Extract text from RLF files
To convert your RLF file to another format, you need Autodesk ArtCAM or other Cad software.
To convert other file formats to the "CNC Relief Model" file type, you need software like Autodesk ArtCAM or a similar tool.
The .RLF extension primarily identifies the ArtCAM Relief File, a proprietary 3D format originally developed by Delcam and later Autodesk. These files store high-resolution 3D height maps and vector relief data used specifically for CNC machining, woodworking, and jewelry design. A secondary but significant use is the ArcGIS Report Layout File by Esri, which functions as an XML-based template for generating map reports in ArcMap.
Users frequently struggle with .RLF files because Autodesk ArtCAM was discontinued in 2018, leaving valuable legacy design assets locked in a format that modern CAD tools like Fusion 360 or Blender cannot natively open. This proprietary lock-in forces users to maintain outdated software just to access their own work. Similarly, ArcGIS layouts created in older versions often face compatibility friction when migrating to ArcGIS Pro.
To make these files usable again, the best practice is converting ArtCAM reliefs to STL or OBJ for universal 3D compatibility (printing, rendering, or importing into other CAM software). For 2D vector preservation, converting to DXF is recommended. For ArcGIS report layouts, converting to PDF ensures the report can be viewed and archived without requiring the original GIS environment.
Convert.Guru analyzes your RLF file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted ART, JPG, STL, RFL, RTF, RIF, DXF, JPEG, PNG, ZIP, PDF, RPT and LRF files.
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our RLF converter.