How do I open a DXF file?

EFA CAMverse opens ASCII DXF files directly and displays lines, arcs, polylines, splines, texts, hatches, dimensions and blocks. The unit is taken from the file. 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.

Can EFA CAMverse prepare DXF files and pass them on?

Yes. EFA CAMverse passes DXF drawings on, prepared: as DXF for depaneling, design or documentation – with layer assignment, closed contours and true arcs, in millimetres or inches, as DXF 2000 or R12, optionally one file per layer.

EFA CAMverse › DXF viewer

NewPrepare DXF and pass it on cleanly→ 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 –, shows them right next to the PCB data of the same project and passes them on, prepared, as DXF.

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.

3 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 taken from the file. 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

All common drawing elements – lines, arcs, circles, polylines, splines, texts, faces, hatches and dimensions.

Blocks

Blocks – nested ones too – appear in the right place.

Units & measuring

The unit comes from the file – 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.

Prepare & pass on

From DXF drawing to a clean production file.

A DXF file from your customer or from design is rarely usable as it is. EFA CAMverse prepares it and passes it on – as DXF for depaneling, design and documentation.

Assign layers correctly: you define which layer of the source file holds the outline, milling paths, drill holes or fiducials – EFA CAMverse remembers the assignment per layer name for the next job.
Clean geometry: closed contours with true arcs; drill holes and slots arrive as such at the recipient.
Fits your downstream software: ready-made settings for depaneling, design and documentation, in millimetres or inches, layer names and colours as you specify; texts keep their style and alignment.
File format as needed: DXF 2000 or R12, everything in one file or one file per layer – with the origin of the source or at the lower left corner of the outline.

All about the DXF export →

DXF source file.dxf

Layer 1→ outline
Layer 2→ milling path
Layer 3→ drill holes
Layer 4→ fiducials

↓

Passed on as …

DXF · Depanelingdepaneling software
DXF · DesignCAD program
DXF · Documentationdrawing

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. Passing on as DXF →

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 8 more PCB/CAM formats – in the same tool, with the same way of working.

Gerber X3