Works with

Nesting software that works with Fusion 360

Fusion exports a flat pattern or a sketch as DXF in a couple of clicks. Lapas nests those DXF files true-shape and hands back a nested sheet you can bring straight back into Fusion for toolpaths.

Read this first

Lapas does not integrate with Fusion 360. There is no plugin, no add-in and nothing to install.

You do not need one. Fusion writes DXF out and reads DXF back in, and that round trip is the whole workflow. Nothing is installed on either side, no App Store plugin is involved and neither system needs to know the other exists.

How the handoff actually works

Who does what, in order. Nothing here requires either system to know the other exists.

  1. 1 Fusion 360 Activate the flat pattern

    Find the flat pattern in the Browser, right-click it and choose Activate. If the part is not sheet metal, a plain sketch works just as well and exports the same way.

  2. 2 Fusion 360 Export DXF

    Click Export DXF on the toolbar and pick your unit type. Fusion defaults to the design's active units, and getting this wrong is the classic way to nest a part at ten times its real size.

  3. 3 You Know what is in the file

    Fusion assigns outer profiles, interior profiles, bend centre lines, bend extend lines and text to separate layers. Only the profiles are cut geometry. If a nest looks wrong, bend or text layers riding along in the file are the first thing to check.

  4. 4 You Upload the DXF files to Lapas

    Set quantity per part, sheet size and kerf. Use the kerf you have measured on your own machine and material, not a nominal number from a datasheet.

  5. 5 Lapas Nest and check the layout

    True-shape nesting places the actual outlines rather than bounding boxes, so irregular parts interlock. You watch placement happen live and stop when it is good enough rather than waiting out a fixed run.

  6. 6 Lapas Export the nested DXF and the PDF report

    The DXF is the nested sheet. The PDF carries sheet count, utilization and the placement list for quoting. Both are on the free plan.

  7. 7 You Insert the nested DXF back into Fusion

    Bring it in as a sketch on the stock body and drive your existing 2D profile toolpaths from it. Tabs, lead-ins, cut order and the post all stay in Fusion CAM where they belong.

Fusion 360 behaviour checked against the Autodesk Fusion flat pattern DXF help in July 2026. Lapas behaviour per the pricing page.

Fusion 360 is a trademark of its respective owner. Lapas is an independent product and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by or certified as compatible by them.

What stays manual

  • One DXF export per part. There is no batch export and no Fusion Team hook.
  • Typing quantities into Lapas. It cannot read a Fusion BOM.
  • Choosing sheet size and kerf per job.
  • Bringing the nested DXF back into Fusion and generating toolpaths.
  • Checking units on the way out. Lapas does not know what Fusion intended.

When Lapas is the wrong tool here

  • You want the nest to update automatically when the model changes. This is a file copy, so it does not.
  • Your parts are rectangular panels cut on a saw. A cut-list optimiser fits that better than true-shape nesting.
  • You need validated posts for your machine. Lapas exports DXF; its G-code export is beta and unvalidated across controllers, and Fusion CAM is the better place to generate machine output anyway.
  • You nest two parts at a time. At that size, moving them by hand in Fusion is faster than a round trip.

Common questions

Is there a Fusion 360 plugin for Lapas?

No. There is no App Store plugin and nothing to install. Fusion exports DXF and imports DXF, so the handoff works without either side knowing about the other.

My DXF has bend lines and text in it. Does that matter?

It is worth knowing about. Fusion writes outer profiles, interior profiles, bend centre lines, bend extend lines and text each to their own layer, so a flat pattern DXF carries more than just the cut outline. Check the part outline after import before you commit a full sheet.

Should I convert splines to polylines when exporting?

Fusion offers the option with a tolerance you set, and it is a reasonable thing to try if a curved profile does not come through the way you expect. Tighten the tolerance if you can see facets on a curve you care about.

Can I use the Lapas G-code export instead of going back through Fusion CAM?

We would not recommend it here. G-code export is available in beta for simple 2-axis work, but it has not been validated across controllers and machines. If you already have Fusion CAM with a working post for your machine, that is the safer path by a distance. Take the DXF.

Do I need the paid plan for this?

No. DXF import, DXF export and the PDF report are all on the free plan, which is 5 new projects a month with unlimited re-nests of any project you have already started, and no cap on parts per job. Pro at $49 a month removes the project limit and adds full project history.

Other stacks: all CAD and CAM workflows. Measured nesting results: the benchmark.

Don't take our word for it.

Upload one of your own DXF files and see the layout yourself. It's free and takes about two minutes.

Nest your own file for free

No credit card · No install · Your files stay yours