How do I open a DXF file?

EFA CAMverse opens ASCII DXF files directly and displays lines, arcs, polylines, splines, texts, hatches (HATCH), dimensions and blocks. Units are interpreted from the file's $INSUNITS setting. Binary DXF is not loaded. Install the application for free, open the file, done.

What is the difference between DXF and DWG?

DXF is the exchange format defined by Autodesk (ASCII or binary), DWG is AutoCAD's native format. EFA CAMverse reads ASCII DXF; DWG files must be saved as DXF in your CAD.

EFA CAMverse › DXF viewer

Format guide · DXF

Open and view DXF drawings – free on Windows.

Received an outline, rout contour or front panel as .dxf? EFA CAMverse opens DXF drawings natively – no cloud upload – and shows them right next to the PCB data of the same project, in the same tool.

Download for free How to open the file

.dxf ASCII

DXF – the de-facto standard for mechanical geometry (AutoCAD).

The format

What is DXF?

DXF (“Drawing Interchange Format”) is a CAD exchange format defined by Autodesk. It describes geometric drawing elements – lines, arcs, circles, polylines, splines, texts, hatches and blocks – via a group-code based ASCII schema. Introduced in 1982 with AutoCAD 1.0, it has been a cross-industry de-facto standard ever since.

In the PCB and assembly world, DXF mainly serves mechanics: board outline, rout contours, cutouts, panel mechanics and front panels – the exchange with mechanical CAD/CAM. DXF has no PCB intelligence such as nets or components.

Three steps

How to open a DXF file

Install EFA CAMverse

Download for free and install – a native Windows application (10/11, 64-bit), free to use as a viewer.

Open the .dxf

Open the drawing directly – ASCII DXF is read; the unit is interpreted from the file's $INSUNITS setting. Binary DXF is not loaded (save as ASCII DXF in your CAD).

View and verify

Review contours, measure distances – and view the drawing next to the Gerber or ODB++ data of the same project.

In the viewer

What EFA CAMverse shows you from the DXF drawing

Drawing elements

Lines, arcs, circles, polylines, ellipses and splines, texts (TEXT/MTEXT), faces (SOLID/3DFACE), hatches (HATCH) and dimensions.

Blocks

INSERT/BLOCKS are resolved transform-aware and recursively – nested drawing structures appear in the right place.

Units & measuring

The unit comes from $INSUNITS – measure distances and contours right in the drawing.

Side by side

Open the mechanical drawing next to the PCB data of the same project – align outline and layout in the same tool.

Image output

Output the view as PDF, PNG or JPG – for documentation and coordination.

100 % local

A native Windows application – no cloud, no upload. Your drawings stay on your machine.

Working together

Mechanics next to electronics

Combine with the PCB data

EFA CAMverse opens different formats of the same project in one interface – the DXF mechanics next to Gerber, ODB++ or KiCad. Check rout contours against the layout, align the front panel with the assembly: one tool, one way of working. Why one tool →

Output & document

Output views as PDF, PNG or JPG – for manufacturing documents, customer queries or internal coordination. All features →

Good to know

DXF in context

ASCII, binary and DWG

DXF is versioned along AutoCAD releases (R12 … 2018) and exists in ASCII and binary form – EFA CAMverse reads the ASCII form; binary DXF is rejected. The related DWG is AutoCAD's native format and not the same thing: simply save as ASCII DXF in your CAD.

DXF in the PCB world

DXF knows only drawing geometry – no nets, layer roles, padstacks or components. It comes from the mechanical CAD world and complements the electronics formats: EFA CAMverse treats it accordingly as a pure geometry format next to Gerber, ODB++ & co. To the Gerber guide →

And when the next customer delivers something else: EFA CAMverse also opens eight more PCB/CAM formats – in the same tool, with the same way of working.

Gerber X3