Converting a two-dimensional DXF file to OBJ is a relatively straightforward process:

1. First, convert the file to an SVG image, with an online tool like the DXF to SVG converter at Aconvert. Simply upload your DXF file and click “Convert Now!”
2. With the SVG file in hand, follow the Tinkercad instructions from our guide on converting SVG to STL to finish the process.

The SVG to STL tutorial should get you almost all the way to the finish line. The only small change to the instructions is to select “.obj” instead of “.stl” at the final export step in Tinkercad.

Additionally, keep in mind that your converted OBJ file may not have accurate dimensions assigned. This is because neither DXF nor SVG files store references to units. As a result, you need to be careful to keep track of the dimensions in your original file so that you end up with an object with the correct proportions. You can always use AutoDesk Viewer if you need to open your DXF file somewhere to check.

Converting a 3D DXF file is a three-step process:

1. Convert the DXF file to STL. Use the DXF to STL converter at Bear File Converter.
2. Take your newly-converted STL file and import it into Tinkercad.
3. With the model open, click on “Export” and select “.obj” to save the converted file.

There are plenty of online image-converting tools out there, so if you have issues with the DXF converter linked in step 1, feel free to try another tool. Just be careful to check that your object has been converted accurately. Of the online conversion tools we tried, several didn’t work at all, and the few that appeared to work didn’t always faithfully convert the model, leading to some very strange-looking excavators!

In case none of the online converters work for you, or you just want to jump straight to the “safest” method, you can convert your DXF file is a multi-step process using AutoCAD. If you don’t have a license, you can download a trial from the AutoCAD website, then follow our guide to convert DXF files to STL. Once you have your STL file, use the first option above (Tinkercad method) to open and convert the STL to OBJ.

Overall, this option is the most reliable and straightforward way to get your DXF into the format you need. If you do have an AutoCAD license, then this is your ideal solution. If you don’t have a license, then outside the trial period this won’t be an option. The other drawback is that if you have multiple files to convert, you’ll need to repeat the process for each file.

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If you have a large number of DXFs to convert into OBJ format and don’t want to repeat the above processes multiple times, you should consider trying some different 3D modeling tools.

Fusion 360 is a commonly-used tool that can import DXF and export OBJ. Fusion 360 is free for personal use and will allow you to convert and save up to 10 different models at once. You can download Fusion 360 projects stored in the cloud as OBJs, though some users have reported a loss of quality using this method.

Alternatively, you can also try the Pro version of SketchUp, which also supports directly importing DXF files and exporting them to OBJ (as well as having many other useful features).

Lastly, there are also many good alternatives to Fusion 360 and SketchUp-like programs that work with a wide variety of formats and have other features that might be just what you need for your projects. There are tons of options, so experiment until you find what works best for you.