How do Toolpath Templates and the Vector Selector work in VCarve Pro & Aspire for automation and reusable workflows?

Overview

Toolpath Templates save the settings of one or more toolpaths (tool, depth, strategy, speeds and so on) into a reusable file. Combined with the Vector Selector (Automatic mode), a loaded template can select the right vectors in a new design when you recalculate, reducing a complex toolpath setup to a single "Recalculate All Toolpaths" click. This is useful for production shops running similar projects repeatedly. It works the same way in VCarve Pro and Aspire.

Toolpath Templates: Basic Workflow

Saving a Template

Save one toolpath:

• Toolpaths menu > Templates > Save Selected Toolpath as Template
• All the settings of the selected toolpath are saved

Save all visible toolpaths:

• Toolpaths menu > Templates > Save All Visible Toolpaths as Template
• Saves the whole group of toolpaths as a single template

Template files have the extension .ToolpathTemplate and can be saved anywhere on disk. Include them when you back up or move to a new computer.

Loading a Template

1. Open a new project with new design vectors
2. Toolpaths menu > Templates > Load Template...
3. Browse to and select the saved template file
4. Empty toolpath(s) appear in the Toolpath List with all the saved settings but no vectors selected
5. Double-click each empty toolpath to open its form, select the vectors, and calculate

Advanced Templates with Vector Selector

The powerful part of templates is pairing them with the Vector Selector in Automatic mode. Instead of manually selecting vectors when you load a template, the toolpath selects vectors that match your filters when it is recalculated.

Setting Up Automatic Vector Selection

1. In any toolpath form, find the Vector Selection section near the bottom
2. It initially shows "Manual" (you select vectors by hand)
3. Click the Selector... button to open the Vector Selector form
4. Configure your selection filter (see below)
5. Check Associate with toolpath before closing the Selector form
6. The toolpath form now shows Automatic vector selection mode
7. Calculate the toolpath to apply the changes, then save it as a template

When you recalculate or edit a toolpath in Automatic mode, the vectors that match the filter at that moment are selected. Nothing recalculates by itself when new vectors appear. To cancel Automatic mode, select vectors normally with the mouse, or reopen the Selector and uncheck Associate with toolpath.

Vector Selector Filters

The Vector Selector can also be opened from Edit > Vector Selector, but then the Associate with toolpath option is not available.

Geometry Filters:

• Closed vectors and/or open vectors
• Only Circles, with an exact diameter and tolerance if you want (very useful for drilling toolpaths)

Layer Filter:

• All visible layers
• One or more specific layers by name

Example configurations:

• V-Carve template: all closed vectors on layer "VCarve"
• Profile cutout template: all closed vectors on layer "CutOut"
• Drilling template: circles with diameter 0.25" plus or minus 0.01"
• Pocket template: all closed vectors on layer "Pocket"

Using a Template with Automatic Selection

1. Create a new project
2. Draw vectors and assign them to layers matching the template's filter names
3. Load the template
4. Toolpaths menu > Recalculate All Toolpaths
5. The matching vectors are selected and all the toolpaths are calculated

Simple example from the official documentation: a Pocketing toolpath template set to machine all closed vectors on a layer called "Pocket". Load it into a new job, move the vectors to that layer, and click Recalculate All.

Missing Layers and Multiple Sheets

If you load a template that has toolpaths associated with layers that do not exist in the current file, the Missing Layers for Template dialog lists the missing layers and lets you:

• Create the missing layers automatically (so a template can create "standard" machining layers, and you then only move vectors onto them and recalculate)
• Delete the toolpaths associated with missing layers (so one template with many toolpaths can have the inappropriate ones removed automatically)
• Load the toolpaths as they are

If you load a template into a project with multiple sheets, you are offered the option to apply it to all sheets. To apply all toolpaths to all sheets even when a layer is empty on some sheets, hold Ctrl when clicking Open in the file dialog.

Practical Template Sets for Sign Shops

Example template pack (for illustration):

1. V-Carve_text (V-carve, 60° V-bit, layer "VCarve")
2. Background_pocket (Pocket, 1/4" end mill, layer "Pocket")
3. CutOut_profile (Profile outside, 1/4" spiral, with tabs, layer "CutOut")
4. 3D_rough (3D Roughing, 1/4" ball nose)
5. 3D_finish (3D Finishing, 1/8" tapered ball nose, 10% stepover)

Load them into a sign project, assign vectors to matching layer names, and use Recalculate All.

Layer Automation: The Most Powerful Use

Consistent layers make templates close to fire-and-forget automation.

To set up layer-based toolpath automation:

1. Organize your design vectors onto named layers (for example "VCarve", "Pocket", "CutOut")
2. Create each toolpath and click Selector... at the bottom of the form
3. Set the Layer Filter to the appropriate layer name
4. Check Associate with toolpath so the toolpath is in Automatic mode
5. Save the toolpaths as a template (.ToolpathTemplate file)

Whenever you start a new project:

1. Load the template
2. Put your vectors on the correct layers
3. Recalculate All Toolpaths

Real-world example (cabinet making): In a Learn Your CNC demonstration, a sheet with over 20 parts and no toolpaths had all of its toolpaths generated after loading a pre-built template and recalculating, with no manual vector selection.

Key rule: If you use layers consistently (always put V-carve text on "VCarve", profile cuts on "CutOut", and so on), templates become close to fire-and-forget automation.