How to convert STL or F3D files to 2D vector (SVG or DXF)?

[charlenesays]

@Bartman

So after spending many, many months creating a 3D model of a poker table that I want to cut using my LR3, I find that the free hobby license version of Fusion won’t export the individual components in a format suitable to use in EstlCAM.

It will export STL files which I can import and convert in EstlCAM, but I want to nest two components on the same sheet, and so far I haven’t been able to figure out how to do that in EstlCAM. I had hoped to use DeepNest, but it requires a 2D drawing (SVG or DXF). Similarly teh “Update Drawing” function of EstlCAM requires a 2D drawing (will convert the first STL file to 2D, but won’t allow a second STL file to be added)

I’ve tried several different online file conversion websites, but their DXF output files just cause EstlCAM and Deepnest to freeze or crash. EstlCAM shows an error that the file contains a bitmap drawing rather than a vector drawing.

Does anyone have a tried and true method for converting 3D drawings into 2D vector drawings?

Alternatively, if a forum member with Fusion (full license) could help me out by importing my F3D or STL files (2 files) and then exporting them as DXF files I would be super appreciative. Please contact me by PM if this is something that you could do.

Hey, I totally feel your pain on this—I ran into the same wall when trying to export parts from Fusion’s hobby license for use in EstlCAM. It’s frustrating when you’ve put in so much time designing, only to get hung up on file formats.

Here are a few workarounds that helped me:

1. Use Fusion’s Sketch Mode (Even in Hobby Version):
If your 3D model is built from sketches (which it usually is), you can right-click on the face of a component, choose “Create Sketch”, and then export that sketch as a DXF directly—even in the free version. That’s what I ended up doing to get usable DXFs for EstlCAM and DeepNest.

2. Free CAD tools like FreeCAD:
If you have STL files, you can import them into FreeCAD, convert them to a solid, and then create 2D projections from the faces you want. From there, export as DXF. It’s a bit of a learning curve, but it works.

3. Fusion CAM workaround:
If you create a 2D contour toolpath in Fusion and post-process it using the generic GRBL post-processor, you can sometimes extract usable G-code directly for EstlCAM, skipping the nesting—but that doesn’t help with placing multiple parts on one sheet.