser cutters, CAD and drawings.

  • Nothing uploaded
  • No sign-up
  • Free, no limits

Drop your STL, OBJ or 3MF here

or paste it, or pick it from your device

.stl · .obj · .3mf

  1. Drop your model
  2. Pick the view and outline or cut
  3. Download SVG or DXF

Good to know

How to turn an STL into an SVG or DXF

  1. Drop an STL, OBJ or 3MF above. It's read on your device, not uploaded.
  2. Choose what to draw. Outline is the shape the whole model covers seen from one side, like its shadow. Cross-section cuts through it at the height or depth you pick, so holes and walls inside show up.
  3. Pick the view: from the top, the front or the side.
  4. Download the SVG or the DXF. Both are at true size in millimetres.

What people use it for

  • Laser and vinyl cutting: cut a base plate, a gasket or a sticker that matches a printed part exactly.
  • CAD: bring the footprint of a mesh into Fusion, Onshape, FreeCAD or LibreCAD as a sketch to design around, such as a mount or a case.
  • Drawings and documentation: a clean profile of a part with its real dimensions.
  • Checking a layer: the cross-section from the top is the shape your printer draws at that height.

SVG or DXF?

SVG opens in browsers, Inkscape, Illustrator, Cricut Design Space and most laser software (LightBurn, xTool Creative Space). DXF is the CAD standard: Fusion, FreeCAD, LibreCAD, AutoCAD and laser cutters read it. Both files say millimetres, so they import at the right size; if a program asks, choose mm.

The SVG can be outlines only (best for cutting, where every line is a cut) or filled shapes (best for drawings and stencils). Holes stay holes either way.

When the drawing looks wrong

  • Odd shapes or an error: the mesh has holes, so it isn't a closed solid. Holes are filled automatically, but badly broken files draw better after Repair STL.
  • The wrong side: STL files from different programs face different ways. Try the other two views: one of them is the side you want.
  • Too small or too big: the STL was probably made in inches. Fix the size in Resize STL.

Going the other way, from a drawing to a printable shape? Use SVG to STL.

Questions

How do I convert an STL to SVG for free?

Drop the STL into the tool on this page, choose the view, and click Download SVG. It's free, needs no sign-up, and the file never leaves your device.

Can I get a DXF from an STL for laser cutting?

Yes. Click Download DXF: every outline becomes a closed polyline in millimetres, which laser software and CAD programs import at the right size.

What's the difference between the outline and a cross-section?

The outline is everything the model covers seen from one side, like a shadow. A cross-section is a single cut through the model at a chosen height or depth, so it shows inner holes and walls.

Is the SVG the real size?

Yes. Width and height are written in millimetres, so the drawing prints and cuts at the same size as the model.

Does it work with OBJ and 3MF files?

Yes. STL, OBJ and 3MF all work. A 3MF with several objects is drawn as one shape.