FabToolkit Pro Features: DXF, G-Code, 3D Templates & More

FabToolkit Pro unlocks advanced workflow features and professional-grade export formats built for shops that need more than a printable PDF. This guide covers every Pro feature — what it does, why it matters, and how to put it to work.

Free vs. Pro: What Changes

The free pipe coping calculator handles all the core math — enter your pipe sizes and intersection angle and you get a complete wrap-around template in seconds. Pro layers on features and export formats designed for more complex jobs and production workflows:

• Up to 6 intersecting pipes per joint (free is limited to 3)
• Custom pipe naming on templates and exports
• Direct CNC output (G-Code)
• Plasma/laser-ready flat patterns (DXF)
• 3D printable marking fixtures (STL sleeves)
• Full 3D geometry for CAD verification (OBJ/STL model export)
• AI-generated weld procedure documents (WPS)

All export formats are generated from the same geometry the free tool already computes — they just produce machine-consumable output and richer labeling instead of a basic printable PDF.

Up to 6 Intersecting Pipes

The free tool supports joints with up to 3 intersecting pipes — enough for the vast majority of single-node connections. Pro raises that limit to 6 pipes per joint, which covers the multi-tube nodes found in complex chassis work, space frames, and structural fabrication where three or more tubes converge at a single point.

Each pipe in the joint gets its own cope profile, computed simultaneously with the others so the intersection geometry stays consistent across all members. All the standard outputs — printable PDF, DXF, G-Code, STL — are available for every pipe in the joint.

Custom Pipe Naming

Pro accounts can assign a custom name to each pipe before exporting. The name appears on the printed template, on DXF layers, and in the file name of each export — so when you're managing a multi-tube chassis with a dozen different copes, every template is immediately identifiable without having to decode pipe dimensions from the file name.

Typical uses:

• Part numbers from a cut list (A-pillar lower, RF harness bar)
• Position labels for assembly (node 3 — upper left)
• Material callouts when a joint mixes tube sizes or specs

DXF Export — Flat Patterns for Plasma & Laser

If you run a plasma table or laser cutter, the DXF export removes the middle step of redrawing the cope profile in your CAM software. Load the file, assign your cut layer, add lead-ins, and cut. The geometry comes out of FabToolkit already flattened and dimensionally correct. The format opens in SheetCam, Fusion 360, LibreCAD, Inkscape, and virtually every other tool in the chain without conversion.

G-Code Export — Direct CNC Output

The G-Code exporter takes the cope profile and converts it directly into the move commands your CNC controller understands. It's designed for setups where the pipe rotates on a rotary axis (A-axis) while a plasma torch or cutting head moves along the pipe length.

Seeing It in Action

The video below shows a real cut produced from a FabToolkit G-Code export on a rotary axis setup. Watch how the arc of the cope profile is broken into small rotary/linear interpolated moves and how the pierce delay keeps the torch from blowing out the start of the cut:

Configuration Options

Before exporting you can dial in several parameters to match your machine:

• Feed rate — cutting speed in mm/min or in/min
• Pierce delay — dwell time at the start of each arc to let the plasma fully pierce before travel begins
• Axis mapping — swap X/Y assignments to match your controller's convention
• Units — metric or imperial output

3D Printable Template Sleeve (STL)

Paper templates are fast and cheap for one-off cuts, but if you're running the same joint repeatedly — think production roll cages or tube chassis — a printed sleeve pays for itself after the second part. Slide it on, scribe the line, slide it off. No re-printing, no re-taping.

The STL is sized to the nominal OD of the pipe you entered. Print at 100% scale in PLA or PETG, no supports required in most orientations. Wall thickness is set to be stiff enough to resist the scribe without flexing.

OBJ / STL Model Export — Full 3D Geometry

Sometimes you need more than a flat template. The OBJ/STL export gives you the full solid model of the joint so you can drop it into your CAD assembly, check for interference with neighboring tubes, or include a rendered image in a customer quote.

It's also useful as a sanity check before you commit stock to a cut. Load the model, spin it around in Fusion or even a free viewer like MeshLab, and confirm that the cope geometry is exactly what you expect before any chips fly.

AI-Generated WPS Documents

Every professional weld starts with a procedure. The WPS generator reads the joint parameters you've already entered — material, wall thickness, pipe diameter, intersection angle — and uses that context to produce a starting-point WPS document you can refine and stamp for your job file.

A few important caveats: the output is AI-generated and is not a certified or code-qualified procedure. For structural, pressure-bearing, or code-inspected work, have the document reviewed and qualified by a Certified Welding Inspector (CWI). For shop fabrication and custom work it makes an excellent starting point and a time-saver when generating internal job documentation.

How to Access Pro Features

1. Sign in to your Pro account at fabtoolkit.com/auth/login.html.
2. Open the Pipe Coping Template Generator.
3. Configure your joint — enter pipe sizes, angle, and material as normal.
4. Open the Export panel — the Pro formats (DXF, G-Code, STL, OBJ, WPS) appear alongside the standard PDF export.
5. Configure export options if prompted (feed rates for G-Code, for example), then download.

Common Questions

Is the 6-pipe limit per joint or per project?

Per joint. Each joint you configure can have up to 6 intersecting pipes. There's no limit on the number of joints you can work on in a session.

Which tools support Pro exports?

The Pipe Coping Template Generator has the full Pro export suite. Advanced exports are being rolled out to the Miter Joint Generator and other tools over time. Use the in-app feedback button if there's a specific tool + export combination you need.

Can I use G-Code or DXF output for commercial jobs?

Yes. All files produced by FabToolkit — including Pro exports — can be used in commercial fabrication projects with no restrictions.

My CNC controller doesn't like the G-Code. What do I do?

G-Code dialects vary between controllers (Mach3, GRBL, LinuxCNC, Fanuc, etc.). First dry-run the file (torch off, motion only) to see where it errors. Then drop your controller make/model in the feedback form and we'll work through compatibility.

Related reading:

• How to Cope Pipe With Printable Templates
• How to Transfer Paper Tube Coping Templates to Steel Accurately
• Roll Cage Tube Sizes & Notching Angles