CNC stands for computer numerical control, which involves a machine working automatically according to computer instructions. Even a 3D printer is technically a CNC machine, but the term “CNC” is most often used to refer to mills and routers, devices that are typically used to cut wood or acrylic.
In the world of CNC, designs are commonly 2D drawings that indicate the path your cutting tool will follow. CNC files come in formats like DXF, SVG, CDR, or AI, but it’s also possible to work with 3D models like STL files. To make your chosen design a reality, a computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) program converts the coordinates from your file into actions that a CNC machine can follow.
With computer-aided design (CAD) or drawing software, you can create these files yourself. However, it’s also possible to find ready-to-cut models online. If you don’t have much experience with modeling for CNC (it’s quite different from modeling for 3D printing), it’s a good idea to start with existing models. That way, you can tweak and play around with your machine’s settings until it makes the cut!
In composing the following list, we selected sites that are easily searchable, offer a wide variety of models and file types, and cater to multiple CNC techniques. So, let’s see what’s out there!
Dxfprojects.com
Dxfprojects.com, despite its name, is a site that offers models in file formats such as DXF, SVG, AI, and PDF. The site focuses on showcasing free models alongside a small selection of premium items.
You’ll find a wide variety of models, including toys, puzzles, and decorations. To sort through everything, simply go to the left-side menu and select the category you want to explore.
Clicking on the image or title of a design you like will take you to the model’s page, where you can see who made it as well as how many views and downloads it has. Scrolling down, you’ll find the download button for your chosen file.
- Formats available: DXF, SVG, PDF, AI
- CNC techniques: Router, laser
- Number of free files: ~920
3axis.co
3axis.co is another great alternative for finding CNC files. You can find DXF, CDR, PDF, BMP, DWG, and STL files. There are filters for categories, like file type and method of CNC, in a handy menu on the left side of the page.
There’s a nice range of models as well, including some cool science projects. Be sure to scroll past the first page of results!
To download a file from this site, first select a project you like, and you’ll then be able to see the available file formats. Once you’ve clicked on the model, it will take you to the details, where you’ll have a short description as well as the author’s name. Below the image, you’ll see the download button in dark blue. Click, and it’ll start!
- Formats available: DXF, CDR, PDF, STL, DWG, DMP
- CNC techniques: Router, plasma, laser
- Number of free files: ~24,500
Instructables
As you might suspect by the name, Instructables is a site that offers instruction manuals on just about any project you can imagine. It is one of, if not the most, popular collaborative sites out there. The modus operandi is simple: You share a project you made, explain how you did it, and other people can then try to replicate it and explain how it went.
This site has a wide variety of projects ranging from electronics to 3D printing. There are even cooking recipes! And of course, what’s of interest to us: CNC projects. To find CNC-specific projects on Instructables, simply go to the category “Workshop” and use the filtering menu on the right for CNC. Alternatively, you can search for CNC in the search bar.
The available CNC projects include furniture, toys, and electronic projects that use CNC. There is truly no limit to what you might find here. In the same vein, you can find projects in any file type, including STL, G-code, or DXF. Fortunately, these projects also come with plenty of helpful guidance and reference pictures.
- Formats available: DXF, SVG, PDF, STL, STEP, G-code
- CNC techniques: Router, laser
- Number of free files: ~715
Maslow Community Garden
Maslow Community Garden is a collaborative hub for the Maslow CNC community, fostering idea exchange and open-source design sharing. All of the projects are linked to Maslow forums. With files stored on GitHub repositories, the community can easily collaborate, contribute, and maintain design files.
The website updates every 5 minutes from tracked projects, eliminating centralized ownership concerns. The different categories, which span furniture, food and shelter, signs, and more, showcase the variety of CNC designs you can find on the garden.
- Formats available: F3D, STEP, DXF, SVG
- CNC techniques: Router
- Number of free files: ~80
FilesCnc
FilesCnc is a site that mainly focuses on sharing decorative engravings. However, you can also find wooden boxes, birdhouses, dollhouses, animals, mandalas, toys, photo frames, and seasonal models. Designs are offered in DXF, CDR, DWG, PDF, and SVG formats.
When you first open the page, you’ll see a selection of the most recently added models. The menu on top of the site has filters according to the model or file type. There’s also a search bar, so you can more quickly find what you’re looking for.
When you’ve decided on a model, you’ll find a bunch of tags below the picture. Skip all of this and head to the bottom to find a gray download button, where you’ll be able to get your model.
- Formats available: DXF, SVG, CDR, PDF, DWG
- CNC techniques: Router, laser
- Number of free files: Not specified
AtFAB
Co-founded by architects Anne Filson and Gary Rohrbacher, AtFAB is a project aimed at designing simple and beautiful objects for digital CNC fabrication tools. The files for their furniture line are open-source and posted online for makers to download, customize, and make with their CNC machine.
Their collection consists of sixteen versatile designs conceived for CNC milling production. What sets AtFAB apart is its commitment to customization. Through user-friendly applets, each design can be effortlessly tailored to specific dimensions. This way, you can personalize the design to be taller, longer, shorter, or wider.
The files, provided in DXF and PDF formats, come with instructions for making and assembling the furniture. To download them, it’s necessary to provide your name and email. Whether you choose to craft the furniture yourself or order it pre-assembled through Opendesk, AtFAB’s designs are sure to help your living space come to life.
- Formats available: DXF, PDF
- CNC techniques: Router
- Number of free files: 16, with the possibility of customization
DXFforCNC
As the name suggests, DXFforCNC is a site focused on DXF files. Although it has many paid models, there’s also a wide selection of free options. The free offerings range from wall art to animal ornaments, focusing on 2D models and plaques.
To find the free section, simply choose “Free DXF Files” in the top menu of the site. The free area doesn’t have subsections by type of file, but you can still sort the models by popularity or alphabetical order to help make your search a little easier.
- Format available: DXF
- CNC techniques: Router, laser
- Number of free files: ~1,700
Ameede
Ameede is a treasure trove for CNC enthusiasts, offering an extensive collection of free vector design files catering to plasma, CNC, laser cutting, and even 3D printing. With categories ranging from animals to everyday objects, users can effortlessly explore their collection.
The site hosts thousands of files in various formats, such as SVG, CDR, and DXF, ensuring compatibility with different cutting machines. While the initial navigation might seem cluttered, the layout is user-friendly and the search functionality is easy to use. Ameede is a valuable resource for finding a diverse array of high-quality, free design files for your CNC projects.
- Formats available: CDR, DXF, SVG, PDF
- CNC techniques: Router, plasma, laser
- Number of free files: Not listed, but in the thousands
Maker Union
Maker Union offers high-quality 2D designs in the DXF format. There are free weekly packages of 2D designs for woodworking, and they even have the option to try a tool for converting images into DXF and G-code.
To get a sense of the range of models available, you can find ballerinas, sharks, fireworks, and windmills. Note that you can only download the entire category of models, not one specific selection. To download, you must be registered with Maker Union.
- Format available: DXF
- CNC techniques: Router, laser
- Number of free files: ~270
ZenziWerken
ZenziWerken is a German site, also available in English, that compiles designs by Daniel Groß and other makers, suitable for CNC. These files are also available on Thingiverse. As we’ll look into further below, Thingiverse is one of the most popular repositories for 3D printing files and creations. However, searching for CNC projects can take a little work: They will only appear if they have “CNC” or related keywords in the title.
On ZenziWerken, designs are classified into 11 categories, from decorations to furniture. There’s also a contact tab where you can submit Thingiverse projects that aren’t already included.
- Formats available: DXF, SVG, PDF, STL
- CNC techniques: Router, plasma, laser
- Number of free files: ~200
CNCDesignShop
CNCDesignShop is an interesting site because, in addition to the more standard CNC technologies, it offers waterjet-compatible projects. There are paid files you can buy using “credits”, but there’s also a good selection of free 2D files that, as they claim, “are all guaranteed to work great with your machine.”
Files can be filtered by collections (wall art, farm signs, clocks, etc.), categories (cats, plants, rustic, etc.), and machine type (technology). There’s also a general search function if you already know what you’re looking for.
- Format available: DXF
- CNC techniques: Router, plasma, laser, waterjet
- Number of free files: ~200
CNCCookbook
CNCCookbook, as you might expect, is dedicated to guides and advice for various CNC technologies. It offers files by theme in DXF format, or you can download large collections as ZIP files. Some categories of designs include animals, maps, and toys.
Once you’ve found a model you like, click on the image, and the download will start automatically.
- Format available: DXF
- CNC techniques: Router, plasma, laser, waterjet
- Number of free files: ~500
Obrary
Obrary is an open community library of CNC files. The purpose of this library is to support the open-source movement by providing CNC files that anyone can use for any purpose, as long as you give attribution. While the library is predominantly maintained by two team members, anyone can donate designs as long as they agree to release them under a Creative Commons license.
The organization scheme of the page only separates designs by CNC technique, with router and laser, so it isn’t possible to set them apart by type of model, although there’s a search bar you can use if you’re looking for something specific. Additionally, when people recreate a design, they can rate it, which allows you to see how popular or doable a design is.
- Formats available: DXF, PDF
- CNC techniques: Router, laser
- Number of free files: ~150
LoveSVG
As you may guess by the name, LoveSVG is a site for SVG lovers. Most of the files have a price of $0, a.k.a. free! Another nice thing about the site is that everything is theme-oriented, so you can easily find bundles of Mother’s Day and other holiday patterns, for example.
You can also find individual models by using the navigation bar, checking out the “SVG Cut Files” section of the menu, and exploring the “Free SVG Cut Files” subsection. There are hundreds of CNC files featuring animals, holidays, names, wall art, nature, and more.
- Formats available: DXF, SVG, EPS, PNG
- CNC techniques: Router, laser
- Number of free files: ~5,500
Inventables
Inventables is a CNC company with products such as CNC router spindles and CNC carving software. This software is called Easel, and it has a free web-based version, as well as a downloadable Pro version with three different subscription plans (~$25/month, ~$235/year, ~$600/3 years).
Inventables also hosts a repository of projects, where you can find many unique designs uploaded by the community. The only limitation is that the projects can only be opened on the web-based Easel platform, meaning you can’t directly download the drawing file onto your computer. However, if you’re willing to do the CAM setup in Easel, you can then download the G-code to be used on your CNC machine.
- Formats available: G-code (downloadable after setup in Easel)
- CNC techniques: Router
- Number of free files: ~150
Bonus: General Repositories
Searching for CNC files on repositories like Thingiverse, Printables, and GrabCAD is a smart way to find hidden gems. Despite not being CNC-specific platforms, their user-friendly interfaces attract a diverse community of makers, designers, and engineers who share their CNC files for other makers to download and enjoy.
All of these platforms primarily support STL files, but their flexibility allows makers to upload various file types. By searching for terms like “CNC”, “milling”, “2D art”, or “laser cut”, you can quickly discover plenty of CNC-related designs for your next project. You might even try to make your own router!
License: The text of "Free CNC Files: The Best Sites in 2024" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.