How to Laser Engrave Maps: Step-by-Step Tutorials & Files

Laser cutters, like most CNC machines, read G-code, which describes toolpath positions and speeds. Users typically don't submit G-code directly; instead, they provide design files that operators convert into G-code. DXF files are common for representing 2D shapes in vector format, preserving distances and layers. On Atomm, creators often provide XCS files that use up to three colors to indicate cuts, scores, and engravings.