DXF vs DWG in one line
DWG is your editable working master; DXF is the file you hand off. DWGis Autodesk's native binary format with full support for layers, blocks and 3D. DXF is the open, plain-text interchange format that almost every CAD and CNC program can read.
| DXF | DWG | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Open, ASCII text | Proprietary, binary |
| Best for | Sharing, CNC, laser, waterjet | Editing in AutoCAD |
| File size | Larger | ~25% smaller |
| 3D and dynamic blocks | Limited | Full support |
Which one machine shops actually want
For sending geometry to be cut, DXF is the de facto standard. CNC controllers, laser cutters and waterjets import DXF profiles directly, which is why most shops ask for DXF, or a vector PDF, unless they tell you otherwise. The common workflow is to design in DWG and export DXF for the shop floor. More on that in do machine shops accept AI drawings.
When DWG is the right choice
Keep DWG when you are the one editing. It preserves layers, dynamic blocks, custom linetypes and 3D, and packs the same geometry into a file roughly a quarter smaller than DXF, which makes it the better master for archiving and collaboration inside an Autodesk workflow.
What about PDF, SVG and STEP?
- Vector PDF or SVG — accepted by many cutters, as long as the file is true vector and the text is converted to outlines.
STEP— for 3D solids, not flat profiles; the wrong tool for a 2D cut path, and a single photo cannot honestly produce one.
For the wider format picture, see CAD file formats for manufacturing and how to convert an image to DXF.