New in Velmar Cut 1.7

Sketch to DXF or DWG: draw parts without CAD

Base plates, mounting plates, brackets, gussets, weld tabs and flat bars with holes are drawn in Velmar Cut in minutes, from a template or from a photo of your sketch through your AI app. You check the drawing, and the part goes into the job and out as a DXF or DWG for the laser, plasma or waterjet.

Download the free trial From sketch to DXF or DWG in five steps

7 days, every edition unlocked · Windows 10 and 11 · no account Linux and macOS: coming soon

Photo of the sketch
Drawn in Velmar Cut
DWG for the machine

Draw a part yourself in the shape editor

You draw the part yourself in Velmar Cut's shape editor, with no AI app and no CAD program; templates and your AI app are shortcuts to the same drawing.

1 Draw new part…

On Parts & demand it opens the editor with its toolbar and the start panel.
2 Draw the outline

Profile draws the corner bracket's outline with straight lines and a tangent arc.
3 Add holes and a slot

Two bolt holes, a bore and a slot, placed and sized by typing their values.
4 Check the dimensions

Dimensions shows every size and position on the drawing, so you can check it.
5 OK, and it is nested

OK puts the part in the job, and Optimize nests it on a sheet with the other parts.

The full drawing guide, step by step

From sketch to DXF or DWG in five steps

Your AI app reads the picture; Velmar Cut draws the part and writes the files.

Photograph the sketch

Take a photo of the sketch on paper and send it to your AI app connected to Velmar Cut, with a line on what you need.
The AI app reads the sizes

It lists the dimensions it reads from the sketch and asks for any that are missing.
Velmar Cut draws the part

The AI app has Velmar Cut draw the part: from a template, or as an outline of points and arcs with holes, slots, notches and lugs, patterns in a row, grid or circle, and rounded corners. Velmar Cut answers with a picture of the shape and its sizes, shown in the chat.
Correct it until it is right

Say what is wrong, a hole too small or a missing slot, and the drawing is changed and shown again.
Into the job, out as DXF or DWG

The part goes into the job with its quantity, material and thickness, and into the warehouse if you want. Velmar Cut writes the DXF, DWG or SVG for the laser, plasma or waterjet, and asks for a name if the shape has none.

Example: a base plate for steel posts

A base plate for carports, fences, pergolas and handrails is one of the parts small workshops cut most. Here it goes from a pencil sketch to a DWG in one conversation.

Claude Desktop Velmar Cut connected

Phone photo of a pencil sketch of the base plate on a steel bench, with its sizes and four holes

Draw this base plate in Velmar Cut, 8 pieces in S235 10 mm, and save it as a DWG.

From the sketch: 200 × 200 with R10 corners, four Ø14 holes 30 mm from the edges. Starting a 2D job.

Velmar Cut new_job Starting a new 2D job

Sent

{ "mode": "2D", "name": "Post base plates" }

Returned

{ "status": "question",
  "question": { "question_id": "q1", "title": "Change cutting mode",
                "text": "Switch to 2D sheet nesting? A new job starts; the current job stays in History and Recent jobs.",
                "choices": [ "Switch to 2D", "Cancel" ] } }

Change cutting mode

Switch to 2D sheet nesting? A new job starts; the current job stays in History and Recent jobs.

Switch to 2DCancel

Switch to 2D

Velmar Cut answer_question Passing your answer to Velmar Cut

Sent

{ "question_id": "q1", "answer": "Switch to 2D" }

Returned

{ "created": true, "job": { "name": "Post base plates", "mode": "2D", "unit": "mm", "part_rows": 0, … } }

Velmar Cut draw_shape Rectangle template with a 2 × 2 grid of holes

Sent

{ "template": { "kind": "rectangle", "width": 200, "height": 200, "corner_radius": 10 },
  "holes": [ { "shape": "circle", "diameter": 14, "x": 30, "y": 30,
               "pattern": { "kind": "grid", "columns": 2, "rows": 2, "spacing_x": 140, "spacing_y": 140 } } ],
  "name": "Base plate 200" }

Returned

{ "shape_id": "29949da8", "for": "part", "name": "Base plate 200", "unit": "mm",
  "length": 200, "width": 200, "holes": 4, "valid": true, "pictures_shown": 1 }

Velmar Cut's picture of Base plate 200 in the chat: 200 × 200 mm, R10 corners, four Ø14 holes and its sizes

Here it is: 200 × 200 mm with its 4 holes. Adding 8 pieces and writing the DWG.

Velmar Cut add_drawn_shape 8 pieces into the job and the DWG written

Sent

{ "shape_id": "29949da8", "quantity": 8, "material": "S235", "thickness": 10, "save_to": "C:\\Users\\Public\\Documents\\VelmarCut\\base-plate-200.dwg" }

Returned

{ "part": { "number": 1, "label": "Base plate 200", "material": "S235", "length": 200, "width": 200,
            "quantity": 8, "thickness": 10, "holes": 4, … },
  "file": "C:\\Users\\Public\\Documents\\VelmarCut\\base-plate-200.dwg",
  "status_line": "New row drawn: Base plate 200. Ctrl+Z undoes it." }

Done. ‘Base plate 200’ is in the job (8 pcs, S235, 10 mm) and base-plate-200.dwg is saved.

base-plate-200.dwg

Parts & demand in Velmar Cut for the job Post base plates, with Base plate 200, S235, 200 × 200, 8 pcs, 10 mm — The plate in Velmar Cut, ready to nest

An illustration of the conversation in Claude Desktop with Velmar Cut connected. The tool calls and pictures come from a real run of Velmar Cut 1.7; Claude's wording varies.

A clean DWG or DXF for the machine

Read back by Velmar Cut's own reader, base-plate-200.dwg is 200 × 200 mm with 5 closed contours on layers: the outline and the four holes. A DXF works the same way.

Draw parts without CAD, no AI needed

The shape editor alone covers the everyday 2D parts of a workshop, so you need no CAD program for them.

Draw new part…

On Parts & demand, and in the empty Parts list, it opens the shape editor for a new 2D part from scratch.

22 templates

Base and mounting plates, flat bars with holes, gussets, weld tabs, ribs, flanges, ring segments, cylinder and cone blanks, and a few gears and wheels: type a few numbers and the whole part is drawn.

Tools for everything else

Rectangle, circle, slot, polygon, fillet and chamfer draw gussets, weld tabs, flat bars with holes and shims, and add holes and slots to any part.

DXF, DWG or SVG

Export the shape as DXF, DWG or SVG for the laser, plasma or waterjet, or nest it with the rest of the job.

22 part templates: a whole part from a few numbers

Draw new part… opens a start panel with the templates in groups, each with its picture, and Templates ▾ in the editor has the same groups. Each card shows a live preview and the part's size, every field explains itself in a tooltip, and AI apps use the same templates through MCP.

The Draw new part… start panel in Velmar Cut: the 22 part templates in their groups, each tile with its picture — Draw new part… opens the templates, grouped and each with its picture

Plates and brackets

Base or mounting plate

Size, 0, 4, 6 or 8 holes at an edge distance, rounded corners and a centre hole: a base plate ready as a DWG or DXF.
Rectangle with rounded corners

Width, height and corner radius give a plain blank.
L-bracket

The two legs and their widths give an L-shaped bracket.
Plate with a grid of holes

Plate size, rows, columns and hole size give a perforated plate.
Flat bar with holes

Length, width, holes and end distance, with square or round ends: a flat bar with holes as a DXF.
Slotted shim

Size, slot width and slot depth give a U-shim that slides under a bolt.
19-inch rack panel

Height units give an EIA-310 panel, 482.6 mm wide and U × 44.45 − 0.79 mm high, with its mounting slots on 465.1 mm centres.

Steelwork

Weld tab

Top and base width, hole height and hole, straight or tapered, with the base cut round to sit on a tube.
Corner gusset

The legs, a corner clip for the weld, flat tips, a curved edge and a lightening hole: a gusset ready as a DXF.
Rib

Base, height, top width and a corner cut for the weld give a stiffening rib.
Beam stiffener

Sized from the beam, for example HEA 200, with both corners at the web cut to clear the root radius.
Two-eye link

Centre distance, the two eyes and their holes, and the web width give a link or lever.

Round parts and flanges

Disc

A diameter gives a round blank.
Ring

Outer and inner diameter give a ring or washer.
Flange with a bolt circle

Outer diameter, bore, bolt circle and bolt holes give a flange.
Oval flange (2 or 3 bolts)

Pipe hole, body, bolt circle and 2 or 3 bolt lobes: an oval exhaust or pump flange as a DXF.
Ring segment

Outer and inner diameter, angle and straight legs give one piece of a ring cut from several.

Rolled blanks

Rolled cylinder blank

Inside diameter, sheet thickness and height give the blank, and the card shows its length π × (Ø + t).
Cone blank

Large and small diameter and height give the flat pattern of a cone or reducer, with its outer and inner radius and angle shown, split into equal pieces if you need.

Gears and wheels

Chain sprocket

Chain pitch, roller and teeth give an ISO 606 or ANSI sprocket, and the card shows d, da and df.
Trigger wheel

Diameter, teeth and missing teeth give a 36-1 or 60-2 wheel for a sensor.
Spur gear

Module, teeth, pressure angle, profile shift and bore give a true involute spur gear.

The plan Parts without CAD: 69 pieces drawn from templates on one 1250 × 1000 sheet of 8 mm S235, base plates, corner gussets, weld tabs, flat bars, slotted shims, L-brackets and flanges, 58.1 % yield and a 1250 × 266 reusable remnant

Drawn without CAD, cut together

Seven everyday parts from the templates, nested by Velmar Cut on one 1250 × 1000 sheet of 8 mm S235: 6 base plates, 12 corner gussets, 20 weld tabs, 8 flat bars, 12 slotted shims, 8 L-brackets and 3 flanges. All 69 pieces fit at 58.1 % yield, and a 1250 × 266 strip is left as a reusable remnant.

It even draws gears

The Spur gear template draws a true involute spur gear from module, teeth, pressure angle, profile shift and bore, ready for the job or a DXF.

The Spur gear template and its parameter drawing

Gear m3 z24 in Velmar Cut's shape editor, with its bore and six Ø8 holes on Ø44 — The gear in the editor, ready to change or export

Show the gear's conversation step by step

Claude Desktop Velmar Cut connected

Photo of a paper sketch of the gear with its notes, on a steel workbench

Can you draw this gear in Velmar Cut? I need 4 of them in S355, 6 mm, and a DXF for the laser.

From the sketch: module 3, 24 teeth, bore Ø20, six Ø8 holes on a Ø44 circle. I'll start a new 2D job first.

Velmar Cut new_job Starting a new 2D job

Sent

{ "mode": "2D", "name": "Conveyor gears" }

Returned

{ "status": "question",
  "question": { "question_id": "q1", "title": "Change cutting mode",
                "text": "Switch to 2D sheet nesting? A new job starts; the current job stays in History and Recent jobs.",
                "choices": [ "Switch to 2D", "Cancel" ] } }

Change cutting mode

Switch to 2D sheet nesting? A new job starts; the current job stays in History and Recent jobs.

Switch to 2DCancel

Switch to 2D

Velmar Cut answer_question Passing your answer to Velmar Cut

Sent

{ "question_id": "q1", "answer": "Switch to 2D" }

Returned

{ "created": true, "job": { "name": "Conveyor gears", "mode": "2D", "unit": "mm", "part_rows": 0, … } }

Velmar Cut draw_shape Drawing from the Spur gear template

Sent

{ "template": { "kind": "spur_gear", "module_mm": 3, "teeth": 24, "bore": 20 }, "name": "Gear m3 z24" }

Returned

{ "shape_id": "09c60b55", "for": "part", "name": "Gear m3 z24", "unit": "mm",
  "length": 78, "width": 78, "holes": 1, "valid": true, "pictures_shown": 1 }

Velmar Cut's picture of Gear m3 z24, 78 × 78 mm, with its Ø20 bore and sizes

Here's the gear: 78 × 78 mm with the Ø20 bore. Adding the six holes now.

Velmar Cut draw_shape Six Ø8 holes on a Ø44 circle

Sent

{ "shape_id": "09c60b55",
  "holes": [ { "shape": "circle", "diameter": 8, "x": 39, "y": 39,
               "pattern": { "kind": "circle", "count": 6, "circle_diameter": 44 } } ] }

Returned

{ "shape_id": "d358d206", "name": "Gear m3 z24", "length": 78, "width": 78, "holes": 7,
  "valid": true, "pictures_shown": 1 }

Velmar Cut's picture of the finished gear with the bore and six Ø8 holes on Ø44

That matches the sketch. Adding 4 pieces in S355, 6 mm, and writing the DXF.

Velmar Cut add_drawn_shape Adding the part to the job and writing the DXF

Sent

{ "shape_id": "d358d206", "quantity": 4, "material": "S355", "thickness": 6, "save_to": "C:\\Users\\Public\\Documents\\VelmarCut\\gear-m3-z24.dxf" }

Returned

{ "part": { "number": 1, "label": "Gear m3 z24", "material": "S355", "length": 78, "width": 78,
            "quantity": 4, "thickness": 6, "holes": 7, … },
  "file": "C:\\Users\\Public\\Documents\\VelmarCut\\gear-m3-z24.dxf",
  "status_line": "New row drawn: Gear m3 z24. Ctrl+Z undoes it." }

Done. ‘Gear m3 z24’ is in the job ‘Conveyor gears’ (4 pcs, S355, 6 mm), and the DXF is saved.

gear-m3-z24.dxf

Parts & demand in Velmar Cut for the job Conveyor gears, with Gear m3 z24, S355, 78 × 78, 4 pcs, 6 mm, the Draw new part… button and the part's preview — The part in Velmar Cut, ready to nest

An illustration of the conversation in Claude Desktop with Velmar Cut connected. The tool calls and pictures come from a real run of Velmar Cut 1.7; Claude's wording varies.

Works with your AI app

Claude Desktop, Claude Code, the ChatGPT desktop app and Codex, VS Code with GitHub Copilot, Cursor and other MCP apps connect to Velmar Cut. ChatGPT on the web cannot connect.

Velmar Cut's server runs locally at 127.0.0.1, with no account or token, and Velmar Cut's files stay on your PC. The AI app reads the photo; Velmar Cut draws the part and writes the files.

How to connect your AI app

Questions about sketch to DXF

Can I turn a sketch into a DXF or DWG?

Yes. Photograph the sketch and send it to an AI app connected to Velmar Cut: it reads the dimensions, asks for any that are missing and has Velmar Cut draw the part. You check the picture, and Velmar Cut writes the DXF, DWG or SVG.

Do I need CAD to draw a base plate or bracket for laser cutting?

No. Draw new part… opens the shape editor: a base plate is the rectangle template with a corner radius and a grid of holes, and an L-bracket has its own template. Velmar Cut exports the part as DXF or DWG for the laser.

Which AI apps work with Velmar Cut?

Claude Desktop, Claude Code, the ChatGPT desktop app and Codex, VS Code with GitHub Copilot, Cursor and other MCP apps. ChatGPT on the web cannot connect.

Can it draw a gear for laser cutting?

Yes. The Spur gear template draws a true involute spur gear from module, teeth, pressure angle, profile shift and bore, and Velmar Cut exports it as a DXF or DWG.

Which parts can I draw from templates?

Base and mounting plates, rectangles, L-brackets, plates with a grid of holes, flat bars with holes, slotted shims and 19-inch rack panels; weld tabs, corner gussets, ribs, beam stiffeners and two-eye links; discs, rings, flanges, oval flanges and ring segments; rolled cylinder blanks and cone blanks; and last, chain sprockets, trigger wheels and spur gears.

Free trial

Seven days with every edition

Install Velmar Cut, enter the parts and stock of a current job and print the cutting schedule. The trial starts on first run and needs no account or card.

Download the free trial See pricing

Sketch to DXF or DWG: draw parts without CAD

Draw a part yourself in the shape editor

1 Draw new part…

2 Draw the outline

3 Add holes and a slot

4 Check the dimensions

5 OK, and it is nested

From sketch to DXF or DWG in five steps

Photograph the sketch

The AI app reads the sizes

Velmar Cut draws the part

Correct it until it is right

Into the job, out as DXF or DWG

Example: a base plate for steel posts

A clean DWG or DXF for the machine

Draw parts without CAD, no AI needed

Draw new part…

22 templates

Tools for everything else

DXF, DWG or SVG

22 part templates: a whole part from a few numbers

Plates and brackets

Base or mounting plate

Rectangle with rounded corners

L-bracket

Plate with a grid of holes

Flat bar with holes

Slotted shim

19-inch rack panel

Steelwork

Weld tab

Corner gusset

Rib

Beam stiffener

Two-eye link

Round parts and flanges

Disc

Ring

Flange with a bolt circle

Oval flange (2 or 3 bolts)

Ring segment

Rolled blanks

Rolled cylinder blank

Cone blank

Gears and wheels

Chain sprocket

Trigger wheel

Spur gear

Drawn without CAD, cut together

It even draws gears

Works with your AI app

Questions about sketch to DXF

Seven days with every edition