Laser Cut Slicer: Turn a 3D Model into Stacked Layers
Load an STL, OBJ or GLB (or a sample), enter your sheet thickness and the height you want, and pick the slice direction. The slicer cuts the model into numbered layers, adds dowel holes so they line up, and nests them onto your sheet size. Download the sheets as SVG or DXF and cut.
How to slice a 3D model for laser cutting
- 1
Add a model
Drop an STL, OBJ, GLB or GLTF file, or start with the bear, the vase, the ring or the sphere. The file is read in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
- 2
Set material and size
Enter the thickness of your sheet (plywood, MDF, acrylic or card, 1.5 to 6 mm), then the final height in mm, the longest side, or a scale.
- 3
Pick axis and sheet
Slice along Z for flat layers stacked bottom to top, or along X or Y. Choose 300 x 200, 400 x 300 or 600 x 400 mm sheets, or type your own size.
- 4
Download and cut
Download each sheet as SVG or DXF, or everything as a ZIP. Cut the fit-test square first, then cut the red lines, engrave the blue ones and glue the layers in number order on dowels.
3D model to laser cut layers: how the slicer works
Stacked slices are the simplest way to build a 3D shape from flat sheets: each layer is one cross-section of the model, cut from the sheet and glued on top of the one below. It uses more material than a slotted (egg-crate) build, but the shape is solid and lines up easily.
| Layers | The model is cut by one flat plane per sheet of material, in the middle of each layer. The number of layers is the model height divided by the sheet thickness, rounded up, so the stack can be up to one sheet taller than the model. |
|---|---|
| Outlines | Where the plane crosses each triangle gives a short line; the lines are joined edge to edge into closed outlines. An outline inside another is a hole (even-odd rule), so rings, handles and hollow parts cut correctly. |
| Small islands | Parts of a layer smaller than the minimum area (10 mm² by default) are left out, with a note, because they are too small to cut and glue. Lower the limit to keep them. |
| Alignment holes | Two dowel holes are placed where neighbouring layers overlap, with at least 2 mm of material around each hole, and they run through as many layers as possible. The README lists how long to cut each dowel. |
| Numbers and guides | Every part gets its layer number engraved as single-stroke digits ("12.2" is part 2 of layer 12), and the outline of the next layer is engraved on it, so you can see where it sits. |
| Sheets | The parts are nested onto your sheet size in rows (shelf packing), turned 90 degrees when that fits better, with a 5 mm margin and a 3 mm gap. A 20 x 20 mm fit-test square goes on sheet 1. |
Tips for cutting and gluing the layers
| Thickness | Measure your sheet with calipers and type the real value: a 3 mm sheet is often a little more or less, and over 40 layers the difference adds up. |
|---|---|
| Kerf | The laser burns away a thin line of material (the kerf), which depends on your machine, lens, power and material. Cut the fit-test square first, measure it and try a dowel in its hole before cutting the whole job. |
| Colours | Red hairlines (#FF0000) are cuts; blue (#0000FF) are numbers and placement lines to engrave or score at low power. In the DXF they are on layers CUT and ENGRAVE. |
| Mesh | A closed (watertight) mesh gives closed outlines. If the tool says some contours did not close, repair the model first, or check those layers. |
| Thin layers | Thinner sheets give a smoother shape but many more parts to glue. 3 mm is a good start for a model 100 to 200 mm tall. |
| Gluing | Wood glue for plywood and MDF, acrylic cement for acrylic. Glue in number order on the dowels, engraved face up, and clamp or weigh the stack while it dries. |
No model to slice yet?
Describe an animal, a lamp or a logo shape, or start from a photo, and get a 3D model with AI. Download it as GLB or STL and bring it back here to cut it into layers. The AI tools use credits; this slicer does not.
More free 3D tools
Need just one outline, not a stack? STL to SVG and STL to DXF cut a single section or a flat view of your model.