DXF Converter

Utilities for converting DXF outlines into extruded STL files, then optionally packing those STLs into OrcaSlicer 3MF projects with previews.

Dependencies

Core Python Requirements

The active DXF-to-STL path uses Python 3 plus these packages:

• ezdxf
• manifold3d
• trimesh

Install them with:

python3 -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate
python3 -m pip install --upgrade pip
python3 -m pip install ezdxf manifold3d trimesh

Platform-specific examples:

Windows

py -3 -m venv .venv
.venv\Scripts\activate
py -3 -m pip install --upgrade pip
py -3 -m pip install ezdxf manifold3d trimesh

macOS / Linux

python3 -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate
python3 -m pip install --upgrade pip
python3 -m pip install ezdxf manifold3d trimesh

3MF Workflow Requirements

folders_to_3mf.py shells out to the OrcaSlicer CLI.

The script tries OrcaSlicer in this order:

• orca-slicer on PATH
• OrcaSlicer on PATH
• common Windows install paths under C:\Program Files\OrcaSlicer\
• /Applications/OrcaSlicer.app/Contents/MacOS/OrcaSlicer
• Linux Flatpak via flatpak run --command=orca-slicer com.orcaslicer.OrcaSlicer

If OrcaSlicer is installed in a nonstandard location, you can override the command with either:

Windows PowerShell:

$env:ORCA_SLICER_COMMAND="C:\path\to\OrcaSlicer.exe"

macOS / Linux:

export ORCA_SLICER_COMMAND="/path/to/OrcaSlicer"

Or pass it directly on the command line:

python3 folders_to_3mf.py dxf/1 --orca-command "/path/to/OrcaSlicer"

Windows

Typical installer location:

C:\Program Files\OrcaSlicer\OrcaSlicer.exe

Some installs may use:

C:\Program Files\OrcaSlicer\orca-slicer.exe

If OrcaSlicer is not on PATH, run the 3MF workflow with:

py -3 folders_to_3mf.py dxf\1 --orca-command "C:\Program Files\OrcaSlicer\OrcaSlicer.exe"

macOS

Typical .app location:

/Applications/OrcaSlicer.app/Contents/MacOS/OrcaSlicer

The script auto-detects that location. You can verify the CLI is reachable with:

"/Applications/OrcaSlicer.app/Contents/MacOS/OrcaSlicer" --help

Linux

Common approaches:

• orca-slicer on PATH
• AppImage started from the folder where you downloaded it
• Flatpak:

flatpak run --command=orca-slicer com.orcaslicer.OrcaSlicer

If you use Flatpak, install it with:

flatpak install flathub com.orcaslicer.OrcaSlicer

If you use an AppImage, a common pattern is:

chmod +x OrcaSlicer_*.AppImage
./OrcaSlicer_*.AppImage --help

In that case, pass the AppImage path explicitly:

python3 folders_to_3mf.py dxf/1 --orca-command "/path/to/OrcaSlicer_2.x.x.AppImage"

Running the Project

Windows

DXF to STL:

py -3 batch_convert_dxf_to_stl.py dxf\5

DXF folder to 3MF:

py -3 folders_to_3mf.py dxf\1 --orca-command "C:\Program Files\OrcaSlicer\OrcaSlicer.exe"

macOS

DXF to STL:

python3 batch_convert_dxf_to_stl.py dxf/5

DXF folder to 3MF:

python3 folders_to_3mf.py dxf/1

Linux

DXF to STL:

python3 batch_convert_dxf_to_stl.py dxf/5

DXF folder to 3MF with Flatpak:

python3 folders_to_3mf.py dxf/1

DXF folder to 3MF with AppImage:

python3 folders_to_3mf.py dxf/1 --orca-command "/path/to/OrcaSlicer_2.x.x.AppImage"

Optional Script-Specific Dependencies

These are only needed for the older or standalone helper scripts:

• convert_dxf_splines_to_stl.py: shapely
• repair_stl_pymeshlab.py: pymeshlab
• convert_dxf_to_stl.py: FreeCAD with Python modules FreeCAD, Mesh, Part, and importDXF

Install the optional Python packages with:

python3 -m pip install shapely pymeshlab

The FreeCAD-based converter is separate from the active workflow and usually requires a FreeCAD installation provided by your OS package manager or the official FreeCAD distribution, not pip.

Quick Install Summary

If you only want the current supported conversion path, install:

python3 -m pip install ezdxf manifold3d trimesh

If you also want 3MF export, install the core Python packages above and install OrcaSlicer in a location the script can detect, or pass --orca-command.

Active Conversion Path

The current batch DXF-to-STL path is:

• batch_convert_dxf_to_stl.py - command-line batch entry point for a single folder of DXFs.
• convert_dxf_manifold_to_stl.py - actual DXF-to-STL converter used by the batch script and 3MF workflow.

The broader folder-to-3MF workflow is:

• folders_to_3mf.py - converts DXFs, exports one 3MF per folder with OrcaSlicer, and writes a log.
• grid_arrange_3mf.py - optional no-rotation grid layout pass.
• render_3mf_plate_preview.py - optional top-down PNG preview renderer.

Older/alternate standalone converters are still present, but are not used by the current batch path:

• convert_dxf_to_stl.py - FreeCAD-based converter.
• convert_dxf_splines_to_stl.py - alternate spline/Shapely converter.
• repair_stl_pymeshlab.py - standalone STL repair helper.

DXF to STL

Convert all DXFs directly inside one folder into that folder's stl subfolder:

python3 batch_convert_dxf_to_stl.py dxf/5

Convert a folder into a separate output folder, matching the earlier stl_batch style:

python3 batch_convert_dxf_to_stl.py dxf/1 stl_batch --suffix _3mm_fixed

Overwrite existing STL files:

python3 batch_convert_dxf_to_stl.py dxf/1 stl_batch --suffix _3mm_fixed --overwrite

Use a different extrusion thickness or cleanup offset:

python3 batch_convert_dxf_to_stl.py dxf/5 --thickness 3 --cleanup 0.0005

Scale the generated STLs uniformly:

python3 batch_convert_dxf_to_stl.py dxf/5 --scale 1.02 --suffix _scaled --overwrite

Scale only one or two axes:

python3 batch_convert_dxf_to_stl.py dxf/5 --scale-x 1.02 --scale-y 0.98 --suffix _xy_scaled --overwrite

Scale Z separately from the DXF outline. This keeps the X/Y footprint unchanged and makes the extrusion thicker:

python3 batch_convert_dxf_to_stl.py dxf/5 --thickness 3 --scale-z 1.25 --suffix _taller --overwrite

Convert inch-based DXF coordinates to millimeters by scaling all axes by 25.4:

python3 batch_convert_dxf_to_stl.py dxf/5 --scale 25.4 --suffix _mm --overwrite

Convert one DXF directly with the underlying converter:

python3 convert_dxf_manifold_to_stl.py dxf/5/64.dxf stl/64_3mm_fixed.stl 3 0.0005

Convert one DXF directly with scaling:

python3 convert_dxf_manifold_to_stl.py dxf/5/64.dxf stl/64_scaled.stl 3 0.0005 --scale 1.02

DXF Folders to 3MF

Create one arranged OrcaSlicer 3MF for a single folder:

python3 folders_to_3mf.py dxf/1

Process every descendant folder that directly contains DXFs, like the earlier dxf/110-145 run:

python3 folders_to_3mf.py dxf/110-145 --recursive --skip-preview

Process every descendant folder and bake a scale into the converted STLs before 3MF export:

python3 folders_to_3mf.py dxf/110-145 --recursive --scale 1.02 --overwrite --skip-preview

Use existing STLs in <folder>/stl and only create the 3MF:

python3 folders_to_3mf.py dxf/1 --skip-convert --overwrite

Package an STL-only folder directly, such as STLs generated under the root stl output tree:

python3 folders_to_3mf.py stl/1 --overwrite

Package every STL-only folder under the root stl output tree:

python3 folders_to_3mf.py stl --recursive --overwrite

Use the saved printer/process/filament presets:

python3 folders_to_3mf.py dxf/1 \
  --skip-convert \
  --overwrite \
  --orca-settings process_preset/process.json \
  --orca-settings printer_preset/p1p.json \
  --orca-filament filament_preset/pla.json \
  --log-file dxf/1/p1p-profile-final-check.log

If no Orca preset flags are passed, folders_to_3mf.py automatically loads the repo presets from printer_preset, process_preset, and filament_preset. These portable presets target the built-in Bambu P1P, 0.20mm Standard, and Bambu PLA Basic profiles, so they do not depend on files from $HOME.

Create a 3MF, rewrite it into a no-rotation grid layout, and render a preview:

python3 folders_to_3mf.py dxf/1 \
  --skip-convert \
  --overwrite \
  --grid-arrange \
  --grid-spacing 2 \
  --log-file dxf/1/grid-arrange-check.log

The 3MF workflow calls OrcaSlicer through Flatpak:

flatpak run --command=orca-slicer com.orcaslicer.OrcaSlicer

Standalone 3MF Helpers

Grid-arrange an existing 3MF in place:

python3 grid_arrange_3mf.py dxf/1/1.3mf --spacing 2

Render a PNG preview for an existing 3MF:

python3 render_3mf_plate_preview.py dxf/1/1.3mf dxf/1/1.png --size 1600

Output Notes

• batch_convert_dxf_to_stl.py only scans DXF files directly inside the input folder; it ignores subdirectories.
• By default, batch_convert_dxf_to_stl.py writes STLs to <input_folder>/stl.
• By default, folders_to_3mf.py adds _3mm_fixed before each STL extension.
• folders_to_3mf.py writes logs as folders_to_3mf-<timestamp>.log unless --log-file is provided.
• Existing STLs and 3MFs are skipped unless --overwrite is passed.
• --scale is a uniform multiplier applied to X, Y, and Z.
• --scale-x, --scale-y, and --scale-z are additional per-axis multipliers. For example, --scale 25.4 --scale-z 0.5 makes final Z scale 12.7.